Downside Girls, cover by Nik Keevil
The floating city of Khesh rests above the uninhabitable planet of Vellern. For the Topsiders life is about luxury and opulence, while for those of the Undertow day to day survival takes precedence. Khesh City is a democracy by assassination, where the Angels – deadly state-sponsored killers – remove those unworthy to hold office.
When Vanna Agriet accidentally spills her drink over an Angel it could spell death, but instead it leads to a rather peculiar friendship. The downsider Geal hopes for a better life topside, only to find herself embroiled in a ‘removal’ by the Angel Thiera. Downside, Isha’s brother Rakul brings a little black box home with him, and sets Isha on a journey that takes her to a meeting with the most powerful man in Khesh City. Larnia Mier, a talented topside musician and instructor, is injured after witnessing a removal first-hand. As her abilities diminish, new possibilities open up.
With a foreword by Alastair Reynolds (author of Revelation Space and On the Steel Breeze), ‘Downside Girls’ is a standalone collection of interlinked stories by Jaine Fenn, that also shines new light on characters from Principles of Angels, Jaine’s first novel in the ‘Hidden Empire’ series. (Principles of Angels, Consorts of Heaven, Guardians of Paradise, Bringer of Light, and Queen of Nowhere).
Available from Foyles and Barnes and Noble (or if you must, on Amazon UK and Amazon US).