Book II of Pandora. Despite malevolent lifeforms and the implacable hostility of Ship, the self-styled god demanding WorShip, Mankind's struggle to colonise the bleak ocean planet of Pandora has been at least partially successful. But at what cost?! Genetic mutation has evolved two separate societies, human subspecies: The technologically advanced Mermen, who live in sophisticated undersea habitats and dream of plundering Ship itslef; and the Islanders, who inhabit huge organic raft cities and whose way of life depends on biological engineering. Their uneasy co-existence is always imperilled but the results of one Merman project threatens to precipitate open conflict and human extinction. Cover art by Fred Gambino.