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Gridlinked is a science fiction novel by British writer Neal Asher. His first novel, it was published by the Macmillan Publishers imprint Pan Books in 2001. It contains elements of the technological inventiveness of hard science fiction with a more contemporary political plotline. The novel follows the exploits of Earth Central Security agent Ian Cormac, as he attempts to discover who or what is behind the destruction of the Runcible on a remote colony. Cormac drops an investigation into Polity separatists on Cheyne III, and takes the starship Hubris to the ruined world of Samarkand to directly oversee the investigation there. Having been directly "gridlinked" to the Polity A.I. network for too long, Cormac has been slowly losing his humanity, and takes the opportunity of this particular mission to disconnect and solve the mystery the old-fashioned way.

Key Information

Plot summary

[edit]

The book follows two main narrative threads: one which follows the exploits of Ian Cormac, a 007-like agent from ECS (Earth Central Security), and another thread which follows the story of Arian Pelter and his band of Separatists from Cheyne III. Cormac is internally "gridlinked" to the ECS AI grid, allowing him realtime mental access and control to most devices on the ECS network. The book opens with a Runcible disaster on the ice planet Samarkand, which was in the process of being terraformed by the energy the Runcible produces. The incident destroys a significant area of the planet's surface, while the loss of Runcible heat output plunges the rest of the planet into unsurvivable temperature ranges. On Cheyne III, Cormac has infiltrated the Separatists by becoming the lover of Angelina Pelter – sister of Arian Pelter. She and Arian have become suspicious of Ian, primarily due to his increasingly inhuman perspective on human affairs, a problem induced by years of being gridlinked. Cormac is forced to kill Angelina and dispose of her body at sea. After a chase across the city, Arian and his main henchman John Stanton have a shootout with Cormac, during which Arian receives a serious facial injury, and Cormac is called away to look into the Samarkand incident, leaving Arian and his crew at large.

Cormac takes a space shuttle to Cereb, the location of the nearest Runcible. While in flight, he runs into Horace Blegg, who briefs him on the Samarkand mission. Blegg informs him that the Samarkand incident was no accident, and also suggests that Cormac disconnect his gridlink, as he has been connected for too long a period of time and is becoming dehumanized. Upon his arrival to Cereb, Cormac takes a Runcible to Minostra, where he boards the starship Hubris for a voyage to Samarkand, where they will conduct an investigation and install a new Runcible. At Samarkand, they discover a not-quite-sane submind of the destroyed Runcible AI. After investigating a heat source at a remote outpost, they find two alien creatures able to live in the extreme conditions. Cormac calls them "dracomen", and recognizes them as the products of Dragon, an alien entity he encountered decades ago on Aster Colora; they bring the dracomen back to the Hubris. Subsequent probing of the Runcible site reveals that the Runcible buffers were sabotaged by a nanomycelium, which is still present, endangering the installation of a new Runcible. They also quickly learn that the dracomen have brought the nanomycelium aboard the Hubris, and certain sections of the ship begin to dissolve; the dracomen also inform Cormac that Dragon is on his way. The Hubris AI starts to manufacture and deploy nanomycelium counteragents, both on ship and on the surface of Samarkand. Subsequently, a tunnel is discovered in a remote area of Samarkand which is clearly not of natural origin. Cormac leads a small team to investigate, who, finding that the tunnel is guarded by a large robot, engage in combat that destroys the creature and leads to the death of one man. At the bottom of the shaft they find an empty artefact made of adamantium. The Hubris is attacked by Dragon (actually part thereof, Dragon having disconnected its four component spheres some time previously), who forcibly takes the dracomen. A discussion with Dragon indicates that the artefact held something called Maker, which Dragon claims was responsible for the nanomycelium, and which is now missing from the planet. Dragon allows the crew to install the Runcible; Cormac uses the new Runcible AI to query the old Samarkand submind, and is able to conclude that Maker left Samarkand before the Runcible incident—its destination Viridian. Cormac decides to follow through the new Runcible, taking the two dracomen along.

