Spearpoint, the last human city, is an atmosphere-piercing spire of vast size. Clinging to its skin are the zones, a series of semi-autonomous city-states, each of which enjoys a different - and rigidly enforced - level of technology. Horsetown is pre-industrial; in Neon Heights they have television and electric trains . . .
Following an infiltration mission that went tragically wrong, Quillon has been living incognito, working as a pathologist in the district morgue. But when a near-dead angel drops onto his dissecting table, Quillon's world is wrenched apart one more time, for the angel is a winged posthuman from Spearpoint's Celestial Levels - and with the dying body comes bad news.
If Quillon is to save his life, he must leave his home and journey into the cold and hostile lands beyond Spearpoint's base, starting an exile that will take him further than he could ever imagine. But there is far more at stake than just Quillon's own survival, for the limiting technologies of the zones are determined not by governments or police, but by the very nature of reality - and reality itself is showing worrying signs of instability . . .
TERMINAL WORLD is a snarling, drooling, crazy-eyed mongrel of a book: equal parts steampunk, western, planetary romance and far-future SF.

Bought from BetterWorldBooks.

The back of my book says, "The most accomplished writer in the field of hard science fiction today." Perhaps Alistair Reynolds is, but I would not describe this book as an example of "hard science fiction". This is the first book I have read by this author, so I don't know his other work. This book I would call, steampunk fantasy. To me "hard science fiction" is fiction involving more sciencey topics, such as, say, a fictional NASA launch to Mars.
I enjoyed the read and enjoyed having strong female characters. That must be worth a star just for that. The read was a bit confusing with the different zones and no real explanation for their existence, except hints at something having gone wrong a LONG time ago, and if not that, what is their purpose? And why doesn't technology work in all zones. It didn't make sense to me. Still a good romp and this is possibly my first steampunk read.
Not having technology work in all zones, did give an excuse for steampunk, or why would it exist!

To be released in King O'Malley's Pub in Civic, ACT.

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Collected from the book buffet at our regular BookCrossing meeting.