The war between the hydrogues and the civilizations of the Spiral Arm continues. The Hansa, Roamer and Ildrians strike out not only at their common enemy, but also turn against each other. Culture against culture, brother against brother, and so they begin to weaken.

The Ildrians engage in a bloody civil war. Jora'h, the legitimate Mage Imperator, battles his brother and eldest son, who've banded together in an effort to defeat and replace him. Meanwhile, Jora'h's young daughter has successfully made contact with the hydrogues. The hydrogues have agreed to end hostilities with the Ildiran Empire, but demand a terrible price in return.

The Roamers are scattered. Branded outlaws by the Hansa, their outposts have been destroyed and their people imprisoned.

On Theroc, the Worldforest has suffered crippling blows, but help has come at last in the form of the wentals, water- based entities long thought extinct. Now the Therons face the future with a new confidence and determination.

Chairman Basil Wenceslas is still in control of the puppet monarchy and the media on Earth. Increasingly unbalanced, Basil has declared open war on the Roamer clans, turning them into convenient scapegoats by focusing attention on the hapless clans and away from the government and the war effort. King Peter realizes Basil is more of a threat than ever and contemplates replacing him...in the most extreme way possible. The Soldier compies betray the EDF and openly join the Klikss robots in their insidious plan to exterminate mankind once and for all. Earth has never been more unpopular with the rest of the galaxy. With all the peoples of the Spiral Arm lining up against them, can there be any hope for the future?

As the fourth installment unfolds in Anderson's ambitious and compelling The Saga of the Seven Suns series, some story arcs are tied up and new arcs begin. Communication with the hydrogues opens a whole new can of worms. Jora'h's daughter has lived up to the hopes of her people. The wentals and the verdani are allied and the Roamers have joined their team. The Ildrian civil war seems to be over, but the fate of the usurper raises even more questions. Everything is coming together nicely, but there are still big arcs to be explored in book five and probably more than enough story for a book or two after that. Anderson's storytelling is fast-paced and exciting. A wild roller coaster ride through the universe of the Spiral Arm.