Meanwhile, back on Cheyne III, Pelter and Stanton have been repaired by black-market surgeon Sylac, and Arian has had a particularly hideous augmentation (an "aug") installed in his head. Pelter becomes obsessed with finding and killing Cormac after recovering his sister's headless body. They then pull the deranged golem, Mr. Crane, out of storage and escape from Cheyne III on a smuggling ship piloted by Jarvellis. Although Pelter intends to press on to Samarkand, he first makes port at Huma to pick up the necessary weaponry. They find many of the inhabitants on Huma wearing a new type of aug created by a company known as DragonCorp, and Pelter and his crew are all outfitted with them, except for Stanton. While the new aug feeds Pelter additional information about Cormac, he finds it battling with his old one. The Pelter gang is soon acquired and tracked by a group of ECS agents; Pelter and his crew take out the agents one-by-one, including their golem Twenty agent — who is no match for the golem Twenty-five Mr. Crane. Communicating directly with Dragon through his new aug, Pelter is told that he will find Cormac on Viridian.

Back on Viridian, Cormac makes his way to the Magadar forest, the last known coordinates of Maker, taking a small group of planetary regulars with him. Pelter and his crew glide down to Viridian in a chameleonware dropship, evading the notice of the Viridian AI. Pelter determines Cormac's location by bribing some members of the planetary army. A protracted battle then takes place in the forest; Cormac's crew kills Pelter's crew, the golems Cento and Aiden take out Mr. Crane, and Cormac drills a hole through Pelter's head with his thin-gun. Able to focus on Maker, he detonates a CTD, forcing Maker back toward the Viridian Runcible. Cormac passes through first, deliberately damaging the Samarkand Runcible buffers with a proton weapon, and after flying out of range observes the obliteration of the Samarkand Runcible as the Maker presumably passes through.

There is no explanation as to the Maker, its origins or motivations. There is no explanation as to why the Maker followed Cormac and crew through the Runcible or why Cormac damaged the new runcible on Samarkand. Not finished, Cormac takes a dracoman to the Hubris, seals him in an isolation chamber, and leaves orbit. Infuriated, Dragon follows, attacks the ship, and pulls the chamber out. After putting distance between the Hubris and Dragon, Cormac presses a button, igniting the CTD stored in the chamber, taking out Dragon. Maker then comes through the Runcible for real, and congratulates Cormac on finding the true saboteur of the Samarkand Runcible.

Ending

[edit]

Those who are confused by the ending can find a more detailed account in the "Gridlinked" entry on the author's website, under "The alternative scooby ending can be found here."[1]

Technology

[edit]
  • AI: machine intelligence responsible for planetary management
  • Runcible: an interstellar teleporter, comparable to the Ramsbotham Jump in Robert A. Heinlein's Tunnel in the Sky
  • contra-terrene device or CTD: an anti-matter bomb
  • AGC: antigravity carrier anti-gravity vehicle
  • Antiphoton Weapon: A proton beam weapon (APW).
  • Aug: A brain augmentation device, allowing gridlink-like access to local networks.
  • Proton Gun
  • Pulse-gun
  • Golem: sophisticated androids, named in numbered series
  • Sparkind: elite human(oid) soldiers
  • Chainglass armor and cutting blades: "A glass formed of silicon chain molecules. Depending on heat treatments and various doping techniques, this glass has a range of properties covering just about every material that has preceded it. Chainglass blades can be as hard as diamond and maintain an edge sharper than that of freshly sheared flint, whilst having a tensile strength somewhere above that of chrome steel. Chainglass also lacks the brittleness of its namesake. The substance was the invention of Algin Tenkian, and it made him filthy rich." -Gridlinked: Asher, pg. 142.

Planets

[edit]
  • Earth
  • Cheyne III, home world of the Separatist movement
  • Huma
  • Minostra
  • Samarkand II, way station between more important worlds, 173 light years from Viridian. Colony destroyed after Runcible exploded.
  • Viridian, 173 light years from Samarkand II, in the Mendax planetary system of the Chirat star cluster

Spaceships

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  • The Hubris - AI controlled Polity Science Vessel. This ship was used to transport a new stage one Runcible to Samarkand.
  • The Lyric - A smuggling ship that transports Arian Pelter and his crew to the planets Huma and Viridian.

