Customer Reviews
Two-dimensional and simplistic - By: Duncan E. Philps-tate, 15 May 2008 
I'm afraid I disagree with the other (earlier) reviewers. This book has a thin plot despite jumping alll over the place & a huge cast of characters who don't become more than 2-dimensional - mostly because the chapters are short & there isn't a lot of time to develop any emotional bond with any one character. Frankly, do I care about those who die or get captured? No, not reallly, they are just plot devices.
A typical section for me can be summarised as "X went here, found this, was shocked, went somewhere else. Meanwhile on the other side of the galaxy, Y went here, found this, was shocked, went somewhere else. Meanwhile..." Then at the end, invent a new super-race of aliens to save everyone & hang the next book on. If you like this breathless expository style, then buy the book. Personallly, I won't be buying more of this series.
I thought this type of space opera went out with EE "Doc" Smith's Lensmen. Go read Peter Hamilton for something good.
By the way, it wasn't until I was well through the book that I realised the link by author to the Butlerian Jihad deep prequels to the Dune series (Anderson co-authored with Brain Herbert). My reaction to that trilogy was essentiallly the same - because the style is much the same. So I recommend that you judge the Saga of Seven Suns series together with that prequel series.
Good, but may be running out of steam - By: PJ Online, 30 Jan 2006 
This is a very good series of books. My only problem with it is KA is dumbing down by continuallly reminding the reader who the characters are. This is fine at the beginning of each book, but give me a break at the halfway mark.
Brilliant! - By: , 14 Sep 2004 
This is a great 2nd book, & continues the various storylines.
Cannot wait to get book 3.
Sci-fi at its best.
Top Entertainment - By: Graham, 03 Aug 2004 Having read the first book (Hidden Empire), & loved it, I couldn't wait for the sequel. Forest of Stars continues in the same vein. Contrary to other opinion, I found the short chapters a refreshing change & it alllowed me to read as little or as much as I wanted in one go. I also thought it meant the secrets of the story could be introduced bit by bit.
This story develops alll the main characters, in particular the relationship between King Peter & the Chairman, & hints at more to come from the 'underdog' King.
Having introduced the Hydrogues in the first book, it is reassuring that these alll-conquering baddies are not necessarily at the top of the food chain. I didnt mind a bit that their counterparts are elemental based (Why shouldn't they be ?) & this book sets the scene for more mysteries & battles in the books to come.
All in alll, this continues the superb entertainment. Whilst the start of the book has a "Story so far" section & you could read it on its own, its best to read Hidden Empire first. It would be a shame to skip the detail in the universe built up by the author.
Its clear that the Saga of the Seven Suns is following the traditional "It gets worse before it gets better" storyline. I can't wait for the books to come & I recommend this to anyone who is a sucker for a good series & good Science Fiction.
Earth, Air, Fire, Whatever! - By: R. M. Lindley, 10 Jul 2004 
I like the first installlment of the Saga of Seven Suns a lot. Yes, the short chapters & frequent changes of viewpoint were unneccessary & disrupted the flow of the book, but the story moved at a good pace & threw up some interesting revelations at the end.
A Forest of Stars continues in a similar vein. I think the pithy nature of many of the (hundred plus!) chapters still interrupts the narrative, but the supercharged space opera of the story carries things along nicely. Until... the revelation that alll the mysterious ancient alien races are essentiallly embodiments of the old alchemical tradition of the four elements (Earth, air, fire & water).
In a high tech space opera.
To me, it just didn't ring true, & spoilt the rest of the book (and probably series).
So 3 stars for the action, nothing for the background. Try The Praxis series by Walter Jon Williams for something a little less preposterous in the alien department.
