The Anomaly —
A Universe from the Mind of Bradley Stoke
The Anomaly is a mysterious unknown entity whose appearance in the Thirty-Eight Century C.E. at the furthest edge of the Solar System has alarmed everyone The Interplanetary Union has launched the Space Ship Intrepid on a two-year voyage across deep space to rendezvous with the Anomaly. Perhaps it can also explain the existence of the bizarre Apparitions that have appeared randomly and spontaneously across the Solar System from the surface of Mercury to the midst of the Kuiper Belt, from beyond the Oort Cloud and within the rings of Saturn. Surely there is a connection between the Anomaly and the unicorns, flying taxis and chimaeras that have been seen in the most unlikely and inhospitable parts of deep space.
However, it isn't only Captain Kerensky and her crew who have an interest in uncovering the Anomaly's secrets. There is Paul from the Anarchist colony of Godwin and his wife, Beatrice, from the pleasure city of Ecstasy. There is Isaac and other religious fanatics who have banded together in a Holy Coalition with the express purpose of thwarting the mission. And there are many other interested parties from throughout the Solar System and beyond.
Will the Anomaly reveal its secrets? Or will the feuding parties sabotage the quest before it has even reached its destination? And are the crew and passengers of the Space Ship Intrepid quite what they seem to be?
Paul had never believed that he could qualiify for passage aboard the Interplanetary Space Ship Intrepid on its mission across the Kuiper Belt to investigate the unknown entity known as the Anomaly that lies beyond the edge of the Solar System. Neither has anyone who has ever met him. But notwithstanding his evident unsuitability, Paul and his new wife Beatrice are passengers on a voyage beyond the solar ecliptic in the company of the Solar System's most expert scientists.
Surely this is exactly what Beatrice was always meant to be. She had in Paul a loving faithful husband. She had as many other lovers as she might desire. And most of all she was playing a crucial role in the Space Ship Intrepid's quest for the Anomaly. How could it ever be better for her? But Beatrice's moment of glory and the success of the Intrepid's mission is under threat from shadowy and mysterious entities whose very existence has not even been suspected.
The voyage of the Space Ship Intrepid is approaching its end. Will the nature of the Anomaly at last reveal itself? This is a question of paramount importance to Vashti and Beatrice, and in which there is no greater stake. For Captain Kerensky, the success of the mission is measured more by the well-being of the Intrepid's crew and passengers. Whereas Paul remains blissfully ignorant and unaware of almost everything around him and expects to play no part in the success of the mission.
