by Tom Toner
Sparker Prism weapon, fires explosive rounds like fireworks
Spring rifle/pistol Crude Prism weapon, fires bolts with a loaded spring
Succession Law in which the eldest of the Amaranthine takes the throne
Sun chart Prism map of the Firmament and Investiture
Sun Compendium, the Set of navigational books
Superluminal Method of surpassing the speed of light
Tethered moon Moon connected to a Vaulted Land by vast metal chain links
Threene-Wunse Conflation Entente between two proto-Prism empires, once a threat to the Amaranthine
Thresholds Enormous and exceedingly ancient hollow-chambered bulbs; a method of travelling across galaxies in times long past
Treaty of Silp, the Vulgar-Lacaille treaty
Unified The language of the Amaranthine
Vaulted Land Hollowed planet in the Firmament, containing an artificial sun and interior continents
Volirian Conflict Battle involving many Prism breeds at the Amaranthines’ behest; reprisal for the Jurlumticular Throng’s invasion of a Vaulted Land
Wheelhouse Large rolling wheel, often made of wood, girdled with a ring of balconies and living spaces; used as transport and dwelling on the Old World
Wiro Dragon-like creature of Lacaille fairytales
Zeliospeak Zelioceti creole language
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This one was a proper labour of love, so I’d like to apologise for being a pain in the ass for the last couple of years and thank a few very special people: the oldies back in Somerset; my soon-to-be Mrs. Toast; the majestic Andy Kifer; Nick, Joss, Marty, Giddy, Lee and family; the Callinicoses; Rita (I still have your laptop, oops) and Steve; Al Robertson, Jon Wallace, Alex Lamb, Ed Cox and Mike Martinez; Marcus, Gillian, Craig, Sophie and everyone at Gollancz (including, as always, the legendary Simon Spanton); the brilliant Lisa Rogers, without whom my novels would make even less sense; Cory, Jeremy and the chaps at Night Shade; the Gernert Company and Caspian Dennis at Abner Stein.
And lastly to everyone who read and enjoyed this novel’s predecessor, The Promise of the Child. Being a debut author can be pretty nerve-racking, and your encouragement meant so much. Thank you.
London, May 2016
TOM TONER was born in Somerset, England, in 1986. After graduating with a degree in fine art from Loughborough University and the FHSH in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany, he moved to Australia, teaching life drawing and working in an art gallery near Melbourne. Upon returning to England he completed his debut novel, The Promise of the Child. Toner currently lives in London.