"Dark and nastily believable ... Sean Stewart [is] a talent to watch." — William Gibson
"A fine novel, in the grand tradition of the SF thriller … a very exciting debut." — Kim Stanley Robinson
"One of the year's best new science fiction books." — Edmonton Journal
America has been transformed by the Redemption Presidency, as the nation falls under the rule of Christian fundamentalists. While the country's great cities fall into decay, vigilantes are permitted to murder according to Biblical mandates. Adulterers are killed by stoning, and bounty hunters are encouraged to deliver criminals to the police for televised executions. Bounty hunter Diane Fletcher — a "shaper" whose empathetic powers allow her to tap into the emotions of others — investigates the bizarre death of Jonathan Mask, a celebrated actor whose electrocuted corpse was found dressed in a demon costume. But even a shaper's gifts might not be enough to navigate the shaky ground that lies between justice and vengeance.