Book 1 of Ian Irvine’s classic eco-thriller trilogy about the consequences of global warming and unstoppable climate change, Human Rites. Hercus Barges, a middle-aged failure embittered about environmental degradation, plans the ultimate crime: the destruction of humanity, and tries to blackmail a friend, climate scientist Ryn Hardey, into helping him. Ryn angrily refuses but is afraid to report him, for they share a terrible secret from their student past. Besides, he has his own problems. His computer model of Antarctic ice sheet melting is showing alarming results and he can’t work out why. But a doomsday ecological cult also wants the secret, and soon Ryn and his shy partner, Jemma, are on the run from Hercus, eco-terrorists and professional hitmen as Ryn struggles to work out what will happen when the ice melts, while Jemma tries to uncover Hercus Barges’ catastrophic plan in time to stop it.Praise for The Last Albatross.“The action-packed plot of doomsday cults and planetary collapse isn’t far from the truth.” The Times, London. “A chilling suspense story set against a backdrop of 21st Century environmental depletion and cultural degeneration. Portrays a frighteningly plausible future.” Library Journal (US). “A well-crafted near-future eco-thriller. Technothriller fans should dive right into this one.” Roland Green, Booklist (US). “A faster paced thriller than his excellent fantasy quartet The View from the Mirror. Your heart pounds with the violence and adventure of the racing plot.” Australian Bookseller and Publisher. ? “Frantic action and SF terror … in a world where corruption and technology are hell-bent on social destruction.” Murray Waldren, The Australian. The Human Rites Trilogy – The Last Albatross, Terminator Gene & The Life Lottery. “With its sobering blend of frighteningly well researched catastrophic environmental change, triggering immense global sociopolitical upheaval, Ian Irvine"s Human Rites trilogy is the most important work of Australian science fiction yet published in this country.” Rob Jan, Sci-Fi Radio Zero-G.