''Seeker'' is a 2005 science fiction novel by American writer

Jack McDevitt Jack McDevitt (born April 14, 1935) is an American science fiction author whose novels frequently deal with attempts to make contact with alien races, and with archaeology or xenoarchaeology. Most of his books follow either superluminal pilot Pri ...

. It won the

Nebula Award for Best Novel The Nebula Award for Best Novel is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) for science fiction or fantasy novels. A work of fiction is considered a novel by the organization if it is 40,000 words or longer; a ...

in 2006.

Synopsis

The story is set approximately 10,000 years in the future, after civilization has expanded to inhabit countless worlds. Alex Benedict, dealer in antiques, and his partner Chase Kolpath are astroarchaeologists involved in the examination of abandoned bases and deserted space-craft in search of valuable items. Alex is approached by a mysterious woman who asks him to ascertain the value of a strange cup riddled with archaic symbols. They discover that the cup is a 9,000-year-old relic from one of the first

faster-than-light Faster-than-light (also FTL, superluminal or supercausal) travel and communication are the conjectural propagation of matter or information faster than the speed of light (). The special theory of relativity implies that only particles with zero ...

vehicles built, the ''Seeker''. This was a colony ship crewed by a faction known as the "Margolians" who were fleeing the then-oppressive society of

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...

in hopes of establishing a free world. Records indicate that they succeeded, as the ''Seeker'' made several voyages, but they kept the location of their colony world a secret. Alex and Chase discover who brought this cup back with some insight. By retracing the route of these long-forgotten space explorers, they begin to get an idea of where the ''Seeker'' was found. Excitedly, they set off in hopes of finding the colony of "Margolia".

Recognition

* Nebula Award winner, 2006 * John W. Campbell Award nominee, 2006 * Southeastern Science Fiction Achievement Award winner, 2006

References

External links

Jack McDevitt's site

Seeker
at Worlds Without End 2005 American novels 2005 science fiction novels American science fiction novels Nebula Award for Best Novel-winning works Novels by Jack McDevitt Ace Books books {{2000s-sf-novel-stub