The Depths of Time
Table of Contents- Cover
- Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Dramatis Personae
- The Timeshaft Wormhole Transport System
- CIRCUM CENTRAL TIMESHAFT WORMHOLE 5211 A.D.
- INTERLUDE Grand Library Habitat Orbiting Neptune
- SOLACE--127 YEARS LATER 5339 A.D.
- TIMESHAFT SHIP DOM PEDRO IV
- CHAPTER SIX Out of Time
- CHAPTER SEVEN Out of the Cold, into the Dark
- CHAPTER EIGHT Heisenberg’s Suitcase
- CHAPTER NINE Arrivals
- CHAPTER TEN Awakened by Death
- AUXILIARY LIGHTER CRUZEIRO DO SUL
- CHAPTER ELEVEN Walls of Glass and Steel
- CHAPTER TWELVE World Enough and Time
- CHAPTER THIRTEEN Bursting the Bubble
- CHAPTER FOURTEEN Jonah and Pandora
- CHAPTER FIFTEEN Domino Theory
- SOLACE CENTRAL ORBITAL STATION
- CHAPTER SIXTEEN The Deepest Tower
- CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Chamber of the Conjuror
- CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Rude Awakenings
- SOLACE
- SUNSROX AND GREENHOUSE
- CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Gatekeepers
- CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO A Thousand Times
- CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Collateral Damage
- CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Blowout
- CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE The Ocean of Years
- CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX The Depths of Time
- Glossary and Gazetteer of Terms, Places, Ships, etc.
- Back Cover
PRAISE FOR ROGER MacBRIDE ALLEN
’
S
THE DEPTHS OF TIME
“
A tense tale of intrigue set in the far future of terraformed—and doomed—worlds.
”
Library Journal
“
A highly readable balance of characterization, graceful and sometimes witty prose, and thoroughly, intelligently developed ideas.
”
Booklist
“
I
’
ve read my fair share of Roger MacBride Allen novels over the years, and I
’
d have to say
The Depths of Time
is his best thus far. This novel has it all—hardcore science fiction foundation, a plot based upon a mystery that is guaranteed to drive you crazy trying to unravel it, and a deeply moving story.
”
Barnes and Noble
Explorations
Novels by Roger MacBride Allen
The Torch of Honor
Rogue Powers
Orphan of Creation
The Modular Man*
The War Machine (with David Drake)
Supernova (with Eric Kotani)
Farside Cannon
The Ring of Charon
The Shattered Sphere
Caliban
Inferno
Utopia
Ambush at Corellia*
Assault at Selonia*
Showdown at Centerpoint*
The Game of Worlds
The Depths of Time*
The Ocean of Years*
The Shores of Tomorrow*
*Published by Bantam Books
The Depths of Time
Roger MacBride Allen
Bantam Books New York
Toronto
London
Sydney
Auckland
This edition contains the complete text
of the original trade paperback edition.
NOT ONE WORD HAS BEEN OMITTED
THE DEPTHS OF TIME A Bantam Spectra Book
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Bantam Spectra trade paperback edition published March 2000
Bantam Spectra mass market paperback edition 1 July 2001
SPECTRA and the portrayal of a boxed
“
s
”
are trademarks of Bantam Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2000 by Roger MacBride Allen
Cover art copyright © 2001 by Gregory Bridges
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 99-40436 No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publisher.
For information address: Bantam Books.
If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that
this book is stolen property. It was reported as
“
unsold and destroyed
”
to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received
any payment for this
“
stripped book.
”
ISBN-10: 0553-57497-3 ISBN-13: 978-0-553574-97-5
Published simultaneously in the United States and Canada
Bantam Books are published by Bantam Books, a division of Random House, Inc. Its trademark, consisting of the words
“
Bantam Books
”
and the portrayal of a rooster, is Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. Marca Registrada. Bantam Books, New York, New York.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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To Eleanore and Matthew,
mother and son,
for creating a
past, present, and future
filled with wonder and joy.
He hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.
—
Ecclesiastes
3:11
That which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.
—
Ecclesiastes
3:15
Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him back to see what shall be after him?
—
Ecclesiastes
3:22
The Timeshaft Wormhole Transport System
CIRCUM CENTRAL TIMESHAFT WORMHOLE
5211 A.D.
CHAPTER ONE
Assault on the Future
CHAPTER TWO
The Fog of Time
CHAPTER THREE
Lost to the Past
INTERLUDE
Grand Library Habitat
Orbiting Neptune
SOLACE--12
7
YEARS LATER 5339 A.D.
CHAPTER FOUR
Loss
of Confidence
CHAPTER FIVE
Socks in the Sour
CHAPTER SIX
Out of Time
CHAPTER SEVEN
Out of the Cold,
into the Dark
CHAPTER EIGHT
Heisenberg
’
s Suitcase
CHAPTER NINE
Arrivals
CHAPTER TEN
Awakened by Death
AUXILIARY LIGHTER CRUZEIRO DO SUL
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Walls of Glass and Steel
CHAPTER TWELVE
World Enough
and Time