Dark Space

Dark Space is a 2007 space opera novel by science fiction author Marianne de Pierres.^[1] It is the first novel in the author's The Sentients of Orion series.^[2]

Dark Space

First edition
Author	Marianne de Pierres
Language	English
Series	Sentients of Orion
Genre	Science fiction
Publisher	Hachette Australia
Publication date	2007
Media type	Paperback
Pages	432
ISBN	9781841494289
Followed by	Chaos Space

It was a finalist for best science fiction novel in the 2007 Aurealis Awards.^[3]

Synopsis

While drifting in space, lost, due to navigational failure, a mineral scout discovers God. When word gets out, academics from the studiums across Orion scramble to gain the Entity's favour. However, not all the sentients of Orion hold this 'god' in awe - some, like the philosophers of Scolar and the Transhuman's of Extropy are deeply suspicious. Onto the grand stage of inter-planetary academic politics, intellectual conceit and dubious theology walks Baronessa Mira Fedor. Her planet has been torn apart by the invasion of a race of giant tardigrades. Only the Orion League of Sentient Species can lend aid, but OLOSS are preoccupied with communicating with god. Mira, together with the larrikin, misogynist Jo-Jo Rasterovich, is left to her own resources to find help. In doing so she unmasks a galaxy-size intrigue.

Reviews

Ion Newcombe, reviewing the novel for Antipodean SF noted: "Dark Space is well-paced, precisely written (although I did wince at a couple of dangling participles), and I'm now hanging out to read the next two books."^[4]

In The Sunday Age Lucy Sussex found that "De Pierres does good, strong heroines, and also action sequences. Add a mining planet that reads like Pilbara gone feral, and disgusting invading aliens, and we have here the first in a series of novels. It mingles science with Machiavellian intrigue, vivid scene-setting with child care."^[5]