The Collapsium

In Wil McCarthy's modern science fiction classic, set in the eighth decade of the Queendom of Sol, the story revolves around three key commodities: wellstone, collapsium, and a fierce rivalry between two prominent scientists. Bruno de Towaji, an ambitious lover and statesman, aims to create a legendary device while his rival, Marlon Sykes, focuses on a telecommunications project involving a ring of collapsium around the Sun. When a malevolent saboteur jeopardizes Sykes's project, the two rivals must set aside their differences and collaborate to save the Solar System from impending doom.