Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83567 in Books
• Published on: 2004-03-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 608 pages

Synopsis
The Node has failed, rendering humanity's battle clankers and the Aachim's constructs useless. With the battle lost, hordes of alien Lyrinx are swarming from the tar pits of Snizort, intending to fall upon the survivors and destroy them to the last man. Tiaan, crippled and unable to walk, is held prisoner by the vengeful Vithis, who is determined to extract her geomantic secrets at any cost. For his failings, Nish has been cast out and branded a traitor, while Irisis, accused of high treason, is forced to flee for her life. The fate of humanity is dependent on the survival of one wily old man, the Scrutator Xervish Flydd. But Flydd has been blamed for the defeat at Snizort and is condemned to die a brutish death as a slave - hauling ironclad clankers out of the battlefield mire until his heart bursts under the strain.

Customer Reviews

Irvine's Best...
If definately not the best novel i have ever read this by far one of Irvine's best and the best in his second quartet, at least.
Packed full of action, this novel continues the story of Nish and Tiaan in their seperate adventures and how the fate of the world unravels.
Not a Dickens, but still not without talent Irvine unwraps the characters through their events and procrastinations. And not a Herbert, still Irvine tries with great effort to perpetuate the world around his characters in some accordingly colourful form, which i feel lets down the book ever so slightly.
A good book with a clever conclusion and leaving the reader wanting more, but still, i'm afraid, not his magnum opus.

Wonderful
Not the best author in the world, but this series really sucks you into the story, often unputdownable, occasionally moving and never dull. Read the first book first though!

Alchymist
Quality read, great development of your favourite characters Nish, Irisis & Flydd. All I want to know is when the next installment is due - it simply cannot end here !