The Trade of Queens: Book Six of the Merchant Princes
The latest Merchant Princes novel shows trouble intensifying in all three alternate universes accessible to the worldwalking Clan. A dissident Clan faction has nuked Washington, killing the president, and plans on exterminating the rest of the Clan. Moreover, a dissident U.S. government faction hopes to use the disaster to seize power and destroy the Clan’s world, Gruinmarkt, with more powerful nukes. The few with any sense, including Miriam, who is bearing the heir to Gruinmarkt’s throne, seek refuge in the third world, just finished with a nasty war. With lots of action in a very grim plot, this should please Stross fans and anyone else interested in Dr. Strangelove scenarios. --Frieda Murray