<P><B>The only book ever to win both the British Science Fiction Association Award and the Arthur C. Clarke Award—now back in print</B></P><P>A fast-moving space adventure featuring mysterious aliens, a journey to a depopulated planet, a mad run from space cops, a ship captain in trouble, and her AI (Artificially Intelligent) companion/ship's computer. It is carnival time on Mars, but Tabitha Jute isn't partying. She is in hiding from the law, penniless, and about to lose her livelihood and her best friend, the space barge "Alice Liddell." Then the intriguing Marco Metz offers her some money to take him to Plenty, and the adventure begins.