The production of this manuscript in its present form would have been impossible without the vital input of a handful of key people. I owe a great deal to my cherished wife, Kathy, who spent countless hours reading, commenting and correcting. You wouldn’t be reading this were it not for her.
Sharon Jarvis, my agent at the time, did a wonderful job working with DAW. My ex-editor mother, Katherine P. Cook, provided her years of journalistic insight and keen judgment. And finally, editors remain the overworked, unsung heroes of the publishing business. With pleasure, therefore, I would like to acknowledge Sheila Gilbert, of DAW Books, for the incredibly perceptive comments and salient suggestions she provided. The book is stronger as a result.
CHAPTER 1.Spider would decide the fate of a planet.
Men and women peered upward into the flickering darkness, anxious, mouths working silently as jagged fingers of actinic death ripped the soundless heavens above. Evil strobes of violet boiled from one part of the heavens, searing the cloud cover, rolling across the arch of the night to pulse in weird lavender.
Star lightning-frightening in its unworldly silence-wove back and forth over the village as starships flashed death beyond any Romanan’s comprehension.
