energy-based-lifeform
The Maker is an entity composed of energy and glass-like structures, capable of changing size and shape, challenging traditional notions of physical lifeforms.
2 chapters across 1 book
Gridlinked (2001)Neal Asher
Cormac and his team prepare for and engage with multiple threats, including the formidable Mr Crane and the mysterious energy-based entity known as the Maker, while navigating complex military tactics and the ruins of post-Polity human governance. Concurrently, Captain Jarvellis faces confinement and suspicion after a ship explosion, dealing with space sickness and the precariousness of outdated technology as she attempts to operate a derelict shuttle. The chapter intertwines themes of survival, trust, and the consequences of fractured humanity amid advanced weaponry and alien encounters.
Cormac and his team recover from a non-lethal encounter with a partially gaseous, energy-based creature, leading them to question the reliability of existing information and plan a strategic investigation to uncover the truth behind the Maker, a lethal entity linked to prior deaths on Samarkand. They prepare defensive positions and coordinate the use of advanced technologies such as runcibles and proton weapons to confront the Maker, while navigating political tensions under AI governance and facing challenges in space navigation and psychological strain. The chapter explores the complex interplay of survival, morality, and trust amid high-stakes conflict and pervasive technological surveillance.