Description:

The Iron Tactician launched NewCon Press' ongoing series of novella quartets – four stand-alone novellas by different authors, linked by shared cover art. It is a deep space adventure that features the author's long-running protagonist Merlin, who has previously appeared in "Merlin's Gun" (1999), "Hideaway" (2000) and "Minla's Flowers" (2007). When Merlin encounters the derelict hulk of an old swallowship drifting in the middle of nowhere, he can't resist investigating. He soon finds himself involved in a situation that proves far more complex than he ever anticipated. CURATOR'S NOTE (The Best of British SFF Bundle) «I reviewed Al Reynolds' first novel – the superb Revelation Space – back when it was published, and I adore his work – everything from his novels to his short stories. Here is a fantastic short novel by this master of SF, who is also a thoroughly nice guy. I run into Al every now and then – whether in the grotty charms of a holiday camp in Wales (the unlikely setting of an SF convention one year) to a fancy event at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, and it is always a blast to see him.» – Lavie Tidhar