Customer Reviews

Scattered Suns (The Saga of Seven Suns, Book 4)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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

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.

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

Even as things look darker for the Ildiran Empire and all of humanity, there is hope. Roamer Jess Tamblyn has joined with the mysterious wentals, sentient water beings who promise to join the fight against the hydrogues. A Roamer genius hits on a way to destroy hydrogue warglobes. The Theron worldforest reveals amazing secrets. And the Hansa King and Queen have a secret of their own.

Even as hope blossoms, Ildiran Mage-Imperator Jora'h must face crucial decisions. Disaster strikes from all directions. Ancient enemies will require sacrifices greater than he can imagine, and his insane brother is trying to wrest control of all Ildirans into a separate, deadly thism. One of the Seven Suns is dying, and Ildirans have killed Ildirans for the first time in thousands of years.

Swirling plots and amazing characters continue to develop in this installment of The Saga of Seven Suns. Fans may find the action slows a few times in this novel, but it picks up almost immediately.

The writing quality remains well suited to the genre. Anderson's easy-going style is like a favorite pair of shoes waiting to snug you up and take you for a ride.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
6/16/2006

Unfortunately like many other writers, Anderson falls into the "money Pit Syndrome". Starts a series with a wonderful and refreshing beginning (first three books) and tries to extend the success as much as possible. Not by creating an equal maintenance to his well written start, oh no, but in trying to squeeze in a book which will produce a nice earning but not necessarily readers enjoyment. in this forth book to the Saga of Seven Suns, Anderson decided to fill the pages with scenes we have already read in the previous books (and in this book as well). Worse, the logical writing that was embedded into the first three books, just vanished and in many events in this book, he contradicts himself, as if he writes for the sake of filling the pages rather than increasing the tale. As a result of which, the story is not surprising anymore and most of the events are well expected, so much so, that you find yourself taking more and more "breaks" of this book.

This book and the series are boring, predictable, and had no characters I cared about. If you like big sweeping epics like Dune this is not the book or series for you.

While I am enjoying (in process) book 4, I am wondering what happened to the wonderful George Guidall, narrator of the first 3 books. Jury still out on the current narrator but low marks for not carrying forward pronunciations of many of the Anderson characters. It is somewhat disconcerting at this point and takes some getting used to.

While I was disappointed this book did not do more to push the plot forward I will say the Saga of the Seven Suns continues to be an interesting and exciting series. Kevin Anderson has done a fabulous of creating some of the most interesting extraterrestrials to come along since, well, ET. The ages long battle between the verdani, the hydrogues, the faeros, and the wentals is still original and fascinating to read. The most interesting of the humanoid characters continues to be the Ildirans. Again, Anderson has created not only an interesting society, but an original concept. By the end of the story, the Ildirans have been through hell and back. When it's all said and done, their loyalties are left in the balance. Among the humans, the Terran Hansiatic Leqgue continues to be the bullies of the universe, but again Anderson has a great villian in the form of Chairman Basil Wenceslas. His ongoing battle with the less than subserviant King Peter is turning into quite an interesting plot development. Trouble is brewing and I can't wait to see how it all turns out. If I had to say something negative about the novel, it would be the lack of plot development. I'm glad Anderson has an end already in sight. I'd hate for the Saga of the Seven Suns to become the sci-fi Wheel of Time.

i end up skimming through way more than i'm actually reading. there are only a couple of characters that seem to be developed beyond interest. i intend on finishing the series, because i've come too far to not want to find out how the big picture ends.

I would love to review this book, if only I would have received it by now. Ordered November 28 and still not delivered by January 6th.