Having colonized other worlds, humans are certain the galaxy is theirs for the taking. But they soon discover the horrifying price of their arrogance when a scientific experiment awakens the wrath of the previously unknown Hydrogues and begins a war.
bn.com
The Barnes & Noble Review
An accomplished writer who cut his teeth on novels within the worlds of Dune, Star Wars, and X-Files -- most notably, the bestselling Dune prequels with Frank Herbert's son, Brian, such as Dune: House Corrino -- Kevin J. Anderson has now emerged with his own unique vision, creating an audacious, involving, masterful saga that never lets up on suspense or ingenuity.
In the 25th century, humanity is just beginning to blossom in space exploration, thanks mostly to the aid of the alien Ildirans. The only other known galactic race is the long-gone Klikiss, who've deserted a world of robots and other bizarre technology on the moon Hyrilka. However, when archaeologist husband-and-wife team Louis and Margaret Colicos activate one particular Klikiss device, they discover that they have awakened a hidden empire. The Hydrogues declare war on Earth.
An absorbing, thought-provoking novel, Hidden Empire takes questions of our existence in the universe and blends them with hard science fiction, interstellar fantasy, and action-packed space opera. There's a wealth of speculation and well-wrought characterization presented in exciting, star-spanning adventure, as well as intrigue. This is the kind of diverting, fun SF rarely found on bookstore shelves today -- rousing, full of thrills, and pure refreshing entertainment that will keep you reading all night long. Tom Piccirilli
Katherine Kurtz
Launches an impressive new series ...rich texture and complex plotting...
Margaret Weis
Galactic fantasy at its adventurous and romantic best....Intriguing characters love and battle among the stars. A great read!
Brian Herbert
An exploration of the fantastic universe...a realm of wondrous possibilities...A fascinating series.
Kate Elliott
...epic scale...a tightly plotted, fast-moving adventure with all the right ingredients...and enough twists and turns to keep you asking for more.
R. A. Salvatore
... a setting so rich and detailed that the reader will suspend disbelief and actually be there. Anderson's fans should be thrilled; I know I am.
Publishers Weekly
In this stellar launch of a new series, bestseller Anderson (Dune spinoffs with Brian Herbert; X-Files and Star Wars books) delivers action, engaging characters and credible fantastic worlds in spades or ekti, the fuel vital for spaceships in the year 2427. The Terran Hanseatic League, in a heady rush of manifest destiny, turns Oncier, a huge gas planet, into a sun so its four moons can be used for colonization. In the process, the Terrans disturb the ancient but dwindling Ildirans, their uneasy allies, whose leader, the Mage-Imperator, suspects that Terrans are far too eager to take over the spiral arm. Still worse, by inadvertently destroying Oncier's hitherto unknown colonists, the powerful hydrogues, the conversion of Oncier sets off a catastrophic conflict that threatens the existence of all Terrans and Ildirans. The Earth Defense Forces of the Terran Hanseatic League, the Worldtrees and Green Priests of Theroc, the gypsy Roamers who mine ekti all must unite with the Ildirans to fight the alien menace. Book one sizzles with a fast-moving plot woven tightly with vivid characterizations: the space cowboys Jess, Ross and Tasia Tamblyn; the exotic Ildirans; the grotesque Mage-Imperator and his handsome Prime Designate son, Jora'h; Beneto Theron, his clan and the bewitching Nira Khali; the appealing and not-so-appealing humans, Raymond/Peter and Chairman Basil Wenceslas; and many others, all conspiring to make this fascinating future epic one not to be missed. Agent, Matt Bialer. (July 24) Forecast: With rights already sold to the U.K. and Germany, plus blurbs from Brian Herbert, Margaret Weis, R.A. Salvatore and other big SF/fantasy guns, Anderson could finally have a series to rival his franchise fiction. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Library Journal
An experiment in converting a gas giant into a star with the potential for transforming the former planet's moons into environments suitable for human colonies awakens a heretofore hidden civilization and plunges the galaxy into a war for the survival of humanity. The latest novel by the author of Star Wars: Darksaber and the coauthor (with Brian Herbert) of Dune: House Atreides launches a dynamic space opera featuring political intrigue and intense personal drama. Anderson's skill in delivering taut action scenes and creating well-rounded human and alien characters adds depth and variety to a series opener that belongs in most sf collections. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Anderson has keyboarded installments beyond number of the Star Wars, X-Files, and, with Brian Herbert, Dune series, hitting the bestseller lists, which he's also hit in novels with L. Ron Hubbard, Doug Beason, the SF anthology Dogged Persistence, and, most recently, a solo novel, Hopscotch. Now he sets out to create an epic serial saga of his own, saying that his models come from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time epic fantasy series-and from Terry Brooks's Shannara novels, which long ago kicked off the Ballantine Del Rey imprint and were indebted to Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. In Hidden Empire, humans are laggards in space exploration and development and find themselves assisted by the intelligent and advanced race of Ildirans, ruled by a Mage-Emperor. About 11 human generations ago, in the 1940s, the Ildirans discovered the empty cities of the insectlike Klikiss robots on the ice moons of Hyrillka. Now, in 2427, cosmo-archaeologists Margaret and Louis Colicos, who have dug through many lost civilizations, assemble the leaders of the Terran Hanseatic League to witness a discovery they've adapted from the Klikiss robot race that vanished 5,000 years ago: How to use the Klikiss Torch and turn a pastel globe of hydrogen gas five times the size of Jupiter into a small sun and, using its many moons, create a new solar system rife with commercial possibilities. But when they implode the ball of gas, a bad thing happens: the awakening of a formerly unknown race, the Hydrogues. Anderson thinks his story character-driven and has already keyboarded Book Two. We find it wondrously imagined and zip-driven in paper-thin rose. Loyalists will leap aboard and groan with delight at acliffhanger ending that arrives all too soon.
Read More