City on Fire

In the Nebula-nominated Metropolitan, Aiah and Constantine won the war for their world-city, Caraqui, by overthrowing the corrupt Keremaths. Their ace-in-the-hole was an unlimited supply of plasm, the geomantic substance that gives the world its power. Now Constantine has paired Aiah with their dangerous "ally," the hanged man Taikoen who lives in the plasm. For Constantine needs help to defeat the Silver Hand and protect his New Regime, no matter how much it will cost Aiah. In the process Aiah may finally reach beyond the Shield, an impenetrable barrier created by the Ascended Ones that seals Caraqui from the stars.