Hidden Empire

Starred review from July 1, 2002
In this stellar launch of a new series, bestseller Anderson (Dune
spinoffs with Brian Herbert; X-Files
and Star Wars
books) delivers action, engaging characters and credible fantastic worlds in spades—or ekti, the fuel vital for spaceships in the year 2427. The Terran Hanseatic League, in a heady rush of manifest destiny, turns Oncier, a huge gas planet, into a sun so its four moons can be used for colonization. In the process, the Terrans disturb the ancient but dwindling Ildirans, their uneasy allies, whose leader, the Mage-Imperator, suspects that Terrans are far too eager to take over the spiral arm. Still worse, by inadvertently destroying Oncier's hitherto unknown colonists, the powerful hydrogues, the conversion of Oncier sets off a catastrophic conflict that threatens the existence of all Terrans and Ildirans. The Earth Defense Forces of the Terran Hanseatic League, the Worldtrees and Green Priests of Theroc, the gypsy Roamers who mine ekti—all must unite with the Ildirans to fight the alien menace. Book one sizzles with a fast-moving plot woven tightly with vivid characterizations: the space cowboys Jess, Ross and Tasia Tamblyn; the exotic Ildirans; the grotesque Mage-Imperator and his handsome Prime Designate son, Jora'h; Beneto Theron, his clan and the bewitching Nira Khali; the appealing and not-so-appealing humans, Raymond/Peter and Chairman Basil Wenceslas; and many others, all conspiring to make this fascinating future epic one not to be missed. Agent, Matt Bialer. (July 24)Forecast:With rights already sold to the U.K. and Germany, plus blurbs from Brian Herbert, Margaret Weis, R.A. Salvatore and other big SF/fantasy guns, Anderson could finally have a series to rival his franchise fiction.

July 15, 2002
An experiment in converting a gas giant into a star with the potential for transforming the former planet's moons into environments suitable for human colonies awakens a heretofore hidden civilization and plunges the galaxy into a war for the survival of humanity. The latest novel by the author of Star Wars: Darksaber and the coauthor (with Brian Herbert) of Dune: House Atreides launches a dynamic space opera featuring political intrigue and intense personal drama. Anderson's skill in delivering taut action scenes and creating well-rounded human and alien characters adds depth and variety to a series opener that belongs in most sf collections.

Copyright 2002 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2002
A long time from now in a spiral arm of our own galaxy, three factions of the human race--the Hanseatic Federation of Earth, the starship-dwelling Roamers, and the Green Priests of Theroc--have the place more or less to themselves, which has made them rather casual about their rivalries and affairs. As for resident aliens, the Ildrians are aging pacifists, and the Kilkiss are extinct. Unfortunately, two archeologists, using an ancient Kilkiss artifact on the gas giant Oncine, upset the applecart. Intending to turn Oncine into a minor star to make its system habitable, they thoroughly incense its sapient inhabitants, the hydrogues, who swarm out from their home world in a fleet of huge, deadly ships. Suddenly, humanity is fighting for survival. Full of battles, chases, and hairbreadth escapes, which isn't surprising, considering that Anderson is one of the leading writers of " Star Wars" tie-in novels, this is also an intelligently conceived and executed nailbiter. An agreeable advance from pastiches for Anderson, and a good next step from " Star Wars" for space-opera buffs.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)