Fractal Noise is a thrilling novel of first contact and a gripping standalone prequel to the To Sleep in a Sea of Stars - by internationally bestselling author Christopher Paolini. Humanity is not alone . . . 25 July 2234: The crew of the Adamura discovers an anomaly on an uninhabited planet. They find a circular pit, fifty kilometres wide, its curve not of nature but design. A small team must land on Talos VII and journey on foot across the surface to learn who built the hole – and why. But they all carry the burdens of lives carved out on disparate colonies in the cruel cold of space. For some, the mission is the dream of the lifetime; for others, a risk not worth taking. For one, it is a desperate attempt to find meaning in an uncaring universe. Every step they take towards the mysterious abyss is more punishing than the last. And the ghosts of their past follow. Praise for To Sleep in a Sea of Stars: 'Big and fun – the book Paolini fans have been waiting for' – John Scalzi 'A fun, fast-paced epic that science fiction fans will gobble up' – Kirkus Reviews 'An epic tale of first contact, travels to the edge of the galaxy, and just maybe the fate of all humankind' – Goodreads Fractal Noise was a Sunday TImes hardback bestseller in May 2023 To Sleep in a Sea of Stars was a New York Times bestseller in September 2020