In 2016, a crew constructing an orbital telecommunications system for the world learns that the US government secretly plans to use it for universal surveillance.
<p><b>From the back cover of the Ace first edition:</b> "Help wanted: long hours, dangerous conditions, must be willing to relocate...
<p>They are the men and women who are building the future. The beamjacks. The zero-gee construction workers hired to assemble gigantic satellites in the vacuum of space.
<p>on the job, a moments carelessness can lead to catastrophe. But the hardest part comes when the working day is over: boredom, homesickness, and the painful memories of the Earth they've left behind.
<p>Management and the military think they have the beamjacks under control.
<p>They're wrong."
| Year | Award | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Locus Poll Award | Best First Novel | Winner |
| 1990 | Locus Poll Award | Best SF Novel | Nominee/Finalist |
| Date | Publication | Publisher | Type | Page | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 1989 |
|
Orbital Decay | Ace Books | Novel | 3 |
| February 1990 |
|
Orbital Decay | Legend / Century | Novel | |
| February 1990 |
|
Orbital Decay | Legend | Novel | |
| April 1990 |
|
Orbital Decay | Ace Books / SFBC | Novel | |
| February 1991 |
|
Orbital Decay | Legend | Novel | |
| February 1991 |
|
Station der letzten Helden | Bastei Lübbe | Novel | 7 |
| February 1996 | Orbital Decay | Ace Books | Novel | 3 | |
| April 2000 |
|
Orbital Decay | Ace Books | Novel | |
| April 2000 |
|
Urania #1386 | Mondadori | MAGAZINE | 7 |
| October 2007 |
|
Orbital Decay | Ace Books | Novel | |
| September 2013 |
|
Orbital Decay | Open Road Integrated Media | Novel | |
| September 2013 |
|
Orbital Decay | Open Road Integrated Media | Novel | |
| October 2013 |
|
Orbital Decay | Audible Studios | Novel |