Infinity Beach
It's the end of the third millennium and it appears we're alone in the universe. There were no microbes on Mars, no fish under Europan ice. There've been no artificial radio signals, no indication of advanced architecture in the interstellar neighborhood, not so much as a blade of grass. Nada. We've had FTL for several centuries, and except for a few independents with fame and fortune on their minds, the great quest has been all but given up.
Still, rumors persist. One of them maintains that an encounter did take place, thirty years ago, and that a private yacht, the Hunter, brought something back. The flight's pilot, a war hero with impeccable credentials, denies anything unusual happened. But something seems to haunt the woods in the Severin Valley, where the trail leads to a sunken villa in Lake Remorse.
Kim Brandywine, a public relations specialist for a scientific foundation, is the cloned sister of a member of the Hunter's crew. The sister, with two other crew members, vanished shortly after the vessel's return. And Kim is about to find herself caught up in a frantic search for the truth.
Synopsis
Excerpt
Infinity Beach was a 2000 Nebula nominee
The Author Comments
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Comments & Reviews:
"Infinity Beach is an engrossing science fiction mystery; one of the best I've read in a long time. In addition to telling a great story, it offers the reader thoughtful questions about what it means for humanity to mature rather than stagnate as a species. McDevitt has served up another exciting, literate yarn."
"Jack McDevitt is that splendid rarity, a writer who is a storyteller first and a science fiction writer second. In his ability to absolutely rivet the reader, it seems to me that he is the logical heir to Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. If you've never read McDevitt before, you couldn't find a better book to start with than Infinity Beach, a nail-biting neo-Gothic tale that blends mystery, horror, and a fascinating look at how first contact with an utterly alien species might happen. I simply couldn't put it down — I was up until long past midnight and loving every minute of it. Kim Brandywine is one of McDevitt's most engaging characters, both real and appealing. Snatch this baby up, all right? You're going to love it even if you think you don't like science fiction. You might even want to drop me a thank-you note for the tip before racing out to your local bookstore to pick up the Jack McDevitt backlist."
"Combines elements of mystery and horror with a classic story of first contact in a masterly tale."
— Library Journal
"The mystery ... unfolds as precisely as an origami flower, and will hold readers in thrall." (Starred review)
— Publishers Weekly
"Exquisitely timed revelations maximize suspense, and fine characterization and world building also hold the reader's interest, as do many original touches."
— Booklist
"A slick first contact story."
— San Diego Union Tribune
"Superb blend of spaceships with 'whodunit?'...One more thing: There's a clue to the mystery in Infinity Beach so twistingly original that McDevitt casually reveals it over and over, daring the reader to get it. When you do, it's jaw-dropping time."
— Macon Telegraph
"Intriguing plot..."
— Fantastica Daily
"Page turner...A deft combination of science fiction and a wisp of horror."
— Florida Times-Union
— Kirkus, starred review