Millennia ago, an alien race known as the Alia were driven from Earth by humanity's rising dominance. Now, after generations aboard a drifting ship in the Kuiper Belt, they've returned - evolved, powerful, and determined to reclaim the planet they once called home. As global unrest erupts, humanity scrambles to resist a force that seems unstoppable. But beneath the chaos, things don't add up. Is the conflict real or just a high-stakes simulation - entertainment for an unseen, make-or-break band of gamblers hoping to cash in? For one man caught in the crossfire, the truth is darker than alien invasion. It's about survival on a cosmic scale. Meet some of the characters: Jay Porter, brother of the enigmatic Lucksmith who authored the very "Involvement" he's trapped in, fighting for his life against... Driga, rogue warrior, loose on the planet after betraying Queen and family, and, if she has her way, hoping to annihilate all of humanity. Peter Behnisch, Alia hostage for 30 years, forced to commit unspeakable acts, all in the name of love. Miles, $6 billion robot, out in the world, sowing discord, yet learning that the humans are more beautiful and nuanced than he was programmed to believe. In this sci-fantasy epic of aliens and wormholes, robots and legerdemain, conflict is currency - and every hero, every enemy, just pawns in a galactic casino run by the most iconic and eternal force in the galaxy: Madame Folly.
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