Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
Perfectly aligned for readers of Iain M. Banks’s The Culture series and Ursula K. Le Guin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”, The Sixth Nik is a galaxy spanning adventure from the New York Times bestselling and Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Angel Down and Whalefall. Deep into space, far past the triworld outposts, beyond range of the lethal trollbot internet, soars The Sickness: a ship woven from biomatter and capable of reacting to every need of its human crew. Sisilla, a nine-year-old cultist with a brain enhanced by arcane tech known as “niks,” has boarded to investigate the enigma of Fém—a plague-riddled planet that has abruptly gone rogue. The mysterious crew includes a faceless assassin, a beautiful engineer jigsawed by plastic surgery, a peyote-addicted medic, and—most lethal of all—a rugged, NonModded captain with a score to settle with Sisilla. Other dangers abound. A hacked robot begins to believe Sisilla is its daughter. The Sickness itself is mutating, possibly even pregnant. And the secret of Fém is more horrific than anyone could have imagined. To survive, Sisilla will need to forsake her predetermined fate and embrace the unknown.
Tags
The Sixth Nik: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
This adult sci-fi features a nine-year-old protagonist in a violent, dangerous setting with mature themes including enhanced children, body horror, substance abuse, and strong violence. The enigmatic crew and biomechanical ship create disturbing imagery unsuitable for younger readers.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, mild sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include child harm, gore, and violence (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Adult readers who enjoy philosophical space opera with dark, unsettling themes will appreciate this mysterious crew's dangerous investigation of a plague-ridden planet.