The Idiot Gods

The Idiot Gods
David Zindell

Quite simply the best book about a whale since Moby Dick.The Idiot Gods is an epic tale told by an orca. David Zindell returns to the grand themes of Neverness in this uniquely moving book.An epic tale of a quest for a new way of life on earth, told by an orca.When Arjuna of the Blue Aria Family encounters three signs of cataclysm, he leaves his home in the Arctic Ocean to seek out the Idiot Gods and ask us why we are destroying the world. But the whales’ ancient Song of Life is beyond our understanding, and we know nothing of the Great Covenant between our kinds. Arjuna is captured, starved, tortured and made to do tricks in a tiny pool at Sea Circus.His love for a human linguist gives him hope, even as he despairs that other people twist his words and continue the worldwide slaughter. As the whales' beloved Ocean turns toward the Blood Solstice the fate of humanity hangs in the balance: for if Arjuna gains the Voice of Death he could destroy mankind. But if understanding can prevail, he may, through the whales’ mysterious power of quenging, create a new Song of Life and enable human evolution to unfold.

DAVID ZINDELL

The Idiot Gods

Copyright (#u7a8e0c5e-f41d-5e9f-8d52-aa8bcf427d3d)

Published by HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

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London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk)

First published in Great Britain by HarperVoyager 2017

Copyright © David Zindell 2017

Cover design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2017

David Zindell asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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Source ISBN: 9780007252275

Ebook Edition © July 2017 ISBN: 9780008223311

Version: 2017-05-22

Dedication (#u7a8e0c5e-f41d-5e9f-8d52-aa8bcf427d3d)

To Jane, for your courage, wisdom, friendship and splendor

Table of Contents

Cover (#u8c308dc5-7038-5eca-8375-8abe243c4ac9)

Title Page (#ue920b936-47aa-5dda-be3d-2a798b3c76d0)

Copyright (#ua850f676-a91b-5076-9807-774c2c03695e)

Dedication (#ud99207c7-8258-5784-ae01-b28014e2e0c1)

Part One: The Burning Sea (#uad7c7a06-6fda-569b-8394-75d5eaf14a41)

Translators’ Note (#u1f12427c-8720-59b5-aadf-9a0b1e4015a6)

Chapter 1 (#u57d6879b-cbf0-50fc-80e1-a07117dd4f5b)

Chapter 2 (#u140de97a-b8a3-5e4a-8ae9-0fb9378cecfa)

Chapter 3 (#ue92620d3-2673-5a9b-9072-13343af8a622)

Chapter 4 (#ue0bd6003-ea9a-5380-afe6-85ad8271f4de)

Chapter 5 (#u6f72172a-8d81-5924-9aa7-67768751726e)

Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)

Part Two: The Idiot Gods (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)

Part Three: A Covenant With Thee (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 20 (#litres_trial_promo)