Description:

John Bandicut awakens, dazed, on the bank of a strange river. He and two humanoid aliens are stranded far across the galaxy, inside a vast "shipworld" that contains countlesss alien biospheres, all joined together in a wondrous web of energy and space/time. But, manipulated by powers beyond their ken, he and his new friends can't enjoy the marvels of Shipworld. Instead they feel driven toward a greater, unseen purpose.

From Publishers Weekly

The second installment in the Chaos Chronicles dispatches genetically altered earthling John Bandicut to a massive planet-like place called Shipworld to help the alien Ik find his friend. In lieu of a preface, John's history and earlier adventures are revealed via one of Carver's several futuristic beings?a chaos-manipulating Quarx that lives inside the protagonist's head. Readers, too, might hope for the Quarx's clarifying assistance: characters' motivations are somewhat hazy here?Why must John battle Shipworld's malevolent elements? What is Ik's secret agenda??and an assortment of odd keystrokes that supposedly identify the speakers in a series of inner and outer voices proves confusing. Also, Carver is slow to deliver on his implicit promise to deliver hard science. Still, his story is capably told, with welcome infusions of humor periodically bolstering the complex narrative.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

John Bandicut's close encounter with and possession by an alien intelligence transports him from his galaxy to a distant and unfathomable world on the edge of destruction. Continuing the story begun in Neptune Crossing (LJ 3/15/94), Carver's latest novel showcases his own fertile imagination and his talent for creating a host of engagingly sympathetic characters. The vivid descriptions and unusual predicaments encountered by Bandicut and his alien-in-residence cohort "Charlie" transcend the predictable space-opera storyline. Large libraries should consider this for their sf collections.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.