A lucidor pursues a mad scientist through a decaying Dyson sphere, encountering mutated creatures and political intrigue, in a quest for justice and redemption in a far-future world of complex landscapes and ancient technologies. The story blends elements of fantasy and hard science fiction, with a focus on the protagonist's relentless pursuit and the intricate world-building that shapes the narrative.

"War of the Maps" by Paul McAuley is a captivating and imaginative science fiction novel that seamlessly blends elements of epic fantasy and hard SF into a unique, engrossing tale set in the extremely far future. The worldbuilding is exceptionally detailed and immersive, transporting the reader to a decaying Dyson sphere - a vast artificial world surrounding an artificial sun.

On this ancient megalithic structure, long-abandoned by its godlike creators, a determined lucidor (a keeper of the peace) relentlessly hunts his quarry - the cruel, brilliant and dangerous criminal Remfrey He. The lucidor has sacrificed everything, ignoring orders and abandoning his old life, to bring this vicious killer to justice after the government controversially spared He in order to exploit his scientific knowledge in their war efforts.

McAuley masterfully brings this strange yet bewitchingly familiar world to life with vivid, poetic prose. The landscapes the lucidor traverses in his quest are rendered in loving detail - from harsh deserts and lush mountains to spider crab-infested seas. A sense of rich history, decay and vast scale permeates every vista.

The lucidor makes for a compelling protagonist - a jaded, stubborn old man "full of aches and pains," an archetypal lawman-hero with an unwavering moral code. His grim, obsessive pursuit of He mirrors Stephen King's The Gunslinger, though his story stands firmly on its own. The supporting characters, from the villainous He to the heroic Princess Orjen Starbreaker, are equally intriguing if not quite as developed.

Thematically, McAuley explores weightier issues amidst the adventure. Glimpses of the lucidor's communist-like homeland versus the feudal and capitalist systems he encounters allow for musings on politics and economics. The world itself, forged and then abandoned by its creators, grapples with questions of faith, myth and meaning in a universe where the gods may be long dead.

Some readers may find the pacing a tad slow, especially in the first half as McAuley lingers on small details of his remarkable setting. But for patient readers, the deliberate buildup pays off handsomely with an increasingly propulsive plot, fascinating mysteries, and an unexpected yet fitting conclusion. A few have compared it to Jack Vance's dying earth tales, and McAuley himself cites M. John Harrison as an influence - lofty company that this novel earns.

In the end, "War of the Maps" is intelligent, meticulous science fiction that rewards close reading. McAuley proves himself a first-class talent, equally adept at crafting sentences and worlds. For fans of epic storytelling with literary sensibilities and an unabashedly SFnal bent, this is a journey well worth taking. Highly recommended.