Vortex (Sten No. 7) [Mass Market Paperback]

Chris Bunch (Author), Allan Cole (Author)

Book Description

Series: Sten No. 7 | Publication Date: April 22, 1992

The Eternal Emperor had returned at last from the dead, to pick up the pieces of his crumbling Empire. But even that great leader could not halt the Empire's decline alone. And so Sten, master spy, military strategist, and assassin, found himself appointed Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the Altaic Cluster, where a brewing civil war threatened the stability of the Empire itself.
Quelling a civil war was nothing new for Sten. But as one thing after another went wrong, he began to suspect that he was up against more than a mere local disturbance. Someone -- operating in deepest cover, with the highest authority -- was working behind the scenes to manipulate events and escalate disaster. And that someone wanted nothing more than to see Sten dead . . .

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

I originally got to know Allan Cole and Chris Bunch from answering their editor's phone. That was when they'd leave messages saying things like: "Where's our money? We know where your wife works and where your kid goes to school." They'd throw in some unprintables, which I dutifully took down verbatim. So I guess I was all prepared to take over as their editor on the Sten books eventually. I never expected to have an AK-47 shoved in my hands and a camera flashed in my face...but hey, that's what we editors will do for authors we like! Now all eight Sten books are on my shelves, and the photo is on my refrigerator...though I haven't yet tried one of the recipes in the books...
                        --Shelly Shapiro, Executive Editor

From the Inside Flap

The Eternal Emperor had returned at last from the dead, to pick up the pieces of his crumbling Empire. But even that great leader could not halt the Empire's decline alone. And so Sten, master spy, military strategist, and assassin, found himself appointed Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the Altaic Cluster, where a brewing civil war threatened the stability of the Empire itself.
Quelling a civil war was nothing new for Sten. But as one thing after another went wrong, he began to suspect that he was up against more than a mere local disturbance. Someone -- operating in deepest cover, with the highest authority -- was working behind the scenes to manipulate events and escalate disaster. And that someone wanted nothing more than to see Sten dead . . .

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 373 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (April 22, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345371518
• ISBN-13: 978-0345371515
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,561,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ALLAN COLE is a best-selling author, screenwriter and former prize-winning newsman. The son of a CIA operative, Cole was raised in Europe and the Far East. For details see Allan's website at www.acole.com. Here's what critics have said about Cole's work: The Sten Series: Landmark science fiction -Publishers Weekly; When The Gods Slept: Page turner of the year - Locus; The Far Kingdoms Series: Glorious... Swashbuckling - Locus; A Reckoning For Kings: Classic war novel - SF Chronicle; Lucky In Cyprus - A haunting, enlightening experience - BookLoons.com; A Cop's Life: Must read by anyone with a badge - Philadelphia Fraternal Order Of Police.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insanity! It was what he feared most!, October 23, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Bay Area, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vortex (Sten No. 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

What the EE has always feared most has happened. He has gone insane! How could it be that a man 2000-3000 years old suddenly goes insane, starts killing his friends and becomes the demented ruller like Caligula whom he had always despised. Riveting historical parallels. Pay attention to the events that plunge the Empire into chaos, and see parallels to what is occuring or has occured in our(human) history before.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Sten! What else is there to say?, October 13, 2009

By 

Ron Jeppson (Colorado USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: vortex (sten 7) (Paperback)

Another excellent volume in the Sten saga. Full of battles, clandestine activities, bad Scottish jokes, and of course, he gets the girl.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars High Space Adventure in Classic SI-FI Style!!, April 16, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: vortex (sten 7) (Paperback)

I read this book not knowing at the time that it was just one in a series. I Found THAT out pretty quick!! Regardless, it kept me entralled till the end, and I went hunting for the others!! Great High Space Adventure in the truest of the Classic SI-FI form!! Loads of action without bogging down in technical explainations. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes action oriented SI-FI.