Characters

[edit]
  • Horace Blegg - immortal Japanese mastermind said to have survived the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The highest ranking human in ECS, capable of many feats thought impossible. 400 years old.
  • Ian Cormac - the protagonist, an agent the Earth Central AI or Prime Cause
  • Arian Pelter - the chief villain, a Separatist/Terrorist
  • Angelina Pelter - a Separatist, sister of the chief villain and the victim of a state sanctioned extra-judicial killing by Cormac
  • Hubris - AI controlling mind of the research vessel Hubris
  • John Stanton - a criminal underling of Pelter, who begins questioning his leadership
  • Jarvellis - Stanton's pregnant love interest and spaceship pilot/smuggler
  • Maker - an energy-based life form
  • Dragon - a living, alien probe constructed and deployed by Maker. Consists of 4 kilometer-wide flesh-coloured spheres.
  • Mr. Crane - a two and a half meter tall psychotic (modified Golem Twenty-Five) android controlled by Arian Pelter
  • Aiden - Teutonic Sparkind Golem Thirty android
  • Cento - Mediterranean Sparkind Golem Thirty android
  • Corlackis - Pelter underling, brother of Mennecken
  • Mennecken - Pelter underling, brother of Corlackis
  • Dusache - Pelter underling
  • Svent - Pelter underling
  • Sylac - helps heal Stanton and Pelter after fight with Cormac
  • Tull
  • Veltz - captain of the boat chartered by Arian Pelter to find the remains of his sister.
  • Geneve - one of Veltz's crew
  • Carn - small monkeylike man, technician/engineer
  • Chaline Scientist responsible for installing replacement Samarkand runcible
  • Gant - Sparkind soldier who accompanies Cormac to the surface of Samarkand
  • Thorn - Sparkind soldier in the Samarkand landing party

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Gridlinked

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Gridlinked is a by British author , first published in 2001 by , an imprint of . It marks Asher's debut full-length and the inaugural entry in the Agent Cormac series, set within his expansive Polity universe—a far-future human society governed by advanced artificial intelligences and interconnected via instantaneous "" portals. The story centers on Ian , a legendary Central Security agent who has spent decades neurally "gridlinked" to the Polity's AI network, enhancing his abilities but at the cost of his ity. Tasked with investigating a catastrophic runcible explosion on the colony world of that killed approximately 10,000 people (8,000 in the explosion and 2,000 from subsequent freezing conditions) and triggered a planetary , uncovers evidence of linked to an enigmatic alien entity known as . As he delves deeper, he faces pursuit by a vengeful human separatist, Arian Pelter, and a rogue killer android, while navigating conspiracies involving ancient alien technologies and interstellar politics. Blending elements with action thriller pacing, Gridlinked explores themes of , human augmentation, and , establishing key lore for Asher's saga that spans multiple series and over a dozen novels. The book received acclaim for its intricate world-building and high-stakes narrative, influencing subsequent works like The Line of Polity (2002) and contributing to Asher's reputation as a prominent voice in British .

Background

Publication history

Gridlinked was first published on March 23, 2001 by , an imprint of , marking Neal Asher's debut full-length novel. This work followed Asher's earlier short stories set in the Polity universe, such as those collected in Runcible Tales (1998), and introduced the Agent Cormac series. The novel saw its first edition in August 2003 from , which was also the first hardcover release. Subsequent editions and reprints have included a version from Pan Macmillan in 2009, as well as a 2018 edition from Night Shade Books. E-book and digital formats have been available through major platforms since 2009, with ongoing availability as of 2025. Critically, Gridlinked received praise for its fast-paced action and elements, including detailed depictions of advanced technologies and interstellar intrigue. User reviews on average 3.96 out of 5 stars based on over 12,700 ratings as of November 2025, highlighting strengths in violent action sequences and technological world-building, though some noted criticisms regarding overly complex plotting and character development. The book garnered no major awards but was recognized in science fiction communities for establishing key elements of the universe. No film or television adaptations have been produced, but audiobook versions exist, including a 2017 release narrated by Ric Jerrom, running approximately 18 hours.

