Book I of The Orphans trilogy. In the 22nd century, human have shed their bodies to travel through space. Their electronic reproductions, known as engrams, are sent on fact-finding missions through the known universe. As the engram crew of a survey ship watches, ten orbital towers are constructed around an uninhabited planet's equator by unidentified spindle shaped entities. Then without attempting communication, the entities withdraw. The engram crew cautiously explore the towers and find what seems to be gifts from a technologically advanced race, including a faster-than-light ship. But these may be gifts humanity cannot afford to accept...Cover art by Chris Moore.