In a future where genetic manipulation is commonplace and through it and other biomechanical technology mankind lives extended lives, Richard Swift is approached by Roland Childe (a former friend he had believed dead years earlier).

He is persuaded to join an expedition to a planet discovered by Childe where a mighty spire was found. It is this spire and the myriad rooms within, each containing a mathematical puzzle that must be solved to gain access to the next room and also to prevent physical harm occuring to the party, that Childe wishes to explore and discover what may lie within.

The idea of the story is along similar lines in a certain way to the film Cube, and like that film if a wrong move is played horrific results can occur. But here the people are there by choice, motivated by greed. And also here they are prepared, with their party including a brilliant mathematician and a gifted, if disgraced, doctor.

This book is wonderfully written. We find out during the book exactly how far each of the characters will go for their greed, whether as in the case of Childe for knowing and possessing whatever might be at the top of the Spire, or - for the other members of his expedition - for the payment Childe is offering them.

The author also manages one thing wonderfully well. A large part of this book is taken up by the mathematical puzzles, some of which are described together with the group's discussion of their answers. This, however, is done in an interesting way which in itself is quite remarkable.

This length suits this story well. Having a copy of another of Alastair Reynolds books (Revelation Space) on my bookshelf, which is a mighty tome of many hundreds of pages, I was curious to find out how the author handled this shorter length. Splendidly is the answer, the story is told with no wasted words and in a thoroughly engrossing manner. I enjoyed this book immensely!