Praise for David J. Williams “David J. Williams writes on the finest edge of science fiction. The Autumn Rain novels are driving and relentless, full of rock ’em sock ’em cyber warfare, space commandos, cutthroat politics and one stunning reversal after another. Strap yourself in. These books start fast and never let up.” —JEFF CARLSON, author of Plague War Praise for THE MIRRORED HEAVENS “Williams’s first novel delivers a powerful, rapid-fire SF adventure/intrigue story with echoes of cyberpunk. This stellar hard SF debut with hopes of sequels belongs in most SF collections.” —Library Journal “Slam-bang action and realpolitik speculations.” —Sci Fi Weekly “A crackling cyberthriller. This is Tom Clancy interfacing Bruce Sterling. David Williams has hacked into the future.” —STEPHEN BAXTER, author of the Manifold series “The Mirrored Heavens is a complex view of global politics in time of crisis. Williams understands that future wars will be fought as much on- line as off. It’s also rousing adventure with breathless, non-stop action— Tom Clancy on speed. And you will not be able to guess the ending.” —NANCY KRESS, author of the Probability trilogy “Explodes out the gate like a sonic boom and never stops. Adrenaline bleeds from Williams’s fingers with every word he hammers into the keyboard. The razors of The Mirrored Heavens would eat cyberpunk’s old-guard hackers and cowboys as a light snack.” —PETER WATTS, Hugo-nominated author of Blindsight “The Mirrored Heavens presents an action-jammed and audacious look at a terrifyingly plausible future.” —L. E. MODESITT Jr., author of the Saga of Recluse series “The Mirrored Heavens is a twenty-first-century Neuromancer set in a dark, dystopian future where nothing and no one can be trusted, the razors who rule cyberspace are predators and prey, and ordinary human life is cheap. It starts out at full throttle and accelerates all the way to the end.” —JACK CAMPBELL, author of the Lost Fleet series “The Mirrored Heavens has almost non-stop action. … [It] seems the verbal equivalent of a first-person shooter video game. The action is hard- hitting, as well as highly destructive and widely fatal. … The work … evokes some of the best of cyberpunk.” —Blogcritics Magazine “David J. Williams’s The Mirrored Heavens is a definite frontrunner for my ‘Unexpected Surprise of the Year’ Award. If Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy, and William Gibson had ever teamed up to write a book, this is the sort of thing they would have come up with.” —Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist “Calling to mind Clint Eastwood and Dirty Harry … Mirrored Heavens’s action is wild and relentless. … Mirrored Heavens cleaves closely enough to the cyberpunk canon to be clearly identified with it, while departing from it sharply enough to refresh and renew its source.” —Seattle Times Praise for THE BURNING SKIES “[Williams] is standing toe to toe with Richard Morgan at his best.” —Rescued By Nerds “I loved it! … The Burning Skies is a great blend of military science fiction and cyberthriller that should appeal to fans of Richard Morgan.” —Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist, 8 out of 10 “About as perfect of a middle book as you could ask for. … [The] perfect mix of physics, technology, and action.” —MentatJack “If any Hollywood producer is reading this please do take up this series and think of it as a cross between The Matrix, Star Wars and The Spy Game. David J. Williams is a terrific writer and his vision is definitely one which is vastly different from what is being currently offered on the SF market scene. His books are the kinds which are truly made for the big screen … and with the dramatic ending in The Burning Skies … you’ll be shaking with anticipation for the third book to see how it all ends.” —Fantasy Book Critic BY DAVID J. WILLIAMS THE AUTUMN RAIN TRILOGY THE MIRRORED HEAVENS THE BURNING SKIES THE MACHINERY OF LIGHT To the Muses For carrying me through CONTENTS The Earth-Moon System on the Eve of World War Three Sketches of the After Flash Priority: Control to Senior Handlers Part I: Incandesce Part II: Apogee Part III: Lodestone’s Vigil Part IV: Eternity’s Ashes Part V: Autumn Rain Acknowledgments