Hidden Empire

It is the year 2427. In deep space, a radical new experiment is taking place. Oncier, a giant gaseous planet, is being transformed into a new sun, thus rendering its four major moons habitable for humankind. As Oncier explodes, observers note several spherical objects ejecting from the heart of the inferno. Dismissed as mere debris, they are quickly forgotten and the politics of the Universe continue. On Earth, the aging puppet king Frederick is nearing his sell-by date and a new, young monarch must be found. In another part of the galaxy, the Ildiran Empire, a peaceful, unambitious race, is slowly stagnating in its own sense of pomp and history. The lush planet of Theroc, home of the unique hybrid 'green priests', is struggling to maintain its independence from the Terran Hanseatic League. The priests' ability to send instant telepathic images via the worldtrees that grow on their planet makes them a valuable commodity. But the peace that has ruled the universe is rudely shattered when an illegal Roamer mining facility is obliterated by mystery spacecraft. As the devastating news spreads, relationships between the coalition grow tense, until more attacks indicate that the enemy is unknown to all. Could the answer lie with the extinct Klikiss race, whose ruins and ancient robots still litter the planets they inhabited? Margaret Colicos is the archaeologist who discovered the Klikiss Torch, the device that enabled the Oncier experiment to proceed. Her decoding of Klikiss hieroglyphics will yield extraordinary revelations, the repercussions of which will resonate throughout the Galaxy. But will she survive long enough to share her discovery and will it be enough to stop the massacres being wreaked by a ruthless enemy? Kevin J Anderson has created a richly textured universe, peopled with exotic, diverse characters whose lives and machinations weave in and out of a satisfyingly complex plot. The first in the new series Saga of the Seven Suns, this is sci-fi at its zenith, fast, fantastical and incredibly addictive. (Kirkus UK)