Angels Reach

To resolve overcrouding on an under-resourced Earth, planetary colonisation is now a business monopolised by New Paris Incorporated. Computer gamers are employed by the Inc for their ability to remain immersed in the Mindscape for long periods of time. Vanessa Ghostdog is one such hard-nosed employee. While surveying Angels Reach, she is sent back to the third planet in the system. The Inc has lost contact with the first-stage colonists there and wants her to find out what's gone wrong. Landing on the planet she finds all are dead, except Niel, a pernicious slime ball warped by his own past, and then warped even further by the planets mysterious gifts. But she is saved from Niel by an alien creature, which it turns out, is Jonty? Not quite so dead as Niel thought. Vanessa pledges to look after Jonty, not an easy task, as she will discover. Everything that follows will set her against the Inc.