Fallen Dragon

Peter F. Hamilton

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Born in a colony world in 2310, Lawrence Newton hankered after the golden era of starships exploring the galaxy. But the age of human starflight was drawing to a close... Twenty years later, he's the sergeant of a washed-out platoon taking part in the bungled invasion of another world. The giant corporations who own the remaining starships euphemistically call such campaigns "asset realisation". In practice, it's simple piracy. But while he's on the ground being attacked by disturbingly effective resistance forces, Lawrence hears stories about the Temple of the Fallen Dragon-the holy place of a sect devoted to the worship of a mythical creature. Its priests are said to guard treasure large enough to buy lifelong happiness for any man, prompting him to mount an enterprise of his own...