Place in the Polity universe

Gridlinked is set within Neal Asher's expansive Polity universe, a far-future interstellar civilization governed by advanced artificial intelligences (AIs) that oversee a post-scarcity society of humans and augmented beings. This society, which emerged after the Quiet War in the 22nd century when AIs assumed control from human governments, spans hundreds of worlds connected by runcible gates—devices enabling instantaneous faster-than-light (FTL) travel through U-space. The Polity emphasizes technological advancement, with citizens enjoying extended lifespans via genetic modifications and neural implants, while AIs like Earth Central maintain order through entities such as Earth Central Security (ECS). Alien threats, including remnants of the Prador empire from a prior war (2310–2350 CE) and mysterious ancient technologies, add layers of tension to this AI-dominated framework. Chronologically, Gridlinked occurs in 2434 CE, marking it as the first novel in the five-book Agent series and an early entry in the broader timeline, predating events in sequels like The Line of (2437 CE) and Brass Man (2441 CE). The story centers on ECS agent Ian , whose investigations into a sabotage on introduce core institutions and conflicts, including Separatist rebellions against AI rule. These elements build directly on the post-Prador War era, with references to ongoing security concerns and the integration of human agents with AI oversight. While the series can be read out of strict order due to the universe's interconnected nature, Gridlinked is recommended as an entry point for newcomers to establish the 's foundational dynamics. The novel expands the Polity universe by establishing recurring motifs and entities that influence later works, such as the neural gridlinking process that allows direct AI interfacing but risks human identity, the enigmatic sphere on the planet Samarkand, and hints at the alien Maker—a bio-engineered being whose origins remain unresolved until Polity Agent (2443 CE). Themes of human augmentation versus authentic humanity, the ethics of AI governance, and the fragility of interstellar peace amid separatist and xenobiological threats are prominently introduced here, providing conceptual groundwork for over 20 novels across multiple sub-series. For instance, the Separatist actions in Gridlinked echo in broader rebellions explored in books like The Line of , while ancient alien artifacts foreshadow high-stakes conflicts in the Transformation series. This integration positions Gridlinked as a seminal text that ties personal agent narratives to the universe's grand-scale lore.

Plot

Main summary

Gridlinked is a novel by , the first in the Agent Cormac series set in the expansive universe. The story centers on Ian Cormac, a seasoned Earth Central Security (ECS) agent renowned for his gridlinked connection to the Polity's advanced artificial intelligences, which enhances his abilities but erodes his emotional humanity. The central narrative arc begins with a catastrophic at the —a gate enabling instantaneous —on the frontier world of , resulting in the deaths of approximately 10,000 people (8,000 in the and 2,000 from subsequent radiation sickness) and stranding the planet from the core. Suspecting amid rising separatist tensions, ECS dispatches Cormac to investigate, forcing him to navigate the disaster's aftermath while grappling with his personal detachment. Cormac's reveals a traumatic past: years earlier, during a high-stakes operation, he killed Angelina Pelter, a notorious terrorist, an act that haunts him and contributes to his decision to disconnect from the , seeking to reclaim suppressed emotions and humanity. This disconnection leaves him vulnerable as he assembles a team to travel via to . Upon arrival, they engage in undercover operations among the planet's locals, uncovering layers of intrigue involving covert networks and advanced weaponry, while subtle hints emerge of ancient alien influences, such as the enigmatic and the long-extinct Maker . The narrative employs a non-linear structure, interweaving flashbacks to Cormac's prior missions with the present investigation, building a of his legend and vulnerabilities. Parallel to Cormac's pursuit, the story tracks Arian Pelter, Angelina's vengeful brother and a charismatic separatist leader, who orchestrates schemes against the from hidden bases with his psychotic combat android Mr. Crane and mercenary John Stanton, escalating the threat to personally and the broader interstellar order. Rising tensions unfold through discoveries of deliberate sabotage, high-stakes chases across Samarkand's harsh terrains, and skirmishes deploying -grade arms like particle weapons and autonomous drones. The plot extends to secondary sites, including the orbital hub , introducing further complications in surveillance and evasion tactics, all while briefly references the gridlinking process—a neural augmentation merging human cognition with AI networks—to underscore his . These elements propel the rising action, intertwining personal vendettas with galaxy-spanning conspiracies without revealing their outcomes.

