In a world renowned even within a galaxy full of wonders, a crime within a war. For one man it means a desperate flight, and a search for the one - maybe two - people who could clear his name. For his brother it means a life lived under constant threat of treachery and murder. And for their sister, even without knowing the full truth, it means returning to a place she'd thought abandoned forever.

Only the sister is not what she once was; Djan Seriy Anaplian has changed almost beyond recognition to become an agent of the Culture's Special Circumstances section, charged with high-level interference in civilizations throughout the greater galaxy.

Concealing her new identity - and her particular set of abilities - might be a dangerous strategy, however. In the world to which Anaplian returns, nothing is quite as it seems; and determining the appropriate level of interference in someone else's war is never a simple matter.

MATTER is a novel of dazzling wit and serious purpose. An extraordinary feat of storytelling and breathtaking invention on a grand scale, it is a tour de force from a writer who has turned science fiction on its head.

"Oh, to be a kid in Mr. Whiskers’ primary science classes! The next best thing is doing hands-on explorations at school or at home with this guide." — KIRKUS REVIEWS

Mr. Whiskers, the teacher, has that wild look in his eyes again. That’s the look that means, Get ready for hands-on science! This time the subject matter is . . . matter. Using seven science stations, Mr. Whiskers encourages his kids to use all their senses to make observations and draw conclusions. Everyone’s a scientist in Mr. Whiskers’ class, where hands-on mini-experiments lead to Big Ideas — and promote an ongoing passion for independent, open-ended discovery.

Dusty or wet, stretchy or soft, matter is all around you. Even air is made of matter! See how solids, liquids, and gases change form in this matter of fact book.