Summary

A solar system in which the end of history has already been surpassed: people allow themselves to be ruled by computer reason – ActualSanity – which keeps the community of planets in an harmonious ideal state. Political processes no longer seem to be necessary in this AI-driven, totalitarian and cosy government; instead, identity-forming collectives distinguish themselves from each other solely by subtle behavioural differences. Until a threat looms on the horizon: the Broken Hearts Collective disquiets the solar system with terrorist attacks – a development at the centre of which Marten Eliot and Emma Glendale, young head fellows of the Dolphin Collective, unexpectedly find themselves.