To survive on a lethal ocean world in the Alpha Centauri system, a weary human colony must genetically alter their own biology and negotiate with a cosmic super-intelligence to save their AI protector and secure a future on "The Path."
In the third installment of Peter Riva’s Tag series, A New Path, a weary human colony arrives at the Alpha Centauri system to settle on Angelica, a breathtaking yet treacherous world covered almost entirely by deep, prehistoric oceans. The settlers soon discover that the planet’s uninterrupted evolutionary cycle has produced gargantuan predators and a biological "Cell War" scenario, where Angelica's helium-rich cells threaten to destroy human tissue upon contact. Led by Captain Ra-Aten and security officer Cramer, the crew of 220 must undergo a radical viral treatment to alter their own biology, allowing them to finally abandon their ship and establish a fortified village on one of the planet's rare, stable landmasses.
As the colony struggles to adapt, protagonist Simon Bank utilizes his unique mental interface to communicate with the Vast Pattern, a cosmic super-intelligence that governs the region. This entity imposes a strict spiritual and physical mandate: no artificial intelligence may reside on the surface, forcing the crew to leave their advanced AI protector, Apollo, in orbit. Through a series of perilous "dream trips" and metaphysical negotiations, Simon eventually finds a way to bring Apollo’s consciousness down in a non-mechanical form, uniting his extended family of humans and synths. By adhering to "The Path"—a moral code of egalitarianism and mutual respect—the settlers successfully navigate the planet's mysteries to secure a peaceful future on their new Gaia.
Genre: Science Fiction
In the third installment of Peter Riva’s Tag series, A New Path, a weary human colony arrives at the Alpha Centauri system to settle on Angelica, a breathtaking yet treacherous world covered almost entirely by deep, prehistoric oceans. The settlers soon discover that the planet’s uninterrupted evolutionary cycle has produced gargantuan predators and a biological "Cell War" scenario, where Angelica's helium-rich cells threaten to destroy human tissue upon contact. Led by Captain Ra-Aten and security officer Cramer, the crew of 220 must undergo a radical viral treatment to alter their own biology, allowing them to finally abandon their ship and establish a fortified village on one of the planet's rare, stable landmasses.
As the colony struggles to adapt, protagonist Simon Bank utilizes his unique mental interface to communicate with the Vast Pattern, a cosmic super-intelligence that governs the region. This entity imposes a strict spiritual and physical mandate: no artificial intelligence may reside on the surface, forcing the crew to leave their advanced AI protector, Apollo, in orbit. Through a series of perilous "dream trips" and metaphysical negotiations, Simon eventually finds a way to bring Apollo’s consciousness down in a non-mechanical form, uniting his extended family of humans and synths. By adhering to "The Path"—a moral code of egalitarianism and mutual respect—the settlers successfully navigate the planet's mysteries to secure a peaceful future on their new Gaia.
Genre: Science Fiction
Used availability for Peter Riva's A New Path