Space Saga

It was supposed to be a peace conference, designed to bring the galaxy back down from the brink of war. But why they picked Capt. Cain's Bar & Grill as the location of the high-level talks is anyone's guess. And now a deadly conspiracy reveals itself, leaving Adam, along with the other Humans on Liave-3, running for their lives, accused of a political assassination they didn't commit. Now a desperate race is underway to find the alien assassin so they can clear their names and bring the real leaders of the conspiracy to justice. Can they do it? Really? You have to ask.

There are only three real powers in the Spiral: the corporate power of the Trust versus the Union's labor's leverage. Between them the Guild tries to keep everyone's hands above the table. It ain't easy. Branded a Guild deserter, Jal "accidentally" lands a ride on a Guild ship. Helmed by an AI, with a ship's engineer/medic who doesn't see much of a difference between the two jobs, and a "don't make me shoot you" XO, the Guild crew of the Ambit is a little . . . different.

Separated for decades by circumstance and political machinations, the Ruby Dynasty, hereditary rulers of the Skolian Empire, struggle to bring together the tattered remnants of their family in the shadow of a disastrous interstellar war. Too many have died, others are presumed lost. Yet they must move quickly if they are to resume their rightful place as rulers of Skolia.

At the age of 17, the young nobleman named Jaibriol Qox becomes ruler of a vast galactic empire - and loses everything he has ever valued. Born of a clandestine liaison between a renegade daughter of the Skolian Imperialate and a scion of the genetically engineered Eubian Traders, Jai Qox grew up in exile, unaware of the powers that coursed through his noble blood.

Kevin J. Anderson is the author of 27 national best sellers and several books in the popular Dune, Star Wars, and X-Files series. Forest of Stars is the second book in his acclaimed Saga of Seven Suns series, which begins with Hidden Empire.

"Welcome to the Pelaran Alliance...." With those simple words, the Guardian spacecraft openly revealed itself to humanity, heralding a new chapter in its 500-year-long mission to cultivate our world. Earth's population must now make its first planet-wide decision - join the most powerful alliance in our galaxy or chart our own course, deciding for ourselves which civilizations are worthy of our trust. Will we be the first world to decline the Pelarans' invitation, or does their offer come with an implied threat?

The Dusahn have been backed into a corner, barely able to hold the worlds of the Pentaurus cluster, let alone the entire sector. Forced to dig in, they may have to resort to drastic measures to save their fledgling empire. Captain Scott must use all his military and diplomatic skills to prepare his forces for the final assault on the Dusahn Empire. But he cannot do it alone. He needs help, and lots of it.

Nicholas van Rijn, the most flamboyant member of the Polesotechnic League of star traders, could see dark times ahead. Fellow league members were using tactics verging on outright piracy, and others were all too eager to sell starships and high-tech weapons to alien barbarians. A planet not previously known for interstellar commerce suddenly revealed a secret fleet of armed starships and started building an empire. Even if Van Rijn and his right-hand man, David Falkayn, could find a way to stop this blatant aggression, the glory days of the League were over.

Think self-congratulating Federation lackeys are going to be the ones to boldly go where no one has gone before? Think again! Now second-son of nobility David Falkayn, hot to prove his worth, leads a team of alien capitalists through deadly threat and gnarly interplanetary dilemma. The mission: to keep intergalactic trade forever free - and always profitable!

Mars Xi is a living weapon, a genetically manipulated psychic supersoldier with a body count in the thousands, and all she wanted was to be left alone. The last time MEPHISTO came for Mars, they took one of her friends with them. That was a mistake. A force hasn't been invented that can stop a voidwitch on a rampage, and Mars won't rest until she's settled her debts.

It's the year 2277. For 50 years, Earth has received mysterious data transmissions from random locations in deep space. The streams include advanced technology, allowing humans to achieve faster-than-light travel virtually overnight. As we prepare to take our first tentative steps into interstellar space, we know almost nothing about our alien benefactors, and their motivations remain unexplained.

Colton Beck has six months to live. He works for the Angor near Los Angeles, aware that any day could be his last. The Angor arrived 20 years ago, resolved to help mankind survive, but not everyone believes their motives are honorable. When the Angor offer humanity a colony world, Colton is determined to see another planet before his final breath. He’s been diagnosed with Xeno, a rare disorder that surfaced with the Angor’s arrival, but he won’t let this stop him.

Two decades after the devastating Elemental War, which nearly destroyed the cosmos, the new Confederation restored peace and profitable commerce among the peoples and worlds of the Spiral Arm. The ambitious, innovative Roamers went back to their traditional business of harvesting the vital stardrive fuel ekti from the clouds of gas giant planets, and the telepathic green priests of Theroc provided instantaneous galaxy-wide communication via their connection to the powerful and sentient worldtrees.

The extermination of Earth is at hand. With his increasingly irrational leadership Basil Wenceslas, chairman of the Hansa, has driven humanity into a corner. His punitive treatment of the Hansa colonies and the Roamers, as well as his refusal to aid an embattled Theroc, have made enemies for the people of Earth.

Cal Carver and his Space Team may have lost their ship, but they haven't lost their knack for attracting trouble. Just hours after setting foot on a new planet, Cal and the crew find themselves caught up in an interplanetary kidnapping plot. Reuniting the suspiciously-silent young victim with her parents on their far-off home world will make Cal rich beyond his wildest dreams. Unfortunately, half the pirates and bounty hunters in the galaxy have the same idea, and they're more than happy to take the girl by force.

At Battle School, there is only one purpose, only one curriculum: the strategy and tactics of war. The children are drawn from all nations, all races, all religions. There is no room for cultural differences, no room for religious observances, and certainly no room for Santa Claus.

Two worlds preparing their defenses.... A ship struggling to get back in the fight.... An enemy continuing its relentless attack.... A former enemy that could hold the answer.... With the fate of billions in his hands, Captain Scott is offered a way to save them all and end the bloodshed, but if it backfires, he could lose everything. Sometimes, there is no good choice.

An old leader born anew. A legendary ship at his disposal. A desperate crisis born of chaos. Needed allies out of unforeseen events. Nathan Scott has finally returned to lead the new Karuzari in a rebellion against the Dusahn Empire. But first, he will need to secure a ship to accommodate those who have already joined their cause. The question is: How much of him is now Nathan, and how much is still Connor?

The Dusahn have taken a massive blow, and with the Aurora's improved jump range, Captain Scott and the Karuzari Alliance can finally keep them at arm's length. Now, a previously unknown world may hold the key to defeating the Dusahn, and possibly even to bring peace to the entire galaxy.

A ship unable to defend itself. A captain determined to revive her. Worlds dependent on them both to survive. An enemy bent on their destruction. With the Aurora unable to fight, the Karuzari Alliance must find a way to not only repair their flagship, but to make the enemy pay dearly. Sometimes, you just have to make do with what you've got.