Captain Blite, repeatedly resurrected by a mysterious device called the dark diamond, is hunted across space and time as he seeks to understand its power and escape a cycle of death and time reversal. The story explores high-stakes survival, the allure and danger of time manipulation, and features the return of fan-favorite Polity characters amid complex AI motives and interstellar intrigue.

Reader Review Summary

Set in Neal Asher's Polity universe, this first entry in a new space opera trilogy follows Captain Blite, who is repeatedly targeted for assassination but cannot die due to a mysterious device called the dark diamond. Each time Blite is killed, the dark diamond reverses time to just before his death, forcing him to relive traumatic events until he finds a way to escape. These repeated deaths generate 'time flashes' that reveal possible futures, drawing the attention of both Polity agents and the alien p-Prador, who seek to control the device's power. The narrative features high-stakes action, time manipulation, and the return of established characters such as Ian Cormac and Mr Crane, with the story left open for sequels as part of a planned trilogy. The book is categorized as science fiction and space opera, and is available as an audiobook, with a publication date of April 10, 2025. It has received an average reader rating of 4.35 out of 5 from 84 ratings and 8 full reviews.

Readers responded positively to the return of familiar characters from the Polity universe, particularly Ian Cormac and Mr Crane, and appreciated the deeper exploration of their abilities and roles. Several reviews highlighted the book's fast-paced, action-driven plot and the complexity added by Asher's development as a writer, noting that the story is more intricate than earlier Polity novels. The depiction of flawed AIs with human-like motives was also mentioned as a point of interest. Many readers found the book difficult to put down and expressed excitement for the continuation of the trilogy, with some describing the reading experience as riveting and immersive.

Some readers expressed dissatisfaction with the book's ending, describing it as abrupt and unsatisfying, with the sense that the story stopped at an arbitrary point rather than reaching a natural conclusion. There were also comments that the narrative took a long time to develop and that the resolution felt more like a setup for a sequel than a complete story. Additionally, a few reviewers were critical of the book's inclusion of a positive reference to a real-world figure, which they felt detracted from their enjoyment of the story.

The book has generated a moderate amount of reader engagement, with 84 ratings and 8 full reviews at the time of reporting. It is published by Pan Macmillan and is the first in a planned trilogy, indicating that unresolved plot threads and open-ended elements are likely intentional to set up future installments. The marketing description emphasizes the high-octane, time-bending nature of the story and its appeal to fans of action-oriented science fiction. Praise from other authors and publications is cited in the promotional material, positioning the book within the broader context of Neal Asher's body of work and the established Polity universe.