Multiple Hugo and Nebula awardwinning author Greg Bear is one of sciencefictions most accomplished writers. Bold scientific speculation rivetingplots and a fier... » 

Multiple Hugo and Nebula awardwinning author Greg Bear is one of sciencefictions most accomplished writers. Bold scientific speculation rivetingplots and a fierce humanism reflected in characters who dare to dream ofbetter worlds distinguish his work. Now Bear has written a mindbendingly epicnovel that may well be his masterpiece. Do you dream of a city at the end oftime? In a time like the present in a world that may or may not be our ownthree young peopleGinny Jack and Danieldream of a doomed decadent city ofthe distant future the Kalpa. Ginnys and Jacks dreams overtake them withoutwarning leaving their bodies behind while carrying their consciousnessesforward into the minds of two inhabitants of the Kalpaa wouldbe warriorJebrassy and an inquisitive explorer Tiadbawho have been genetically retroengineered to possess qualities of ancient humanity. As for Daniel He dreamsof an empty darknessall that his future holds. But more than dreams linkGinny Jack and Daniel. They are fateshifters born with the ability to skiplike stones across the surface of the fifth dimension inhabiting alternateversions of themselves. And each guards an object whose origin and purpose areunknown gnarled stony artifacts called sumrunners that persist unchangedthrough all versions of time. Hunted by others with similar powers who seek thesumrunners on behalf of a terrifying goddesslike entity known as the ChalkPrincess Ginny Jack and Daniel are drawn despite themselves into an allbut hopeless mission to rescue the futureand complete the greatest achievementin human history. From the Hardcover edition. «