The story in one page
Lieutenant Corriston arrives at a glittering space station expecting the ordinary, but he instead uncovers a criminal enterprise. The facility has been compromised by impostors who control trade, enslave passengers, and conduct illegal uranium smuggling. As Corriston navigates the station's dangerous corridors and deals with a local uprising, he must outwit adversaries, rescue a woman held prisoner by her own father, and resolve the station's fate before the military intervention of Commander Hayes destroys it entirely.
Who's who
- Corriston
Lieutenant who investigates criminal activity aboard the space station.
- Hayes
Commander who prepares to attack the hijacked station if necessary.
- Clement
Station official who faces suspicion for potential collusion with criminals.
- Helen Ramsey
Prisoner held under the control of her own father.
- Henley
Scoundrel who gains the trust of the desperate station colonists.
What it's really about
- Imposture
- Criminals infiltrate critical infrastructure through sophisticated disguises.
- Command
- The heavy burden of making decisions impacting entire worlds.
Why it's memorable
- A freighter failing to decelerate during a botched docking attempt.
- Corriston struggling against a lithe, knife-wielding killer in darkness.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Commander Clement waits by the boarding ramp, planning a simple, friendly welcome for the hero Corriston without the formality of stiff military salutes.
For your book club
- Can an artificial environment remain neutral during a power struggle?
- How does isolated space-living amplify the desperation of the colonists?