The fifth and final instalment in the GAP sequence: Stephen Donaldson's fascinating universe peopled with characters of a passion and intensity only he could create. As the conflict between humankind and the Amnion heads for crisis, Morn Hyland, the cyborg Angus Thermopyle and the survivors on board the crippled starship Trumpet must return from deep space to Earth. Their mission is to prevent all-out war with the aliens, which would leave humanity to pay a terrible price. But the Amnion react with swift fury, and suddenly Earth is threatened with fiery destruction ...