Ashes of Candesce

Five years have passed since the mysterious force known as Artificial Nature first tried to breach the walls of Virga. Its incursion has set off wars, revolution, and brought together an unlikely group of men and women united only in their opposition to it.

They are the famous sun lighter, Hayden Griffin; Mad, irrepressible princess Venera Fanning and her husband, Admiral Chaison Fanning; winter wraith and former Home Guard soldier Antaea Argyre; and, most unlikely of all, former history tutor and now spokeswoman for an alien civilization, Leal Hieronyma Maspeth.

Their courage has kept Virga secure--until now. Because Artificial Nature has decided upon a new strategy. If it can't force its way into Virga, it will cultivate new allies within the vast bubble-world.

If it can't batter the gates down, it will talk them open. And with Leal and Hayden missing, Antaea cast out of the Guard and shunned by all, and the Fannings preoccupied by the collapse of Slipstream's brief empire, no one is there to stop it. Unless rogue and former despot Jacoby Sarto can exploit the situation and save Virga. . . and perhaps, seize it himself.

The Virga series and its author [are] in the company of writers like Greg Egan, Charles Stross, Vernor Vinge... That the story and character development never lags as a result makes the Virga series a first-class reading experience.

—SFRevu.com
A grand flying-pirate-ship-chases-and-escapes-and-meetings-with-monsters adventure, and it ends not with a debate or a seminar but with a gigantic zero-gee battle around Candesce, a climactic unmasking and showdown, just desserts, and other satisfying stuff.

—Locus Magazine
That the story and character development never lags makes the Virga series a first-class reading experience both for long term fans and anyone looking for a good introduction to the ideas, and artistry, of contemporary hard science fiction.

—SF Site
He’s doing fresh. He’s doing different. In the end, he manages to fit in one more perspective, one more emotional arc, and one more piece of this epic sci-fi puzzle just as its shape finally coalesces. The result is a worthy and fitting end to a truly impressive work of series fiction, and a solid tale in its own right.

—AEScifi.ca

Ashes of Candesce

The Virga series and its author [are] in the company of writers like Greg Egan, Charles Stross, Vernor Vinge... That the story and character development never lags as a result makes the Virga series a first-class reading experience.

A grand flying-pirate-ship-chases-and-escapes-and-meetings-with-monsters adventure, and it ends not with a debate or a seminar but with a gigantic zero-gee battle around Candesce, a climactic unmasking and showdown, just desserts, and other satisfying stuff.

That the story and character development never lags makes the Virga series a first-class reading experience both for long term fans and anyone looking for a good introduction to the ideas, and artistry, of contemporary hard science fiction.

The Sunless Countries

The Worlds of Virga