Sentients of Orion Series by Marianne de Pierres

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 Transhumans of Extropy are deeply suspicious. Onto the grand stage of inter-planetary academic politics, intellectual conceit and dubious theology walks Baronessa Mira Fedor... moreWhile 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 Transhumans 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. But will she live long enough to tell anyone? less

Having fled the invasion on Araldis, Mira Fedor seeks aid from the nearest Orion League planet, but authorities there want her bioship Insignia. While Mira flees from world to world, Araldis burns. Why is initiate Tekton so careful just to acquire a mineral alloy? Why do so many protagonists have links to the Stain Wars? And what does the Sole Entity -God- want?

Araldis is still under occupation by hostile forces, and with the Orion League of Sentient Species seemingly unable - or unwilling - to help, Mira Fedor is forced to turn to the mercenary captain, Rast Randall, if she is to save her planet. But while Rast's contacts may be free of political constraints, what they lack in red tape they more than make up for in ruthlessness. As some of their hidden strategies are revealed, others become even more opaque... moreAraldis is still under occupation by hostile forces, and with the Orion League of Sentient Species seemingly unable - or unwilling - to help, Mira Fedor is forced to turn to the mercenary captain, Rast Randall, if she is to save her planet. But while Rast's contacts may be free of political constraints, what they lack in red tape they more than make up for in ruthlessness. As some of their hidden strategies are revealed, others become even more opaque. Why have the philosophers of Scolar been targetted? How far does the Extropist influence extend into Orion space? From Lasper Farr, the Stain War veteran and ruler of the junk planet Edo, to the Sole initiates at Belle Monde to Rast herself, everyone is pursuing their own agenda. But are they really separate goals? Or are events rushing to a single, terrifying conclusion . . . ? less

Mira Fedor and her friends stand in the eye of the hurricane, and everything in the Orion League remains in flux. Mira is pregnant, and her gestation is proceeding at an inhuman pace. As she hides out on her bioship, Insignia, it seems clear that the extropist’s procedures have had unforeseen effects—but will her child be more than human? As secrets are revealed and conspiracies exposed about the attack on Araldis, Mira wonders if there is still time to thwart one last master plan... moreMira Fedor and her friends stand in the eye of the hurricane, and everything in the Orion League remains in flux. Mira is pregnant, and her gestation is proceeding at an inhuman pace. As she hides out on her bioship, Insignia, it seems clear that the extropist’s procedures have had unforeseen effects—but will her child be more than human? As secrets are revealed and conspiracies exposed about the attack on Araldis, Mira wonders if there is still time to thwart one last master plan. The pieces are all in place; all that remains is for each side to commit to its endgame. But there is one question nobody has thought to ask: Will the Sole Entity—God—play by the rules? It is the epic conclusion to what the Sydney Morning Herald called “Space opera supreme.” Marianne de Pierres’s epic series the Sentients of Orion has been called “a grand space opera” (Times Literary Supplement) and “brilliant in all senses of the word” (Sean Williams). All four books were short-listed for the prestigious Aurealis Award, with the final book winning for Best Novel. Don’t miss the entire Sentients of Orion series: Dark Space, Chaos Space, Mirror Space, and Transformation Space. less