Summary
In a meticulously reconstructed world where immortality is engineered by a covert agency, Iden—an adept, guarded figure in a sprawling ensemble—navigates memory, loyalty, and the cost of staying human as she threads through a city of fog, gears, and concealed pasts. The line between ally and adversary blurs as a single clue begins to unravel a larger conspiracy rooted in the Company itself.
Kage Baker’s Company novels form a tightly interwoven arc set against a Victorian-inspired backdrop where immortality is engineered by a clandestine agency. This entry expands the Company’s web of memory and allegiance, continuing to blend sly humor with sharp, perilous intrigue. The series has earned a devoted readership for its unusual premise, sly social satire, and the way it treats memory as both currency and weapon. Critics have praised its originality and sustained oddball charm, though some note the tonal shifts and dense worldbuilding can demand patience from new readers.
Awards & Recognition
(5)
- 1999 Locus Poll Award Best First Novel Nominee In the Garden of Iden
- 2004 Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire Roman étranger Nominee Sky Coyote
- 2005 Locus Poll Award Best SF Novel Nominee The Life of the World to Come
- 2006 Locus Poll Award Best Collection Nominee The Children of the Company
- 2008 Locus Poll Award Best SF Novel Nominee The Sons of Heaven