Weaponized

With the advent of new AI technology, Polity citizens now possess incredible lifespans. Yet they struggle to find meaning in their longevity, seeking danger and novelty in their increasingly mundane lives. On a mission to find a brighter future for humanity, ex-soldier Ursula fosters a colony on the hostile planet Threpsis. Here, survival isn’t a given, and colonists thrive without their AI guidance. But when deadly alien raptors appear, Ursula and her companions find themselves forced to adapt in unprecedented ways. And they will be pushed to the very brink of what it means to be human. As a desperate battle rages across the planet, Ursula must dig deep into her past if she is to save humanity’s future. Weaponized is a thrilling far-future space opera by acclaimed science fiction author Neal Asher, a standalone adventure set in the expansive Polity universe. A bright new future for humanity – or a dark and inescapable past. Ursula has lived twice the normal human lifespan, courtesy of the latest technology. But now she's struggling to find excitement and purpose, so signs up to the Polity's military. She excels in weapons development, and progresses rapidly up the ranks. But after botching a powerful new ammunition test, she's dismissed from service. Hunting for a simpler, more meaningful existence, the ex-soldier heads for the stars. And after founding a colony on the hostile planet of Threpsis, Ursula finally feels alive. Then deadly raptors attack and the colonists are forced to adapt in unprecedented ways. The raptors also raise a deeply troubling question: how could the Polity have missed these apex predators? And alien ruins? Meanwhile, biophysicist Oren has formed his own survival plan – one he'll pursue at any cost. As a desperate battle erupts to consume the planet, Ursula finds she must dig deep into her past to ensure humanity's future. A thrilling standalone adventure set in the world of the Polity. When a far-flung colony is attacked by powerful alien raptors, its inhabitants will be forced to fight back – even as war changes them in monstrous ways.