Hidden Empire - Kevin J. Anderson [0]
The Saga of Seven Suns—Book 01
Kevin J. Anderson
In our galaxy's far future, humans are one of three known intelligent races. We are the "new kids on the block," having had star travel for only a few centuries. The other races consist of the Ildirans, ruled by their Mage-Imperator, and the Klikiss, which seem to have vanished, but left behind worlds full of artifacts and fabulous technology that humans are now beginning to find and exploit.
One such piece of technology is a device that can turn a useless gas supergiant planet into a small sun, thereby creating new living space for humans. But when the device is tried for the first time, it awakens the ire of a hitherto unsuspected fourth race, the Hydrogues—and a galaxy-spanning war that threatens all life.
Set against this background are multiple subplots involving a large cast of fascinating characters: a married couple whose archaeological discoveries can save humanity; a young man kidnapped to take over the kingship of the vast Trade Federation; travelling communities of gypsy-like Roamers, one of whom becomes humanity's champion against the Hydrogues; and many more.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons,living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2002 by WordFire, Inc. All rights reserved.
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First eBook Edition: July 2002
ISBN: 0-7595-8698-5
To IGOR KORDEY,
an imaginative, hardworking, and extremely talented artist. In the early conceptual stages of The Saga of Seven Suns , he helped me to visualize and design many of the key elements of this universe. His questions and ideas have fleshed out the series to a greater extent than anything I could have done alone.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
During the creation, writing, and editing of this series, many people have offered their advice and their enthusiasm. In particular, I would like to thank Betsy Mitchell and Jaime Levine at Warner Aspect and John Jarrold at Simon & Schuster UK; Matt Bialer, Robert Gottlieb, Maya Perez, and Cheryl Capitani at the Trident Media Group; Larry Shapiro at Creative Artists Agency; Jeff Mariotte and John Nee at Wildstorm/DC Comics; and artists Stephen Youll and Igor Kordey.
At WordFire, Inc., Catherine Sidor gave her usual 150 percent effort in transcribing all my tapes of the chapters (and keeping up with me), as well as proofreading and offering general comments; Diane Jones also helped out with insightful questions, suggestions, and brainstorming. Gregory Benford helped me design the Klikiss Torch technology. Brian Herbert gave his support and help with the series from its very beginning.
And of course my wife Rebecca Moesta helped out in a vast number of ways, both up front and behind the scenes.
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
1 Margaret Colicos
2 Basil Wenceslas
3 Adar Kori'nh
4 Old King Frederick
5 Beneto Theron
6 Arcas
7 Margaret Colicos
8 Raymond Aguerra
9 Estarra
10 Prime Designate Jora'h
11 Adar Kori'nh
12 Rlinda Kett
13 Jess Tamblyn
14 Cesca Peroni
15 Nira Khali
16 Rlinda Kett
17 Basil Wenceslas
18 Raymond Aguerra
19 Jess Tamblyn
20 Cesca Peroni
21 Estarra
22 Margaret Colicos
23 Adar Kori'nh
24 Basil Wenceslas
25 Raymond Aguerra
26 Cesca Peroni
27 Berndt Okiah
28 Rlinda Kett
29 Arcas
30 Sarein
31 Ambassador Otema
32 Nira
33 General Kurt Lanyan
34 Ross Tamblyn
35 Estarra
36 Raymond Aguerra
37 Jess Tamblyn
38 Rememberer Vao'sh
39 Davlin Lotze
40 Margaret Colicos
41 Sarein
42 Dr. Gerald Serizawa
43 King Frederick
44 Estarra
45 Nira
46 Jess Tamblyn
47 General Kurt Lanyan
48 Cesca Peroni
49 Tasia Tamblyn
50 Margaret Colicos
51 Nira
52 Rememberer Dio'sh
53 Prime Designate Jora'h
54 Jess Tamblyn
55 King Frederick
56 Raymond Aguerra
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