In book three of The Saga of the Seven Suns, the plot thickens. As the hydrogues and faeros continue their vicious war, the humans and their allies, the Ildrians, at times have become almost an afterthought to the superpowers. The Kilkiss robots, however, harbor a grudge against the humans of the Spiral Arm and vow to completely destroy them.

On earth, Basil Wenceslas, chairman of the Terran Hanseatic League, orders another Kilkiss Torch deployed. This time to a hydrogue gas planet called Ptoro. Unbeknownst to the human attackers, Ptoro is being used to house human prisoners of war. The compy DD is also on Ptoro with his captors the Kilkiss robots. As the gas giant explodes, hydrogue war ships attack the EDF (Earth Defense Forces). Before the EDF is wiped out, the faeros appear and engage the hydrogues, allowing the EDF time to escape.

On Theroc, the world forest has been attacked and is gravely wounded. Many of the Green Priests, who are telepathically linked to the trees, leave the EDF and return home to comfort and to rebuild.

The wentals, ancient water entities and enemies of the hydrogues, are finally able to leave their prison by integrating into the body of a Roamer they've saved. The wentals will be carried by human volunteers to new worlds so they can spread and prepare to fight the drogues.

Jora'h has become Mage-Imperator of the Ildrians. Unprepared for his thism knowledge, which includes a secret breeding program, Jora'h longs for change but realizes he must except the status quo -- up to a point. Complicating things, his brother, Rusa'h, wakes from his coma. Rusa'h convinces Jorah's son that he, Rusa'h, is the rightful Mage- Imperator. The two eventually commit an act of unparalleled treason, bringing the empire to the brink of civil war.

Discovering that their ships have been attacked and destroyed by the Hansa, the Roamers rebel and refuse to turn over the precious ekti, which the Hansa demand and depend on. This only prompts more attacks by the Hansa on the Roamers.

Now the various human coalitions and their allies are at each others' throats. The Spiral Arm is no closer to a workable plan for defeating the hydrogues. Treachery and treason infest and contaminate the human and Ilidrian worlds. Although not quite on the brink of extinction, they cannot hope to win the great battle they must eventually face.

Wow! Lots going on here! HORIZON STORMS, like all the books in this series, is a space opera of epic proportion. It has a large cast of characters, almost nonstop action and it's a lot of fun. Anderson's world keeps expanding -- layers upon layers. We learn more about these people, their worlds and their customs with each new book. The next book, SCATTERED SUNS, will be out in hardcover in July. So, no, the journey isn't over yet. But who cares! The trip can be as much fun as the final destination. And what a ride it's been.