Night Train to Rigel

Night Train to Rigel is a science fiction book published in 2005, by Hugo Award winning author Timothy Zahn. The book is set in the near-distant future, in an era when humans have taken up residence on planets other than Earth, such as Mars. It is the first of four books in the series, with at least one more planned for release in 2012.

Plot

The story starts with former government agent, Frank Compton, meeting a young man who, after asking his name, drops dead at his feet. After searching the body, Compton finds a ticket to a strange, interstellar train called the Quadrail. During Compton's ride on the Quadrail he falls asleep, and wakes up in the custody of the spiders, the operators of the Quadrail. The Spiders explain to Compton their worries of a weapon of mass destruction, which may be able to bypass their Quadrail security. Compton agrees to help, and is given a pass for the Quadrails and, amongst other things, they assign him a traveling companion named Bayta, who has a stange talent for being telepathic in her communication to the Spiders.

Frank Compton discovers the power behind the Quadrail system: an ancient civilization called the Chawyn. On the course of his travels on the Quadrail, he learns of the existence of the Modhri: the equally ancient enemy of the Chahwyn. The Modhri has its mind bent on controlling the galaxy.