And so to the fifth volume in Kevin J. Anderson galaxy-spanning epic of inter-species war – now this is a book I have been looking forward to eagerly since finishing the fourth volume last year.

The human race and its ally the Ildirans find themselves in conflict with the Hydrogues, a truly alien, alien race inhabiting the inner parts of the gas giants in the various star systems around the galaxy – including Earth's Solar System own giant Jupiter.

These are not the only players in this saga. We can add into this mix Faeros – being who live inside stars and enemies of the Hydrogues. Then we have the Verdani - a vast forest intelligence capable of creating space-going warships from out of their forest heartwood to be piloted by fused human Green Priests. The Klikiss robots are powerful warrior robots intent on wiping out races who create robots to serve them (which currently means humanity). The Wentals are a species of living water.

And then finally there are the Roamers, a loose knit society of humans who are not allied to the main Earth forces. In some ways it is these Roamers that could provide the key to humanity's survival for their whole culture revolves around exploiting the most marginal of situations. So their engineers are key to providing ways to overcome the difficulties facing the species.

This series is mammoth, it's truly awesome science fiction. If anyone has been wandering who would pick up where Robert Heinlein left then I can tell you – it's Kevin J. Anderson. This is how to write space opera sf.

There are so many layers to this, we have conspiracies and power struggles, treaties and betrayals, secrets and lies all coming together in the most absorbing way.

Earth's King Peter and his bride Estarra find themselves enemies of the current Chairman (and seat of actual power in the Earth's government – the Hansa), a situation made all the worse when Peter's warnings about trusting the Klikiss robots prove well founded.

The Roamers find themselves the unwarranted targets of Hansa forces, vilified by the Earth government who are desperate for a victory story to boost the morale of their citizenry. And the Ildiran leader Mage-Imperator Jora'h finds himself at the heart of an ancient prophecy and a treaty with the Hydrogues he would do anything to break free from.

There is so much going on in this series. I have to admit that when I first started reading this series I was a little worried. I am not a regular reader of lengthy series, preferring novels (and short ones rather than longer books) or my absolute favourite length of book – the novella. Well this is anything but short, volume five alone clocks in at over seen hundred pages, and there are still two further volumes to come.

But with all this content I can honestly say I think this series needs all seven books and not one single part of me is dreading the concept of two more similarly long novels – all I can say is bring them on. Indeed the only problem I have is that it is going to be another year until I can get to the sixth book.

This series is one that I feel is destined to be viewed as one of the greatest space opera series of all time.

Synopsis
After many years of hardship and bravery, the human race faces its greatest challenge. The sweeping war between titanic races - a conflict that has obliterated planets, extinguished entire stars, exterminated whole races - is reaching its end game. Allies become betrayers, strangers become fast friends, and enemies clash in a struggle that will rock the galaxy. For years, the alien Klikiss robots have pretended to be humanity's friends, but their seeming "help" has allowed them to plant an insidious Trojan Horse throughout the Earth Defense Forces, and the sudden rebellion of Earth's own compies leaves millions dead and the Terran Hanseatic League defenseless. In a desperate attempt to save his own race, the Ildiran Mage-Imperator Jora'h is forced into a devil's bargain with the evil hydrogues, which will require him to ambush and destroy what remains of the human race. But the gypsy Roamer clans and the green priests of the towering worldforest - scattered stepchildren of humanity - have found innovative ways to fight, as well as strange allies of incomprehensible power. As the climactic battle is engaged, the Ildiran Solar Navy, the Earth Defense Forces, the Roamers, green priests, Klikiss robots, and hydrogue warglobes collide in a fury that will destroy many and change the landscape of the Spiral Arm forever.