WinneroftheArthurC.ClarkeAward2013Amaroonedoutpostofhumanitystrugglestosurviveonastartlinglyalienworld:sciencefictionasitoughttobefromBritishsciencefiction'sgreatwhitehope.YouliveinEden.YouareamemberoftheFamily,oneof532descendantsofAngelaandTommy.YoushelterbeneaththelightandwarmthoftheForest'slanterntrees,huntingwoollybuckandharvestingtreecandy.BeyondtheforestliethetreelessmountainsoftheSnowyDarkandacoldsobitterandanightsoprofoundthatnomanhasevercrossedit.TheOldestamongyourecountlegendsofaworldwherelightcamefromthesky,wheremenandwomenmadeboatsthatcouldcrossbetweenworlds.Oneday,theOldestsay,theywillcomebackforyou.YouliveinEden.YouareamemberoftheFamily,oneof532descendantsoftwomaroonedexplorers.Youhuddle,slowlystarving,beneaththelightandwarmthofgeothermaltrees,confinedtoonebarelyhabitablevalleyofastartlinglyalien,sunlessworld.After163yearsandsixgenerationsofincestuousinbreeding,theFamilyisriddledwithdeformityandfeeblemindedness.Yourcultureisainfantilestewofhalf-rememberedfactanddevolvedritualthatstiflesinnovationandpunishesindependentthought.YouareJohnRedlantern.YouwillbreakthelawsofEden,shattertheFamilyandchangehistory.Youwillbethefirsttoabandonhope,thefirsttoabandontheoldways,thefirsttokillanother,thefirsttoventureintotheDark,andthefirsttodiscoverthetruthaboutEden.