Cosmonaut Keep

In the wake of the Ural Caspian Oil War, public trust in the EU government is at an all-time low, especially after their sensational announcement of first contact with alien intelligence. Matt Cairns, ever the skeptic, sets out to uncover the truth, unaware that the reality is far more intricate and distant than he could ever imagine. Meanwhile, thousands of light-years away, a struggling human colony navigates a new world that has already been home to humans and other intelligent species from Earth for millennia. This ancient division of labor dictates a unique societal structure, and the colonists must find their place within it. Ken MacLeod masterfully weaves twenty-first-century political intrigue with epic space opera, exploring themes of paranoia, colonization, and humanity's enduring quest for truth amidst a vast, complex interstellar community watched over by enigmatic 'microcosmic gods.' It's a journey that spans galaxies, challenging perceptions of history and destiny.