Who’s Afraid of Wolf 359? by Ken MacLeod

"Who’s Afraid of Wolf 359?" is a 2007, Hugo nominated, science fiction short story by Ken MacLeod. It is about a man who agrees to investigate an abandoned experimental civilization around a distant red dwarf. Non-Spoiler Summary In A Nutshell: The story begins as an unnamed protagonist is running from the law after being caught having an affair with the station's owner. He doesn't make it very far and is eventually convicted and fined an astronomical amount of money. What does he do when he can't pay the fine? Why, he accepts a dangerous (but highly lucrative) assignment to find out what happened around an experimental colony several light years away. "You can forego counsel, if you wish." I raised my hands. "No, no. Please. Do your best." He did his best. A week later, he told me that he had got me off with a fine plus compensation. If I borrowed money to pay the whole sum now, it would take two hundred and fifty seven years to pay off the debt. I had other plans for the next two…