Twenty years after the last Great War had swept across the galaxy, the remaining species have achieved a semblance of peace. On the capital human planet of Theroc, the single forest mind connects the expanded human empire through its priests. The ancient Ildrians maintain their own mental network through the thism. The peace which all enjoy is an illusion as an ancient enemy is stirring, intent on eradication the whole of reality...

The Saga of Shadows. Book One: The Dark Between the Stars (2014. 660 pages, including glossary) is a new science fiction trilogy, written by Kevin J. Anderson, who is probably better known for his collaboration with Brian Herbert on the extended Dune series of books.

There is a generalised movement in science fiction towards a more pessimistic outlook, hence the growth of post-apocalyptic writing, which is a real shame, because occasionally what you really want to do is slosh your brains out with a galaxy spanning space opera.

Peter F. Hamilton is the current king of the space opera, producing wide ranging and engaging stories, which generally appear as doorstop tomes. With his work on the extended Dune book, often also appearing as doorstops, it is not an unusual step for Anderson to branch out on his own with a personal view of a future history. Not that he has not had a prodigious output under his own name, having cut his writing chops on Star Wars and X-Files novels.

This series follows directly on from his The Saga of Seven Suns series, although you do not have to have read this series to enjoy the current one. Split into one hundred and thirty-nine chapters, Anderson provides the reader with fairly short vignettes of information or action before moving to another place or perspective. This way the story is built slowly, like placing LEGO brick together, it takes a little time to build a picture of what is happening.

These short chapters also allow him to introduce a large cast of characters. On the good side this means that the story feels as if it is always in motion, however this pacing does not allow Anderson to produce any great depth to his characters.

Whether you’re going to like it is really going to be a matter of taste, if you’re looking for a book which will entertain with beings which can smash whole planets, derring-do involving great fleets of spaceships, then this could be a good summer read. However, if you’re looking for something substantial you’re probably looking in the wrong place.

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Charles Packer