COLD AS ICE

Buzzing, expansive medium-future space drama from the physicist-author (see below). Toward the end of the 21st century, after a space war has devastated Earth, Mars, and the inhabited asteroid belt, development centers on the Galilean satellites of Jupiter. Keen to develop the ice-moon Europa is Cyrus Mobarak, genius inventor of portable fusion power units; opposing him is the reclusive brilliant researcher Hilda Brandt. And caught up in their almost imperceptible power struggle are fusion scientist Camille Hamilton, undersea researcher Jon Perry, and brilliant composer Wilsa Sheer- -all three of whom have extraordinarily augmented abilities. After an accident on the surface of Europa, Camille apparently freezes to death, only to revive without ill effects; Jon and Wilsa, trapped in a submersible in the deep water beneath Europa's icy surface, run out of air, but they revive too. Turns out that all three are survivors of wartime biological experiments aimed at creating super-talented humans—experiments directed by Hilda Brandt. The various plot elements take a while to come together, and there are one or two bothersome holes in the logic thereof. But this is certainly Sheffield's best effort to date. Watch for sequels.