Angel Stations

I think I confused it with another book I have had for years, so never investigated it -- and now I have, after becoming acquainted with Gary Gibson via the Shoal Sequence, and I AM glad.

Oh, there's the odd jarring bit -- how DO you make humans essentially immortal, and then not be able to heal them of a disease? -- but the level of universe creation at work here is such that you are effortlessly swept away. Gibson's sense of plot is excellent; his characters generally accessible and understandable (thought there is that Vaughn fellow who is just a little TOO omnipotently evil...), and Huge Things vie with mere humans to sweep the story along briskly. Great stuff!!