Book review
Written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
Simon & Schuster Paperback
Release date Out now

The Crown Jewels is an alliance of planets, an autocracy ruled over by the despotic Diadem Michella. The exploited colonies in the Deep Zone are suppressed by high taxation and lack of autonomy. After a failed political rebellion, General Tiber Adolphus is exiled to the planet Hallholme, a blighted world, devastated centuries before by a meteor strike. But Adolphus has plans and resources to build a new rebellion, seemingly aided and abetted by the awakening of an alien race…

Herbert and Anderson are both well known for their work in long running science fiction sagas – and it shows. Hellhole is awfully derivative and in the opening chapters there are repeated echoes of both Dune and Star Wars (two universes the authors have worked in).

As the plot develops there are opportunities to break out of the mould, but even where these emerge there are annoying similarities to bits and pieces of other recognisable SF such as Stargate. There are even inadvertently hilarious images from Futurama (did Herbert and Anderson really intend their ruler of the galaxy to pastiche the head of MomCorp?).

But the most annoying aspect of this novel – which in itself is comprised of slick, action-orientated writing – is that it’s little more than an extended introduction. That’s over 500 pages of material that does little more than set up a series of novels, featuring stereotypical situations and characters that could have been dealt with in the first act of a much denser story. And why does it just end with little warning, and not even on an adequate cliffhanger?

You can’t help but wonder why half-decent writers are unable to craft a cracking story in a single volume (even if they are part of a broader series). Perhaps subsequent editions of this novel will warn the reader that this is the first part in an episodic series. Brigid Cherry

VERDICT: 5/10
Fast-paced and easy to read it may be, but the lack of a proper conclusion is hugely frustrating.

Click here to read an interview with Kevin J. Anderson.