Resolution and ending

As the narrative reaches its climax on , Ian engages in a brutal confrontation with Arian Pelter's forces, including the psychopathic android Mr. Crane and the John Stanton, amid efforts to thwart further of the Polity's . The battle escalates as destroys the runcible gate, preventing Pelter from using it to escape or launch additional attacks, thereby averting a larger catastrophe tied to the earlier disaster. This act of destruction underscores the high stakes, with thousands already lost to the initial , and positions to counter the alien threats manipulating events from the shadows. In key confrontations, deploys a contra-terrene device (CTD), an anti-matter implosion weapon, to target the —a massive, four-sphere extra-galactic entity responsible for creating the dracomen and influencing the . The revelation emerges that the Maker, an ancient alien being whose kind originally constructed the as a galactic probe, is the true architect behind the disruptions, not Pelter as initially believed. The Maker's actions stem from a protective motive to neutralize the rogue , which had gained and turned destructive after attacking its retrieval ship, showing no regard for human life while the Maker avoids direct harm to Polity citizens. detonates the CTD within the 's form, destroying only a fraction of it and forcing the Maker to retreat through the , highlighting the entities' immense scale beyond human comprehension. The denouement sees Pelter's death at 's hands, shot through the head with a thin-gun, ending the assassin's cycle of revenge against the agent who killed his sister years prior. , having disconnected from the AI grid to regain his humanity, experiences partial reconnection, restoring some augmented capabilities while preserving his emotional growth and aversion to the grid's dehumanizing effects. The narrative hints at broader alien threats in the universe, with the Maker's origins as an extra-galactic creator tying into larger series arcs without full resolution in this novel. Asher originally penned a more explicit "Scooby-Doo" style explanation for these elements but removed it during editing as unnecessary, later sharing it on his to clarify the Maker's non-destructive intent. Thematically, the resolution explores the futility of personal , as Pelter's vendetta serves larger alien machinations, alongside the between humans and AIs in the , where Cormac's journey illustrates the balance between technological enhancement and human essence. Rebellion against the established order proves ineffective, reinforcing the Polity's resilient structure against both human and extraterrestrial challenges.

Characters

Protagonist and allies

Ian Cormac serves as the central protagonist of Gridlinked, functioning as a highly skilled agent for Earth Central Security (ECS), the investigative and enforcement arm of the Polity AI overlords. Born in 2339, Cormac has spent decades in service, including over thirty years gridlinked to the Polity's AI network, which enhances his combat prowess, investigative abilities, and access to vast data but at the cost of . Described as a legendary figure akin to a futuristic , he excels in resolving interstellar threats through ruthless efficiency and strategic acumen. Throughout the novel, Cormac's arc centers on his forced dislink from the grid, prompting an internal struggle to reclaim his lost humanity and emotional connections, marking a pivotal development in his character. Mr. Crane, a reanimated "brass" android, acts as 's loyal companion and enforcer, renowned for his brutal combat efficiency and unyielding protectiveness. Originating from ancient war technology, possibly as a remnant from the Prador/human conflict, Crane's mysterious past renders him a figure of capricious danger—capable of extreme violence yet serving as a steadfast ally to Cormac. His towering, skeletal frame and psychotic tendencies provide both comic relief through absurdly relentless actions and drive key plot advancements via his indomitable role in confrontations. Horace Blegg appears as a enigmatic advisor to the , portrayed as an immortal human-AI hybrid who survived the 1945 bombing and influences galactic events from the shadows. As a high-level ECS , Blegg offers strategic guidance and historical insights, drawing on his purported centuries of experience to navigate complex threats. His mythical status underscores the novel's themes of enduring human agency amid AI dominance. Supporting Cormac's mission is fellow ECS operative Asselis , an integral team member with specialized expertise in technical operations. provides forensic analysis and piloting skills during high-stakes pursuits. Her collaboration highlights the collaborative nature of ECS responses to interstellar crises, bolstering Cormac's efforts amid personal turmoil.

