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The Folded Sky

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About this listen

 Strap in for an epic new WHITE SPACE adventure from the multiple Hugo award winning, and John W. Campbell award winning author.

Praise for Elizabeth Bear

'Like the best of speculative fiction, Bear has created a fascinating and complete universe
that blends high-tech gadgetry with Old World adventure and political collusion' Publishers Weekly

'This is certainly the best science fiction novel I've read in 2019 so far and I look forward to see how Bear develops the characters and her impressively rich universe' (POPULAR SCIENCE)

'Elizabeth Bear is just as comfortable writing steampunk and fantasy as she is hard science fiction, and Ancestral Night, first half of a duology, brims with heady concepts and sleek far-future hardware. There is a mordant wit at work' (FINANCIAL TIMES)

'Awesome, awe-inspiring space opera. Fittingly, it shifts from weighty themes to lighter humour with dexterity, grace and crackling dialogue' (Daily Mail)

'Bear has constructed a fascinating, absorbing universe populated with compelling and intelligent characters who conform to neither clichés nor stereotypes. It's sci-fi of the top order' (popmatters.com)©2025 Elizabeth Bear Adventure Science Fiction Space Opera Astronomy Interstellar Computer Science

Critic reviews

This is certainly the best science fiction novel I've read in 2019 so far and I look forward to see how Bear develops the characters and her impressively rich universe.
Machine is a fascinating, compelling, and ultimately satisfying space opera in a vast, complex, weird, and interesting universe
Elizabeth Bear is just as comfortable writing steampunk and fantasy as she is hard science fiction, and Ancestral Night, first half of a duology, brims with heady concepts and sleek far-future hardware. There is a mordant wit at work.
Bear has a striking command of tension and character, and a deep interest in ethics and human behaviour
Awesome, awe-inspiring space opera. Fittingly, it shifts from weighty themes to lighter humour with dexterity, grace and crackling dialogue
Bear has constructed a fascinating, absorbing universe populated with compelling and intelligent characters who conform to neither clichés nor stereotypes. It's sci-fi of the top order.
All stars
Most relevant
Thoroughly enjoyed this. I’m fully invested in this universe having also enjoyed the first two books. The Folded Sky is by turns poetic, philosophical, funny, suspenseful (and kinda sexy, btw) whilst remaining well paced. Achieving that flow isn’t easy, but Bear makes it seem so. I realised at some point that I was picturing the scenes and the action without needing to conjure it at all. This author’s style hits a sweet spot for me, balancing rich description with room to imagine. There is a massive intelligence called the Baomind and mysterious shadow others who have taken interest in our main character. Not to mention her deeply dodgy ex lover. This is all deftly woven together. Finally, I ask you, dear Audible listener, what is a space story without cats who have their own little space suits in times of emergency? I want more of this universe, please.

A Family Drama Space Adventure with Pirates, System-Spanning Intelligence, Cats!

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If you are a fan of sci-fi stories with BDOs, like the first book in the series, you will probably being disappointed. The Baomind doesn’t really come relevant till the novel is almost over. If you like sci-fi family dramas on the other hand you will not be disappointed. To me this was just ok.

Slightly disappointing

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