Engineman by Eric Brown

Once the Enginemen pushed bigships through the cobalt glory of the nada-continuum. But faster than light isn't fast enough anymore. The interfaces of the Keilor-Vincicoff Organisation bring planets light years distant a simple step away. Then a man with half a face offers ex-Engineman Ralph Mirren the chance to escape his ruined life and push a ship to an undisclosed destination. The nada-continuum holds the key to Ralph's future. What he cannot anticipate is its universal importance - nor the mystery awaiting him on the distant colony world.
Engineman is a thrilling action adventure by the author of Helix and Kethani. Also in this volume are eight stories set in the Engineman universe, including the Interzone award-winning 'The Time-Lapsed Man.'