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Amazon.com Review

It's not easy to disturb a mega-utopia as vast as the one Iain M. Banks has created in his popular Culture series, where life is devoted to fun and ultra-high-tech is de rigueur. But more than two millennia ago the appearance--and disappearance--of a star older than the universe caused quite a stir. Now the mystery is back, and the key to solving it lies in the mind of the person who witnessed the first disturbance 2,500 years ago. But she's dead, and getting her to cooperate may not be altogether easy.

From Kirkus Reviews

From versatile Scottish writer Banks, another sf yarn about the tolerant, diverse, far-future Culture (The Player of Games, 1989, etc.). The Culture is subtly controlled by prodigiously intelligent artificial Minds, who, Banks intimates, spend most of their spare time navel-gazing. Here, a huge, enigmatic object referred to as the Excession appears in space and interacts with the Culture's energy grid in ways previously considered impossible. Diplomat Byr Genar-Hofoen of the Department of Special Circumstances is sent to investigate--but, sidetracked by beautiful, talented, spoiled-brat operative Ulver Seich and by old flame Dajeil Gelian, it will be a long time before he draws near the object. Meanwhile, certain Minds occupying a vast array of self-controlled spaceships suspect that still other Minds are involved in a conspiracy--but to what end? With the Culture thus distracted by the Excession, the cruel, dangerously expansionist alien Affront seize the opportunity to hijack a Culture battle fleet and start a war that they only gradually realize they've been suckered into and can't possibly win. Brilliantly inventive and amusing--whole sections read like strings of knowing jokes--but a mess: Chattering spaceships with splendid if confusing names (e.g., Not Invented Here and Shoot Them Later) don't compensate for the absence of real characters. -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Een vrouw staat op een brug. Over een paar seconden zal ze springen, meer dan zestig meter de diepte in. Wie is ze? En waarom wil ze zich van het leven beroven? De achtjarige Ava woont in een tehuis en wacht op haar vader. Maar diep in haar hart weet ze dat hij niet zal komen. Het tehuis is een plaats van duistere schaduwen en angstig gefluister. Geen van de kinderen durft zich hardop uit te spreken over wat daar plaatsvindt. Totdat de waarheid aan het licht komt en de levens van de vrouw en het meisje op schokkende wijze met elkaar verbonden blijken...
(source: Bol.com)

Product Description

Not once had Terry ever been hauled in by old bill. He was sure the filth was aware of him, as he had his fingers stuck in many pies, but he was a background man and that's the way he liked it. He made sure that he kept well away from the dodgy motors, the thieves and the yards...'Terry – the lucky villain with a heart of gold – is riding for a fall. Michelle – the wife he hates and is plotting to leave – knows something is afoot, but not quite what. Billie Jo – their adored only daughter – loathes her parents quarrelling and her mother drinking, but will she understand when Terry tells her the truth: that he is planning to marry his pregnant secretary? Jade is a cut above the rest and waits patiently for the day when she and Terry can live peacefully together on his ill-gotten gains, probably on the Costa del Sol. But fate is about to deal a terrible hand, leaving Billie Jo's protected world in tatters.

About the Author

Billie Jo is Kimberley Chambers's first novel. She has been a disc jockey and a street trader and is now a full-time writer. She lives in Romford.

Sie haben viel vor im Leben. Doch nach einem harten Arbeitstag oder am Wochenende haben Sie manchmal einfach keine Energie mehr. Sie wollen Sport machen, aber Sie schaffen es nicht immer, sich aufzuraffen. Die Folge: Sie sind mit sich unzufrieden. Der Body-Coach zeigt Ihnen, wie Sie das vermeiden können. Denn erst das richtige Zusammenspiel aller Faktoren führt dazu, dass Sie für sich richtig viel verändern können.

(source: Bol.de)