Anvil of Stars

Anvil of Stars is a science fiction novel by American writer Greg Bear, a sequel to The Forge of God.

The Killers, when they are discovered, have formidable philosophical defenses in addition to their vast technological resources.

They have created hundreds of sapient races, interlocked in a culture of breathtaking complexity and beauty.

Those from Earth base their on-ship culture on Peter Pan, calling themselves Wendys and Lost Boys.

Bear leaves the human crew torn between relief that their work is complete and their guilt that they were little better than those they had come to destroy.