In a city where self-driving cars have made traffic accidents nearly obsolete, Collier Beddoe’s near-fatal crash shouldn’t have happened. Freelance interpreter William Kirst is drawn into the case when Detective Bremburg suspects the “malfunction” isn’t random.
Kirst soon finds himself inside BellAero, an aerospace firm rushing hydrogen-powered mini-blimps to market. Engineering warns of “progressive failure” in the containment cells under heat and cold. Marketing reframes it as “intelligent failure.” Deadlines matter more than doubt.
As Kirst translates between departments, he realizes Collier’s crash may have been a calculated delay to influence a crucial meeting. When he pushes too far, he becomes the next target—sent skyward on a rogue hydrogen craft.
Saved at the last second, Kirst uncovers a chilling truth: in a world driven by spin and innovation, failure isn’t always an accident. Sometimes it’s strategy—and the right words can save you or send you to your death.
EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing produces thought-provoking novels and anthologies in science fiction, fantasy, and magic realism. Showcasing both established authors and emerging new voices, EDGE delivers imaginative, high-quality stories that challenge and entertain. Our books are available in print, digital, and audio formats, bringing compelling speculative fiction to readers everywhere.View all by Michael J. Martineck
