On the first of March 2047 the world was shattered. From the rubble, Guardians emerged. Stronger, faster, smarter, these ruthless peacekeepers dedicated to enforcing the new American hegemony are assigned missions at the sole discretion of their shadowy Director. Contemptuous of laws and borders, Guardians are implacable killers with no evident moral code or ethical bounds. Considered abominations by most and demigods by some, the rumor is that they are cooked up in vats and force-fed a diet of deceit and brutality before being unleashed on anyone foolish enough to challenge the status quo. The truth is no less startling. But not even Guardians know the truth. Not until a young Guardian is sent to solve a mysterious death in San Francisco and his investigation unravels the tangled knot hidden at the core of his purpose. As secrets are revealed that not even his embedded battle AI can make sense of, Guardian is forced to confront his past…and fear for his future. 'Guardian' is the opening chapter in the Egan Universe trilogy, a hard science fiction series that imagines a future that might happen. But one we hope that doesn't.