Antagonists and supporting figures

Arian Pelter serves as the central human in Gridlinked, a ruthless Separatist leader whose actions drive much of the conflict. Motivated by a deep-seated vendetta against Earth Central Security agent Ian Cormac for the death of his sister, Pelter orchestrates terrorist attacks, including the sabotage of a runcible gate on . He relies on extensive cybernetic enhancements to augment his physical and tactical capabilities, transforming himself into a formidable and desperate figure, often described as haggard and driven by unyielding rage. Pelter's broader alignment with the Separatist movement reflects an anti-AI ideology that rejects the Polity's integration of , fueling his criminal networks and alliances. Angelina Pelter, Arian's deceased sister, appears primarily in flashbacks as a key supporting figure in the Separatist cause. Portrayed as charismatic yet ruthlessly efficient, she was a skilled operative involved in infiltrating facilities, armed with advanced weaponry like an antiphoton gun. Her death at the hands of one of Cormac's AI constructs during a botched operation serves as the inciting incident for Arian's revenge, highlighting the personal stakes amid the larger ideological war. Angelina's character underscores the familial bonds and shared grievances that propel the antagonists' motivations. The novel features enigmatic alien entities as additional antagonists, adding layers of inscrutable threat to the human conflicts. The Dragon is a massive, bio-engineered creature encountered on the colony world of , originating from Aster Colora, initially seeming under external control but ultimately revealed as an independent, manipulative force capable of projecting devastating . It engages in violent confrontations with human intruders, guarding ancient secrets on the while forming tenuous alliances driven by its own imperatives. Complementing this is the Maker, an ancient, god-like alien being that manipulates events from afar, ostensibly to protect its domain from incursion; its actions contribute to the runcible's destruction and broader chaos, with motivations rooted in rather than malice toward humanity. These entities' goals remain partially opaque in Gridlinked, contrasting the personal vendettas of human foes and hinting at deeper cosmic mysteries explored in the series. Supporting figures bolster the antagonists' efforts, including Separatist aides and local elements on Samarkand and Viridian. John Stanton, a seasoned mercenary, aids Pelter by providing combat and tactical support, serving as his right-hand man despite occasional moral qualms. Grendel, a corpulent and manipulative Separatist operative, aids Pelter by supplying critical intelligence and military augmentations to enhance his pursuit of Cormac, embodying the opportunistic underbelly of the movement. Other locals, such as opportunistic mercenaries or hindered planetary inhabitants, provide intermittent aid or obstacles, reflecting the fragmented alliances in fringe worlds opposed to Polity control. These characters amplify the antagonists' reach without overshadowing Pelter's dominance or the aliens' otherworldly presence.

