Machine Vendetta

Starred review from November 6, 2023
Reynolds returns to his Prefect Dreyfus Emergencies universe (after Elysium Fire) for a touching and spectacularly intricate sequel that also functions well as a standalone. Dreyfus is a seasoned prefect of Panoply, the agency tasked with safeguarding democracy across the 10,000 habitats of the galaxy’s Glitter Band. When his trusted subordinate Ingvar Tench enters a dangerous, watchlisted habitat without permission and meets a grisly end, Dreyfus and fellow operative Sparver Bancal investigate, hoping to uncover both Ingvar’s motive for entering the territory and her murderer. Along the way, two warring artificial intelligences individually reach out to Dreyfus with dire warnings. Meanwhile, Prefect Thalia Ng looks into a suicide attack led by a Panoply turncoat and finds an unexpected connection between the two cases, evidence of a larger conspiracy originating from within Panoply’s ranks. Every chapter reveals another layer to the far-reaching mystery, all the while building to a stunning crescendo in which characters old and new band together to face a long-dreaded scenario. Fans of hard science fiction, noir, and space opera alike will be sucked in. Agent: Robert Kirby, United Agents.

December 1, 2023
In the latest installment of the Prefect Dreyfus Emergencies (after Elysium Fire, 2018), Reynolds pulls out all the stops in this confrontation with Aurora and the Clockmaker. Over the previous two emergencies, Panoply and Dreyfus reached a stalemate, with both omniscient artificial intelligences preventing the other from gaining an overwhelming advantage. It all begins with investigations of what appear to be rogue prefects dying by suicide. Another prefect, Ingvar Tench, enters a watch-listed habitat and is brutally killed. Her connection with Aurora is key to tracking down another attempt to do what Catopsis failed to do: capture Aurora and the Clockmaker and render them powerless. Use of tech is tricky since both entities live on the networks of the Glitter Band. It also seems evident that traitors still exist at the upper levels of Panoply. Dreyfus brings Ingvar's daughter into Panoply partly for protection but also because of her interest in becoming a prefect. Both AIs are a step ahead of Panoply until the end of this intense sf police procedural; readers' fingernails will be left ragged.

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