The continuing story of the rebellion of the Deep Zone planets from the startified Constellation government. Lots of action, quite a bit more character development and lots of new revelations regarding plot points (though I think the authors might have added even more pending then then closed).

4 stars for good space opera action. Recommended for all fans of this genre. Can't wait for the final novel in this trilogy. ( )

This continues to be a pretty basic, stripped down version of Dune, with different characters and different settings, but still enjoyable to a sci-fi fan like me. Probably wouldn't recommend it to people who don't care for science fiction. ( )

Part two of another formulaic epic by a duo well experienced in writing them. Once again, we're in a future far, far from now and human political systems have devolved back to feudalism. At the end of Hellhole, General Adolphus rises from the ashes of defeat and declares independence from the "Crown Jewels" for the outer colonies. Led by the Diadem, a wicked witch of a lady, the Constellation mobilizes a fleet under the son of Adolfus' arch-nemesis. The general hatches a brilliant plot to capture the Constellation fleet intact, and it almost works. In fact, there are a lot of machinations that almost, but not quite, play out as intended. As a result, the middle book of the trilogy accomplishes little, except for the foreboding signs that another enemy lurks in the shadows (an asteroid-chucking enemy at that). If I was to predict what might happen in the upcoming 3rd book, I'd say the humans resolve their differences to face this new threat. Or maybe it turns into the script for a Korean movie and everyone dies. If you like Herbert and Anderson's prior stuff, this is MOTS brain candy. ( )