Hidden Empire (The Saga of the Seven Suns, Book 1)

Hidden Empire (The Saga of the Seven Suns, Book 1) Kevin J. Anderson Date: 01 June, 2003   —   $6.99   —   Book product page Rating:

I picked up this book about a two years ago when it came out, I was just getting back into Sci/Fi novels and it sounded interesting, but as with alot of my books - I never got around to reading it... untill last month.

I started reading the book last month and just couldn't put the thing down. People who know me know I like reading, but they also know I'm a terribly slow reader ( which is made worse by the fact one of my addictions is buying books ), which is why I'm surprised by the fact I read the 600+ page epic in under a month ( ok, so doubling my reading time on the train all month helped alot, but still... ).

Character introductions didn't appear to cease untill around chapter 30 (thankfully chapters are only 2-3 pages long ) but the story never slowed down or dragged. Anderson has built up an amazing, expansive universe in the story with so much scope, that even as the book came to a close I knew the story had only just begun, a 600+ page introduction to a world I just new I wanted more of...

Thankfully, my book buying addictions offer up books 2 and 3 already on my shelves ( and yes, they sat next to book 1 for a year or so as well ) with book 4 due to be published in the next few months. I was planning on reading The Davinci Code next which mum got me as a present, but plans changed and I'm already getting into book 2...

Update: Is it me or does the US cover ( as shown ) really suck compared to the clean looking black UK edition. Thankfully all three of mine are the UK editions.

Update 2: I went and read a few of the Amazon reviews for the book, and I see several negative reviews around such things as having an open aired platform on a ship orbitting Jupiter. I remember reading it thinking it was a bit ludicrous, but then - there's reasons why these novels are science fiction. That being said, part of the novel mentions the use of a force field on Migistra, the Illdiran homeworld, whose to say theres not also force fields protecting an artificial atmosphere on the space station? Initially I assumed Ross and Jess were out there in space suites which would have worked, but then they had to have a flock of birds out there as well. So the book looses a few points here and there, on the whole thou - I still love the story.

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