8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Tide Turns, October 19, 2006
Scattered Suns (2005) is the fourth SF novel in the Saga of Seven Suns series, following Horizon Storms. In the previous volume, Bill Stanna stole a Roamer scout ship and fled to the outer Osquivel system; Zhett Kellum had the stolen ship retrieved after the emergency beacon came on and brought back the body to the other EDF prisoners. Admiral Lev Stromo destroyed Rendezvous and imprisoned the surviving Roamers.
Kotto Okiah found a way to open the hydrogue ship and his Analytical compy GU stated that the technology therein was very similar to that of Klikiss robots. King Peter learned that Prince Daniel was exceedingly uncooperative and Queen Estarra discovers that she is pregnant. On Theroc, Celli found a wooden tree figure shaped like her brother Beneto growing in the Worldforest and it soon became animated.
In this novel, Chairman Basil Wenceslas tells King Peter and Queen Estarra that their schedule has been changed; they are going to Ildira to meet with the Mage-Imperator. Queen Estarra smuggles a potted worldtree aboard the transport as a gift to the Mage-Imperator. On Ildira, the Mage-Imperator greets the King and Queen graciously, bur snubs Chairman Wenceslas. He eagerly accepts the potted worldtree and thanks Estarra for the gift that brings back so many good memories.
On Ildira, Mage-Imperator Jora'h faces a rebellion by Designate Rusa'h and Prime Designate Thor'h. He sends Adar Zan'nh and his forty-seven intact ships to rebellious Hyrillka. When the maniple is detected, Prime Designate Thor'h pilots a transport toward them, demanding protection from Rusa'h. Other ships follow the transport, firing wildly. A royal shuttle also launches from the palace and Rusa'h announces that he is coming aboard in accordance with his Imperator's orders. Both vessels are allowed to dock on separate ships, but they prove to be loaded with armed vassals who attack the loyal crew.
Admiral Lev Stromo leads his Earth Defense Force battle group against Roamers in the Hhrenni system. Nikko Chan Tylar has taken time from his delivery of wentals to visit his parents there just before the EDF ships arrive. His parents tell him to leave and, with a combination of violent maneuvers and extreme acceleration, Nikko escapes the pursuing Remoras. But the EDF imprisons his parents and the other Roamers on the asteroids and take them to the prison planet.
On Dobra, Osira'h prepares herself for mental communications with the hydrogues. Designate Udru'h is unaware that Osira'h knows about his treatment of her mother, but she definitely doesn't trust him anymore. On their way to Ildira, Designate Udru'h and Osira'h pass the triple star system of Durris where the fighting between the hydrogues and faeros has fatally damaged the yellow star.
On Ildira, Osira'h is presented to the Mage-Imperator. Although she remembers her mothers love for Jora'h, she is not sure of her own feelings. When she notices a potted treeling next to the throne, she recognizes it as a worldtree from Theroc and yearns to touch it. Later Osira'h meets the Mage-Imperator in private and he allows her to touch the worldtree. Then he explains his relations with Nira to her.
In this story, Basil continues to ignore the political enemies that he is making by his self-centered acts, among whom are Peter and Estarra. He also continues to ignore warnings about the soldier compy programming. The magnitude of this mistake soon becomes apparent.
The Roamers are taking measures against hydrogue attacks, but don't seem to be undertaking any form of self-protection against the EDF. Their cut and run or surrender approach just isn't very believable. The Ildirans, however, are carrying through on their program to contact the hydrogues, with some success.
Of all the characters in this story, the compy DD has the most success so far. Over his objections, the Klikiss robots insist on changing his programming to give him freewill. After the operation, DD exercises this freewill to escape from the black robots and to search for Margaret Colicos. He experiences a certain amount of pleasure in considering how surprised the Klikiss robots will be when they learn the nature of his self-will.
Recommended for Anderson fans and anyone else who enjoys tales of space opera, implacable enemies and untrustworthy allies.
-Arthur W. Jordin
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Very depressing series, October 14, 2005
Anderson seems to be doing some kind of study of tragedy with this series. Virtually nothing goes right for the poor human and ilderan characters. The chain of unlikly setbacks some of these characters endure are second only to the plotlines in the TV series 24 in inprobability. Whats worse, our hero's reactions are totally ineffective, their strategies irrational. I can only assume Anderson is planning on some alien rescuers like the Wentals to bail them out.
Another problem with the books as they progress is how much time Anderson spends rehashing events that have already happened. It seems like every event has to be first described, and then reminisced about by a character at least twice before he is satisfied we caught the even't significance!
All that said, this series has kept my interest, I do enjoy it, but I think Anderson could have done a lot better. There are many things that don't make sense in the book, like how these civilizations could accomplish much of anything with no faster-than light communications. I guess any ship whose star drive happens to break down is just out of luck. Also, the stupidity displayed by the supposedly tactical and sharp minded Ad'ar Zahn is really frustrating. Overall, the good side in these novels seem incapable of any real innovation or capability to drive events, they merely react mechanically. Only rarely do they display creativity.
Making matters much worse for this audiobook, there is a different, and far less talented reader. Apparently this guy took over without bothering to listen to any of George Guidall's recordings. Most of the place and character names are pronounced differently. The roamers now all seem to come from the american deep south, and sound both stupid and ridiculous as a result. The Ilderans talk in maddening fake english accents. The readers attempts at both gruff, gravely voices and female voices come off pretty pathetic as well. Since one of my main motivations for listening to this series was Guidall's comforting rythms, this book has been painful at times.
I would still recommend this book however, just because it is relatively easy to skip through the utterly mechanical and predictable, or repetitive parts because the chapters are arranged by character. Sometimes it becomes easy to predit what will happen in a given chapter and just skip it if it will be too painful to read.
If your a person that demands better written books, or needs a more positive storyline, I'd steer clear. On the other hand if you enjoy tragedy and psychology, as well as interesting aliens and a good sense of the unknown, I would recommend this book to you.
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10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Story Terrific, Reader NOT, January 15, 2006
The story in this series continues to be incredible and engaging. 5 stars for the story
In this offering, however, they changed readers. 0 stars for the reading. It seems the new reader (and director) didn't place any priority on the continuity of pronunciation. This one changed how so many names and words were pronounced that I struggled for quite a chunk of the book to figure out who was being referred to. So, if the director/producer/reader/... is reading this, try having the reader listen to the previous offerings so your repeat listeners can figure out what you are talking about. I don't care if you think the previous reader blew it. He was first, and you have to follow. That's your obligation to the listeners
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