"[A] combination of mystery and science fiction almost reaching the level of Isaac Asimov's classic LIJE BALEY-Daneel Olivaw novels." -CHICAGO SUN TIMES Her code name is Sparta. Her beauty veils a mysterious past and abilities far surpassing those of a normal human. For she is more than human: Sparta is the first product of advanced biotech engineering. But now she is little more than a cipher to herself-crucial memories of the past three years are locked away in the dark recesses of her brain. When the crippled freighter Star Queen arrives at Venus Station with a lone survivor on board, Sparta must risk her life to investigate what really happened during its deadly voyage in space. She must solve this mystery even as she unlocks another-the truth behind her own identity . . . This tautly paced story brings together the genius of Arthur C. Clarke and Paul Preuss , whose work has been described by The NEW YORK TIMES as "Lively, intelligent . . . hard-driving."