The Saga of Seven Suns by Kevin J. Anderson
Seven Epic Books of Science Fiction Reviewed
Mar 25, 2009
The Saga of Seven Suns by Kevin J. Anderson is seven epic books that tell the compelling stories of humans and aliens facing a war of extinction. Each book is a blend of science fiction and science fantasy.
Kevin J. Anderson's final book in his epic series The Saga of Seven Suns, The Ashes of Worlds is on the shelf. Now is the time to pick up all seven books and read them one after the other. It is a tale certain to keep your rapt attention through its three thousand plus pages.
Each book has the rapid pacing of a James Patterson thriller, the political interplay of a Dune novel, and the relationship and romance issues of classic space opera.
It makes more sense to review The Saga of Seven Suns as a series, rather than review each book separately. Hidden Empire, A Forest of Stars, Horizon Storms, Scattered Suns, Of Fire and Night, Metal Swarm and The Ashes of Worlds tell a seamless story separated only by dates of publication.
Humans
Humans have splintered into three very different, yet undeniably human factions. The Terran Hanseatic League governs the Earth and the people of the Hansa scattered across the Spiral Arm. On Theroc humans have unbreakable ties with their ecosystem and priests “talk” to and through the trees. With no firm ties to any planet the Roamers are fiercely independent traders.
Aliens
Humans were not the first to colonize the Spiral Arm. The Ildirans are an alien race with a long stagnant culture and technology. It is from their great epic history The Saga of Seven Suns the series title is taken.
The alien Klikiss have been extinct for thousands of years. A team of human archaeologists discover a device, the Klikiss Torch and instructions for its use, but not its purpose. The Hanseatic League test it on a gas-giant planet turning it into solid planet that can used for colonization. Unknowingly they also exterminate thousands of Hydrogues that live within the gaseous planet.
Conflict
Desire for revenge sparks a war that quickly engulfs the entire Spiral Arm and adds new tales to the Ildiran Saga of Seven Suns. Three until then unknown races the Wentals, the Faeros, and the Verdani appear and begin battling the Hydrogues and each other and the human race faces imminent extinction.
Author's Resume
Kevin Anderson focuses each short chapter on the situations faced by a particular character. This could have been confusing except the author weaves the preceding and subsequent chapters so that the story has strong continuity.
Kevin J. Anderson is the author of 29 bestselling books of fantasy and science fiction. He set the Guiness Books of World Records contest for Largest Single-Author Book Signing. He has co-authored books in the Dune series with Brian Herbert. With his wife Rebecca Moesta, he has co-authored titles in the Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights series.
Two of his novels are set in the DC Comic Universe of Batman and Superman, The Last Days of Krypton and Enemies and Allies.
The Saga of Seven Suns is seven books, none that can stand alone. Seven books that together are a science fiction masterwork. That is a big claim and one that will stand the test of the most discriminating reader of adventure science fiction.
The Ashes of Worlds by Kevin J. Anderson, Book 7 in the Saga of Seven Suns, Orbit Books, July 2008, ISBN 0-316-00757-9, 491 pgs.
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