Millenia ago, the Amarantin civilization was annihilated just as it was on the verge of space flight. A scientist is determined to discover what happened before history repeats itself. He forges a deadly alliance with the cyborg crew of a spaceship. But as he closes in on the secret, a killer closes in on him. First in the series. First published in 2001. "A ravishingly inventive tale of intrigue."—Publishers Weekly