Dr. Sunya Song, a historian and mother, travels with her family across the galaxy to help preserve the ancient alien AI Baomind, only to find herself caught between a pirate siege, a murder mystery, and fraught personal relationships. Blending space opera, first contact, and family drama, the story explores the challenges of emotional regulation, the preservation of knowledge, and the complexities of identity and connection in a richly imagined, multi-species future.

Reader Review Summary

Set in the far future of Elizabeth Bear's White Space universe, this novel follows Dr. Sunya Song, a specialist historian and 'archinformist,' as she travels with her teenage children and alien wife to a remote research station near the edge of the Milky Way. Their mission is to preserve and study the Baomind, a massive, ancient artificial intelligence orbiting a dying red giant star. The story incorporates elements of space opera, first contact, family drama, and a murder mystery, as the isolated station comes under siege by anti-AI Freeport pirates. The narrative explores advanced technologies such as rightminding (emotional regulation via brain-implanted 'foxes'), pan-species cooperation, and the challenges of alien communication, all while Sunya navigates complex relationships with her family, her academic rival/ex-lover Vickee DeVine, and the sentient AIs that run the ships and habitats.

Readers praised the book's intricate worldbuilding, noting the detailed depiction of a multi-species civilization, advanced AI, and the concept of rightminding as a tool for emotional regulation. The inclusion of a protagonist who is a mother balancing professional and family responsibilities was highlighted as a refreshing perspective in science fiction. Many found the action sequences, especially the space battles and the tension of the pirate blockade, to be engaging. The philosophical and scientific discussions—ranging from quantum physics to the societal implications of neuroscience—were appreciated by those interested in speculative ideas. Several reviewers also enjoyed the cast of characters, including the distinct personalities of the AIs, the depiction of alien species, and the presence of space cats and a reconstructed dinosaur.

Criticisms focused on the book's pacing and narrative structure, with several readers finding the plot slow or lacking momentum, especially in the first half. Some felt that the story tried to juggle too many elements—family drama, academic rivalry, murder mystery, and space opera—resulting in a lack of cohesion. The main character, Sunya, was described by some as difficult to relate to, with her frequent introspection and use of rightminding leading to a heavily therapized tone and a sense of emotional distance. Secondary characters, such as Sunya's wife Salvie and rival Vickee, were sometimes seen as one-dimensional. The scientific explanations, particularly those involving quantum mechanics and dark matter, were criticized as clunky or implausible by readers with a background in science. A few found the depiction of the pirates and some antagonists to be overly simplistic or cartoonish.

The novel is the third entry in the White Space series but is structured to be accessible to new readers, with each book featuring different protagonists and largely self-contained plots. The setting is characterized by a utopian, highly civilized society punctuated by moments of violence and crisis. The book blends multiple genres, including space adventure, family drama, and philosophical inquiry, and features a diverse cast with LGBT and queer representation. While some readers preferred earlier entries in the series, others appreciated the continued exploration of the Synarche civilization and the recurring theme of how technology shapes society and personal relationships. The book was released on June 17, 2025, and has received an average rating of 4.11 out of 5 from 228 readers.