{
    "id": 292223,
    "slug": "lightless",
    "nstc": null,
    "title": "Lightless",
    "subtitle": null,
    "collection_title": null,
    "collection_part_number": null,
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    "description": "<b>NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY<i> BUZZFEED </i>AND <i>KIRKUS REVIEWS</i> &bull;&#160;</b>With deeply moving human drama, nail-biting suspense&mdash;and bold speculation informed by a degree in physics&mdash;C. A. Higgins spins a riveting science fiction debut guaranteed to catapult readers beyond their expectations.<br> &#160;<br> Serving aboard the <i>Ananke,</i> an experimental military spacecraft launched by the ruthless organization that rules Earth and its solar system, computer scientist Althea has established an intense emotional bond&mdash;not with any of her crewmates, but with the ship&rsquo;s electronic systems, which speak more deeply to her analytical mind than human feelings do. But when a pair of fugitive terrorists gain access to the <i>Ananke,</i> Althea must draw upon her heart and soul for the strength to defend her beloved ship.<br> &#160;<br> While one of the saboteurs remains at large somewhere on board, his captured partner&mdash;the enigmatic Ivan&mdash;may prove to be more dangerous. The perversely fascinating criminal whose silver tongue is his most effective weapon has long evaded the authorities&rsquo; most relentless surveillance&mdash;and kept the truth about his methods and motives well hidden.<br> &#160;<br> As the ship&rsquo;s systems begin to malfunction and the claustrophobic atmosphere is increasingly poisoned by distrust and suspicion, it falls to Althea to penetrate the prisoner&rsquo;s layers of intrigue and deception before all is lost. But when the true nature of Ivan&rsquo;s mission is exposed, it will change Althea forever&mdash;if it doesn&rsquo;t kill her first.<br><br><b>Praise for <i>Lightless</i></b><br> <b><i>&#160;<br></i></b>&ldquo;Gripping . . . sci-fi flavored with a hint of thriller.&rdquo;<b>&mdash;New York <i>Daily News</i></b><br> <i>&#160;</i><br> &ldquo;[A] measured, lovely science-fiction debut [that is] more psychological thriller . . . contained, disciplined, tense . . . The plot is compulsive. . . . <i>Lightless</i> is the first of a planned series, and you can&rsquo;t help looking forward to learning what&rsquo;s next.&rdquo;<b>&mdash;<i>The New York Times</i></b><br><br>&ldquo;<i>Lightless</i> is full of suspense and fun as hell to read.&rdquo;<b>&mdash;<i>BuzzFeed</i></b><br><br> &ldquo;Absolutely brilliant . . . This is science fiction as it is meant to be done: scientific concepts wedded to and built upon human ideals.&rdquo;<b>&mdash;Seanan McGuire, <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author of the October Daye series<br></b><br>&ldquo;The stakes in this story are high&mdash;life and death, rebellion and betrayal&mdash;and debut novelist Higgins continually ratchets up the tension. . . . A suspenseful, emotional story that asks plenty of big questions about identity and freedom, this is a debut not to be missed.&rdquo;<b>&mdash;<i>Kirkus Reviews</i> (starred review)<br></b><br>&ldquo;A taut, suspenseful read.&rdquo;<b><i>&mdash;Tech Times<br></i></b><br>&ldquo;<i>Lightless </i>is an exercise in lighting a very slow fuse and building the tension to an unbearable pitch while making us guess just how apocalyptic the ultimate explosion will be. . . . It is a high-wire act, a wonderment, and a fine accomplishment from a name we&rsquo;ll be seeing again.&rdquo;<b>&mdash;<i>Sci Fi</i></b>",
    "imprint": null,
    "language_code": "eng",
    "original_language_code": null,
    "page_count": 304,
    "duration_seconds": null,
    "publication_date_first": "2016-07-12",
    "publication_date_latest": "2016-07-12",
    "cover_url": null,
    "editions": [
        {
            "isbn": "9780553394443",
            "product_form": "BC"
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    "created_at": "2025-09-19T13:10:49+00:00",
    "updated_at": "2025-11-02T00:22:38+00:00",
    "publisher": {
        "id": 4108,
        "slug": "random-house-us",
        "name": "Random House US",
        "created_at": "2025-09-19T13:07:56+00:00",
        "updated_at": "2025-09-19T15:10:09+00:00"
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    "subjects": [
        {
            "scheme_identifier": "32",
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            "subject_code": "333",
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