Captaining HMSS Ark Royal as part of Earth's first interstellar delegation should be an honour. Try telling that to Michael Gilmore. His passengers are an ill-tempered prince and an inscrutable quadruped alien. His First Officer is ready to mutiny if Ark Royal engages its weaponry. The ship's A.I. seems to have turned renegade. And the neighbouring vessel harbours a genocidal maniac. And it's altogether possible that they're heading into some kind of trap ... "One of the best first contact books in a long while - a gripping, logical, original and fundamentally optimistic retake on one of SF's richest themes." - Alastair Reynolds "A veritable fount of plot, characterisation and intrigue, with some astoundingly original ideas." - SFX "Bursting with fun and energy." - Interzone "A great story, wonderful aliens, fine writing. Ben Jeapes is a name to watch for." - David Feintuch