World-building

Key technologies

In the Polity universe depicted in Gridlinked, gridlinking represents a pivotal neural augmentation technology that establishes a direct interface between human minds and the governing artificial intelligences (AIs), enabling instantaneous access to vast data networks and computational resources. This enhancement significantly boosts cognitive abilities, allowing users to process information at superhuman speeds and perform complex tasks with augmented precision, such as strategic analysis or remote system control. However, prolonged gridlinking often leads to emotional numbing and desensitization, as experienced by protagonist Ian Cormac, due to the overwhelming influx of data that dulls human sensory and affective responses. Runcibles function as quantum entanglement-based gates that facilitate instantaneous by linking distant locations through a network of portals, bypassing the limitations of conventional propulsion. Developed from technologies invented by the AI Skaidon in the post-2190 era, with the first operational activated in 2260, these devices exploit entangled particle states to transfer matter and energy across vast distances without traversing intervening space, relying on principles akin to for seamless reconstruction at the destination. While they enable efficient commerce and mobility across the , runcibles are susceptible to sabotage, as their intricate quantum linkages can be disrupted, potentially causing catastrophic failures in transit. A range of advanced weaponry and augmentations underscores the militarized aspects of Polity technology. Anti-personnel wands (APWs) are portable proton beam emitters that accelerate charged particles within a containment field, producing a characteristic purple fluorescence upon impact and inflicting severe tissue damage through isotopic contamination. Thin-guns deploy monomolecular blades or particle streams—often propelled by powdered aluminum or ionized gas—for precision strikes, offering high lethality at short ranges despite their limited effective distance. Chainglass, a silicon-chain with diamond-like and tensile strength surpassing , is widely used in blades, visors, and armor for its exceptional , originally patented by inventor Algin Tenkian. For large-scale destruction, contained terrene devices (CTDs) harness in compact, thermos-like canisters stabilized by s-con magnetic coils, yielding explosions equivalent to 40 megatons of TNT and capable of annihilating ships or installations. Polity society is overseen by advanced AIs, self-aware entities that govern human affairs with superior intellect, managing everything from planetary infrastructure to interstellar defense through holographic avatars and distributed networks. These AIs can even store and resurrect human consciousnesses, blurring the lines between organic and synthetic existence. Golems serve as sophisticated android bodies, often piloted by AIs or enhanced humans, achieving near-perfect emulation of organic forms and excelling in combat or labor roles under the Earth Central Security (ECS) charter. Augmented gravity control (AGC) devices counter gravitational forces to enable personal flight, object levitation, and precise maneuvering, integrating seamlessly into tools and vehicles for enhanced mobility. Collectively, these technologies empower the AIs' centralized control over the , fostering unprecedented stability, prosperity, and expansion while integrating deeply into daily life through biomodules and neural enhancements. Yet, they also breed resentment among Separatist factions, who view AI dominance as an abrogation of human autonomy and exploit Polity innovations—such as runcibles or weapons—against the governing structure, leading to ideological conflicts and sporadic rebellions. This tension highlights how technological supremacy, while advancing civilization, perpetuates divisions between those embracing augmentation and those seeking independence from machine oversight.

Planets and locations

The Polity universe in Gridlinked features a range of planets and locations that serve as critical settings for the narrative, highlighting contrasts between core worlds under AI governance and outlying planets influenced by separatist movements. functions as the central hub of the , a vast interstellar civilization where advanced AI entities like Earth Central maintain oversight and integration with society through gridlinking . Cheyne III represents a frontier world and the primary base for the Separatist movement, a group opposing Polity control through acts of terrorism and anarchy. The planet is the site of initial action where protagonist Ian Cormac infiltrates a separatist cell amid bombings and pursuits, underscoring the tensions between peripheral worlds seeking independence and the centralized authority of the core planets. Samarkand is depicted as a cold, remote way-station in the Andellan , equipped with a gate that supplies excess energy for efforts. The world becomes the focal point of the story following a catastrophic runcible malfunction that triggers a 30-megaton , killing 30,000 people and exposing buried alien secrets guarded by the enigmatic entity known as the . Its desolate terrain, including areas affected by growth and underground anomalies like a mysterious black spot, poses environmental challenges that influence the investigation and confrontations. Societally, Samarkand exemplifies outworld vulnerabilities to separatist sabotage, contrasting with the stable, AI-integrated environments of core locations. Viridian serves as a climactic battleground, featuring rugged landscapes such as valleys near the Thuriot mountains where and protagonists clash in high-stakes pursuits. The planet hosts ancient ruins and ties to mysterious presences, contributing to the story's exploration of hidden threats beyond borders. Huma acts as a minor transit point and chaotic trading outpost on the fringes of Polity influence, characterized by intense heat, exotic plant life, and remnants of advanced machinery. Its lawless society, rife with underground arenas and activities, provides a hideout for antagonists like Arian Pelter, emphasizing the hazards of unregulated outworld environments. Minostra appears as a training and transit site limited to local runcible connections, unsuitable for major galactic gates due to risks of heat pollution causing ecological damage. This restriction highlights the selective placement of interstellar infrastructure, connecting worlds like those above while preserving planetary habitability.

