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In fact, if the machine intelligences which ran the macroworld couldn't be saved from their enemies, the starlet at its centre might go nova, and hundreds of billions of intelligent humanoids would be destroyed. Unfortunately, the one man who was in a position to save the situation was Mike Rousseau, who didn't feel that he was cut out to be a hero.

Rousseau had always wanted to reach the centre of Asgard, and this was his big chance, but he found himself taking part in a desperate race against time - and the closer he got to the centre, the tougher the going became. His newest enemies were nastier than any he had ever faced before, and his friends wanted to double the odds in their favour by making a copy of him.

It was all too much for one man to bear - but if there were two of him, wouldn't the nightmare be twice as bad?

Cover art by Danny Flynn

Published in 1990 by New English Library
ISBN:0-450-51107-3

Dedicted to Cymantha Bowers, with gratitude and affection.

The gods of Asgard are in deep trouble. If they can’t defeat their internal enemies, the starlet in the macroworld’s core will blow up, killing trillions humanoids in its various layers.

Only one man can save this articifial planet, and he can only do that by duplicating himself. Unfortunately, the software version of himself that's trying to operate within Asgard’s virtual space is fighting on the adversary’s home ground, and seems to have even less chance of success than the flesh-and-blood version.

Even if they both get through, and contrive somehow to save the macroworld from destruction, how can they ever get together again to become a whole man--and at what cost?

The thrilling conclusion to a magnificent sci-fi saga!

Published in 2012 by Borgo Press
ISBN: 978-1-4344-4537-7

Review by Ian Braidwood

Cast of characters:
Star Force Cpt Mike Rousseau, John Finn, The Isthomi, 673-Nisreen, 994-Tulyar, Urania-3, Clio-14, Myrlin, Jacinthe Siani, Lt Col Susarma Lear.

Asgard is a big place. No, I mean it. It's so big that you can have two wars going on at the same time and most people wouldn't spot either.

The war between the Scarid and the Tetrax is over. Mike Rousseau is planning a little trip to help recuperate and finally get all the way to the centre; with the help of the Isthomi, of course.

However, the war between the gods of Asgard is hotting up and poor Rousseau has got their attention.

Each of the three Asgard books is significantly longer than its predecessor, which means that The Centre Cannot Hold is quite long; not that it's at all hard or tiresome, there's just a lot going on. To facilitate this, Brian splits Mike into two and uses him to explore the Norse imagery he's borrowed, as well as probe the mysteries of Asgard itself.

As the two Mike's get closer and closer to the centre, the crises mount and the imagery becomes increasingly fantastic; especially when they reach the final level, where gravity is very weak...

The Asgard trilogy make a good light-hearted, intelligent read for the beach or those long cold nights with a nice cup of tea. They build up to an astonishing climax and are the quintessential light-hearted Brian: intelligent, fun and very, very gaudy.

The Brian Stableford Website