The Stars Are Also Fire (Harvest of Stars Book 2)

In a far-future universe, a linked system of artificial intelligences called the cybercosm manages Earth and the cosmos more efficiently than human rulers ever could, rendering humanity largely obsolete. On the moon, genetically engineered Lunarians descended from Dagney Beynac—a descendant of Anton Guthrie, founder of Fireball Enterprises—work to preserve their lives, freedom, and resources against threats from both encroaching humans and controlling machines. Over five centuries, tensions have grown following political and technological revolutions. Now, a secret hidden since the earliest days of lunar colonization is about to be revealed—one that could shut down the cybercosm and plunge the universe into chaos. Poul Anderson continues the story he introduced in Harvest of Stars, exploring a vision of the future that raises deep questions about the nature, complexity, and worth of humankind.