I bought this 1992 paperback at a used book store while I was on vacation in Calgary. I'd heard about it, and wanted to read it. It's very well written; the prose is lovely, the world building fabulous, and you'd never know it was written twenty years ago.

It's hard to describe this book. In the far future, humans have settled on many planets, and life is peaceful and tranquil. This is due, in part, by the Aristoi; people who have been found to be intellectually superior and are granted extraordinary power. The Aristoi Gabriel is a peaceful man, who loves music and rules his planet benignly. But then he discovers evidence that another Aristoi has committed the unforgivable crime of tampering with data. As he investigates he is drawn into a horrific plot that has caused the agonising deaths of millions. The ending is somewhat ambiguous; the protagonist is saved, and the crimes are exposed, but the long term effects on human civilisation may destroy it.

I am putting this in SF only Bookbox:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/9722345

This sounds interesting.... I may or may not get to it before the big move, but this one is going onto mt. tbr. Thanks for including it, AA.

Well, it did disappear in the move-in was years before the box was unpacked… So many books and so little time lol
I’m sorry to admit I did not read this one… it’s been pulled out a number of times and just hasn’t grabbed and I’ve moved on to something else that I’m more interested in, at least at that moment.
So today I’m taking it up with me when I go for my appointment. There are take a book leave a book shelves on each floor so I will add later where I left it.