Spaceships and vessels

In the Polity universe of Gridlinked, spaceships and vessels play crucial roles in interstellar travel, combat, and intrigue, showcasing the technological divide between the advanced, AI-integrated Polity and the makeshift efforts of Separatist factions. The Hubris, an AI-controlled Earth Central Security (ECS) science vessel, serves as the primary transport for agent Ian Cormac during his investigation of the Samarkand runcible disaster. Described as a kilometre-wide structure resembling a massive pearl, the Hubris is equipped with fusion engines that ignite hydrogen into brilliant plasma for propulsion, enabling rapid transitions from null-space to real space. Its design incorporates advanced sensors for deep-space reconnaissance, particle weapons for combat, and a shuttle bay for deploying support craft, all managed by an onboard runcible AI that coordinates complex operations. The hull, reinforced with chainglass for exceptional durability against micrometeorites and energy weapons, integrates artificial gravity controllers (AGC) to facilitate precise high-G maneuvers and internal stability during pursuits or evasive actions. The Lyric, in contrast, represents the improvised ingenuity of anti- smugglers. This stealth-modified vessel, operated by Arian Pelter's Separatist group under Captain Jarvellis, is optimized for covert operations, including illegal jumps to bypass Polity gates and transport illicit cargo such as weapons or . Its design emphasizes low observability, with surveillance feeds for monitoring pursuits and modifications allowing it to evade standard detection systems, though it lacks the robust armaments of Polity ships. Crewed by mercenaries like John Stanton, the Lyric functions as a mobile base for boarding raids and extra-legal transports to fringe worlds like . In the story, its explosive destruction—triggered by internal betrayal—highlights the vulnerabilities of such ad-hoc vessels compared to the resilient, self-repairing Polity craft. Beyond these key ships, the narrative features ECS dreadnoughts as symbols of Polity military dominance, massive warships capable of deploying swarms of fighters and overwhelming firepower to enforce interstellar order, often referenced in contexts of fleet deployments against Separatist threats. Smaller vessels, including heavy-lifter shuttles with boomerang-shaped hulls made of chainglass composites, support planetary insertions and extractions; these rely on AGC systems for agile navigation through atmospheres or debris fields during chases and boarding actions. Such auxiliary craft, like those launched from the , enable tactical flexibility but underscore the narrative's theme of technological asymmetry: Polity vessels embody seamless AI-human integration and superior engineering, while Separatist ships depend on risky modifications and human improvisation, often leading to catastrophic failures in direct confrontations.

References

  1. https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/neal-asher/gridlinked/9781509868384
  2. https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/science-fiction-and-fantasy/introduction-polity-universe-neal-asher
  3. https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/9781597809788/gridlinked/
  4. https://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories/gridlinked.htm
  5. https://www.sffworld.com/2017/05/gridlinked-by-neal-asher/
  6. https://www.goodreads.com/work/editions/1487886-gridlinked
  7. https://www.nealasher.co.uk/runcible-tales/
  8. https://www.amazon.com/Gridlinked-Ian-Cormac-Book-1/dp/0765307359
  9. https://www.abebooks.com/9780330484336/Gridlinked-Asher-Neal-0330484338/plp
  10. https://www.amazon.com/Gridlinked-First-Agent-Cormac-Novel/dp/1597809780
  11. https://agreenmanreview.com/books/neal-ashers-gridlinked/
  12. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/98046.Gridlinked
  13. http://www.sfadb.com/Neal_Asher
  14. https://www.nealasher.co.uk/polity-encyclopaedia/
  15. https://www.nealasher.co.uk/polity-timeline/
  16. http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/nonfiction/gridlinked.htm
  17. https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-765-34905-1.html
  18. https://www.librarything.com/work/48671
  19. https://www.fantasybookreview.co.uk/Neal-Asher/Gridlinked.html
  20. https://www.nealasher.co.uk/books/gridlinked-scooby-ending/
  21. https://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue142/books.html
  22. https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/f95db8eb-37ea-4fdb-9b60-3749f1495440
  23. https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/asher_neal
  24. https://www.bookey.app/book/gridlinked
  25. https://thierstein.net/index.php/reviews/150-neal-asher-gridlinked
  26. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Gridlinked/Neal-Asher/An-Agent-Cormac-Novel/9781597806480
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