Gridlinked
From Earth Central
Gridlinked was Neal Asher's first novel. It involves the conflict between Arian Pelter and Ian Cormac and Cormac's investigation of the destruction of the Samarkand runcible. After infiltrating Pelter's separatist organization on Cheyne III, Cormac's cover is blown because he has lost touch with his humanity. He has been Gridlinked so long that Pelter's sister Angelina has mistaken him for a robot and has concluded that he is ECS. He is forced to kill her, and is surprised at his lack of feeling as she was his lover. Pelter is enraged when he finds out, and determines to avenge himself against Cormac. They finally meet again on Viridian. Mr Crane is forcibly disassembled there by Cento and Aiden and Pelter shot dead by Cormac.
