Product Description

A former Soviet rocket scientist, Elena Irinovna now cleans office buildings - until she crosses paths with Ilya Muromyets. A remnant of Russia's glorious and fabled past, Ilya is an eight-hundred-year-old turned heroin addict, dreaming of a death that never comes. They are brought together by a strange artefact Elena has found, which offers a glimpse into another dimension, creating a dangerous breach in a world Elena only thought she knew.

Ilya is no stranger to the unexplained. He's been hired by a mysterious organization to track down the artefact. But nothing prepared him for what it offers - or for a woman like Elena. Fighting their own inner demons as well as those from across the breach, Ilya and Elena embark on a harrowing trip between nations and worlds. And for the first time the man of myth and the woman of science discover that they have a dream to defend - and even die for.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1191622 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

SFX Magazine
'A strongly atmospheric tale that sticks in the mind.'

About the Author

Liz Williams is the daughter of a stage magician and a gothic novelist, and currently lives near Brighton seafront. She received a PhD in Philosophy of Science from Cambridge, and her subsequent career has ranged from reading tarot cards on the Palace Pier to teaching in central Asia. Nine Layers of Sky is her fourth novel.

Customer Reviews

Sci-fi that dares to be different
Elena Irinova was a scientist and 'would be' cosmonaut with the Soviet space programme. Since the fall of Communism in the U.S.S.R. she is reduced to cleaning office floors and dreaming of building a new life in Canada. Ilya Muromyets is a drug addict who wishes only for death. Unfortunately for him he is immortal, one of the Russian 'Heroes' of folk tales, and he cannot die except at the hands of another immortal but he's the only one of his kind left.
Elena finds a strange object, a small ball that seems to absorb light, the scientist in her wonders what its purpose is. Ilya is approached by the representative of a mysterious organisation and is asked to find this artefact. Eventually Elena and Ilya come together and learn just what this object and its purpose are.
Nine Layers of Sky is one of those rare books in the sci-fi genre in that it is actually 'different'. Liz Williams has proven, with this latest novel, that she is not a 'one trick pony' and can write an original story that is fast paced and absorbing. Her style can be a little dark and oppressive at times but that suits her stories and in no way detracts from them. It's not a style that will please everyone but for anyone looking for something different, they would go a long way to find better than this.

Williams floating zeplin
This novel by Liz Williams has quite a bit to offer to readers, the central characters have a believability that many of the readers will hook into. Whilst strong in some areas, they do have weaknesses which are bolstered by the other characters strengths and as such make the duo a pair to reckon with.

The plot moves along at quite a pace which rarely gives the reader a chance to put this novel down, not that you'd want to as the many twists throughout will keep you guessing as to what event will unfold next right to the end of the novel. If your looking for something a little different then this is the novel to take home, although a holiday may be ruined as you wont stop until the last page turns.