Ada Palmer was the person I could still pester with my queries and hesitations. She was unfailingly helpful, thought-provoking and wonderful throughout the process, and I am deeply grateful. This series wouldn’t exist without her. She was with me at the solar telescope in the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, and in Bologna. Read her books and listen to her music.
While tearing my hair out over this book I also had useful conversations with Evelyn Walling, Emmet O’Brien, Ruthanna and Sarah Emrys, Mary Lace, and Alison Sinclair. Emmet also put up with me while I was writing, which isn’t always easy. My son, Sasha Walton, insisted on dinosaurs and alien gods.
Lauren Schiller read the second draft overnight, which was both useful and reassuring. And she, Ada, Mack Muldofsky, Jon Singer and Jim Hannon put up with me while I was writing and travelling at the same time. I have the best friends.
After it was written it was read by Elaine Blank, Pamela Dean, Ruthanna and Sarah Emrys, Eric Forste, Steven Halter, Mary Lace, Marissa Lingen, Lydy Nickerson, Emmet O’Brien, Ada Palmer, Doug Palmer, Lauren Schiller, Sherwood Smith, and Sharla Stremski, for all of whose timely comments I am very grateful. Marissa Lingen and Emmet O’Brien also provided invaluable help with science.
The beautiful teahouse Camellia Sinensis of Montreal gave me a free sample of magic writing tea when I mentioned that was what I needed to get unstuck, and it really worked. Never underestimate the power of tea, or placebos either.
“You must change your life” is a quotation from Rainer Maria Rilke’s “Archaïscher Torso Apollos,” 1908.
My thanks as always, but never pro forma, to Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Alexis Saarela, Jamie Stafford-Hill, and everyone at Tor.
BOOKS BY JO WALTON
The King’s Peace
The King’s Name
The Prize in the Game
Tooth and Claw
Farthing
Ha’penny
Half a Crown
Lifelode
Among Others
What Makes This Book So Great
My Real Children
The Just City
The Philosopher Kings
Necessity
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JO WALTON won the Hugo and Nebula Awards in 2012 for her novel Among Others and the James Tiptree, Jr. Award in 2015 for My Real Children. Before that, her novel Tooth and Claw won the World Fantasy Award in 2004. A native of Wales, Walton lives in Montreal. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Epigraphs
1. Apollo
2. Jason
3. Marsilia
4. Crocus
5. Jason
6. Marsilia
7. Jason
8. Apollo
9. Marsilia
10. Crocus
11. Jason
12. Marsilia
13. Crocus
14. Apollo
15. Jason
16. Marsilia
17. Crocus
18. Jason
19. Marsilia
20. Apollo
21. Jason
22. Marsilia’s Pod
23. Crocus
24. Apollo
Thanks
Books by Jo Walton
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
NECESSITY
Copyright © 2016 by Jo Walton
All rights reserved.
Cover art: The School of Athens (detail) by Raphael / Vatican Museum and Galleries / Bridgeman Images
Cover design by Jamie Stafford-Hill
Edited by Patrick Nielsen Hayden
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
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New York, NY 10010
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Tor® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-0-7653-7902-3 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4668-6570-9 (e-book)
e-ISBN 9781466865709
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First Edition: July 2016