A Forest of Stars - Kevin J. Anderson Book Review

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Review Summaries

" Aspect, Jul 2003, 24.95 ISBN: 0446528714 Five years ago humans applied alien technology to convert a gas giant planet into a sun. However, when they destroyed the gas giant the humans unintentionally massacred the previously unknown residents, numerous Hydrogues. The unwittingly genocide has since led to a solar war never seen on this scale befoe aimed at the Terran Hanseatic League as the Hydrogues keep the pressure on their foe. The Hydrogues see an opportunity to rid themselves of a more dangerous enemy to their existence than the humans. They feel they can finally eradicate their ancient foe, the Verdani, an interconnected, semi-sentient Worldforest. Meanwhile the Earth Defense Forces must also deal with another enemy not as blatant as the Hydrogues; the Klikiss robots reprogram "compies" into human exterminating machines. On the positive side, contact with other sentient beings may lead to a needed ally or two, with both of these species apparently caught in the middle of the increasingly nasty solar hostilities. The action is packed and the cast includes a “compy” fully developed, but what makes this sequel in the “Saga of Seven Suns” so good is the deep look at the causes of war. The story line never loses sight of its theme even while insuring plenty of adventure without preaching. The non-human species appear real, which makes the annihilation threats stronger, generating an even more powerful military science fiction novel that readers will appreciate for its insight inside a terse thriller. Harriet Klausner "
Harriet Klausner, Resident Kevin J. Anderson Scholar

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Overall Review

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - preventing/managing clash/war between govts/kingdoms
If an invasion, from Earth/human POV: - fighting overt invasion (attacking aliens)
War or Invasion Yes
Major kinds of combat: - spaceship battles
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - fighter (air/space) pilot
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - an entire race
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a futuristic society
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - a moderate amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript

Most similar books by Gordonator ranking
Dune: The Battle of Corrin by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
The Killing of Worlds by Scott Westerfeld
Radiant Seas by Catherine Asaro
Radiant by James Alan Gardner
Horizon Storms by Kevin J. Anderson

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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