"Anderson, Kevin J - Seven Suns 1 - 2002 - Hidden Empire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anderson Kevin J)

Hidden EmpireHidden Empire
The Saga of Seven Suns - Book 01

Kevin J. Anderson


In our galaxy's far future, humans are one of three known intelligent races. We
are the "new kids on the block," having had star travel for only a few
centuries. The other races consist of the Ildirans, ruled by their
Mage-Imperator, and the Klikiss, which seem to have vanished, but left behind
worlds full of artifacts and fabulous technology that humans are now beginning
to find and exploit.
One such piece of technology is a device that can turn a useless gas supergiant
planet into a small sun, thereby creating new living space for humans. But when
the device is tried for the first time, it awakens the ire of a hitherto
unsuspected fourth race, the Hydrogues-and a galaxy-spanning war that threatens
all life.
Set against this background are multiple subplots involving a large cast of
fascinating characters: a married couple whose archaeological discoveries can
save humanity; a young man kidnapped to take over the kingship of the vast Trade
Federation; travelling communities of gypsy-like Roamers, one of whom becomes
humanity's champion against the Hydrogues; and many more.


Copyright й 2002 by WordFire, Inc. All rights reserved.



1 MARGARET COLICOS
Safe in orbit high above the gas giant, Margaret looked through the observation
port at continent-sized hurricanes and clouds far below. She wondered how long
it would take for the entire planet to catch fire, once the experiment began.
Oncier was a pastel globe of hydrogen and mixed gases five times the size of
Jupiter. Moons surrounded the gas giant like a litter of pups jostling against
their mother. The four of greatest interest were large bodies of ice and rock
named Jack, Ben, George, and Christopher, after the first four Great Kings of
the Terran Hanseatic League. If today's test proved a success, those moons could
eventually be terraformed into Earth-like colonies.
If the Klikiss Torch failed, the respected career of Margaret Colicos would
fizzle along with it. But she would survive. As xeno-archaeologists, she and her
husband Louis were accustomed to working in blissful obscurity.
In preparation for the experiment, the technical observation platform bustled
with scientists, engineers, and political observers. Though Margaret had nothing
to do with the actual test, her presence was still required here. A celebrity.
She had to make a good show of it. After all, she had discovered the alien
device among the ruins.
Tucking gray-streaked brown hair behind her ear, she looked across the deck and
saw Louis grinning like a boy. They had been married for decades and had never
worked without each other. It had been years since she'd seen him in a dashing,
formal suit. Margaret could tell how much he reveled in the excitement, and she