Dark Intelligence: 1 (Transformation, 1) - Softcover

Asher, Neal

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1509868518 ISBN 13: 9781509868513

Publisher: Tor, 2021

Synopsis

Dark Intelligence is the first novel in the Transformation series, a no-holds-barred adventure set in Neal Asher's popular Polity universe.

One man will transcend death to seek vengeance. One woman will transform herself to gain power. And no one will emerge unscathed . . .

Thorvald Spear wakes in hospital, where he finds he's been brought back from the dead. What's more, he died in a human vs. alien war that ended a whole century ago. But when he relives his traumatic final moments, he finds the spark to keep on living. That spark is vengeance. Trapped and desperate on a world surrounded by alien Prador forces, Spear had seen a rescue ship arriving. But instead of providing backup, Penny Royal, the AI within the destroyer turned rogue. It annihilated friendly forces in a frenzy of destruction, and, years later, it's still free. Spear vows to track it across worlds and do whatever it takes to bring it down.

Isobel Satomi ran a successful crime syndicate. But after competitors attacked, she needed more power. Yet she got more than she bargained for when she negotiated with Penny Royal. She paid it to turn her part-AI herself, but the upgrades hid a horrifying secret. The Dark AI had triggered a transformation in Isobel that would turn her into a monster, rapidly evolving into something far from human.

Spear hires Isobel to take him to the Penny Royal AI's last known whereabouts. But he cheats her in the process and he becomes a target for her vengeance. And as she is evolves further into a monstrous predator, rage soon wins over reason. Will Spear finish his hunt, before he becomes the hunted?

Continue the action-packed adventure with War Factory and Infinity Engine.

'Asher rocks with XXX adrenaline while delivering a vivid future' – David Brin, author of the Uplift trilogy

About this title

About the Author

Neal Asher divides his time between Essex and Crete, mostly at a keyboard and mentally light years away. He is the creator of the Polity universe and author of the Agent Cormac series, the Spatterjay trilogy, the Transformation trilogy, the Rise of the Jain trilogy, and the Time’s Shadow trilogy. Also set in the world of the Polity are these standalone novels: Prador Moon, Hilldiggers, Shadow of the Scorpion, The Technician, Jack Four, Weaponized and War Bodies. The Departure, Zero Point and Jupiter War are set in a dystopian future and connect to his World Walkers novel, while Cowl transports us across time.

From the Back Cover

One man will transcend death
to seek vengeance

Thorvald Spear wakes in hospital, resurrected after a war that ended a century ago. Spear had been trapped on a planet, surrounded by alien Prador – and the last thing he recalls is a rescue ship. Then he and his squad were killed by Penny Royal, the ship’s artificial intelligence gone rogue. And it’s still out there, so Spear vows to hunt it down.

First he must find Isobel Santini. She ran a successful crime syndicate, before she paid Penny Royal for upgrades to make her part-AI. But they’re turning her into a monster instead, so she helps Spear locate his target – until he also earns her wrath. As she evolves into the ultimate predator, will she turn Spear from hunter to hunted?

‘Asher rocks . . . a vivid future’
David Brin

‘What Asher delivers here is state-of-the-art SF on so many
levels . . . a compelling, smart read’
Locus

Edition details

• Publisher: Tor
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1509868518
• ISBN 13: 9781509868513
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 480