Darelius - a planet in crisis with its civilisation facing the danger of extinction from a virus to which it had no natural defence. The Darelian people had not been at war for many generations, but now faced not one, but two threats, as a warlike neighbour lay in the wings, awaiting its opportunity. The only hope of salvation lay in a cure derived from the flora of a primitive planet in the Orion System - eighty light years distant. It all began on Balan - a planet at war, and also facing its own apocalypse - hundreds of years in Darelius' past... Neal James is a UK author of crime fiction. He is a prolific short story writer turned novelist. 'The Rings of Darelius' is his first venture into the world of science fiction, and his seventh book in as many years. He lives in Derbyshire with his wife and family.