Excellent work from Brian & Kevin Anderson. Gives them something they can call their own and be proud of a new universe that wasn't someone else's creation. Can't wait for book 2!!!!
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Excellent work from Brian & Kevin Anderson. Gives them something they can call their own and be proud of a new universe that wasn't someone else's creation. Can't wait for book 2!!!!
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Hellhole (Hellhole #1) DNF @41%


This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.tumblr.com by express permission of this reviewer. Title: Hellhole Series: Hellhole Author: Kevin Anderson, Brian Herbert Rating: 2 of 5 Stars Genre: SFF Pages: DNF
My Thoughts: Started out ok, a typical SF Epic'y type story. But as I read on, it became obvious as the sun that this was nothing more than a copy and klug'ing of Anderson's Saga of the Seven Suns series and Herbert's Dune prequels. I am in the middle of the Seven Suns series right now and not enjoying it, as it is drawn out and boring. This had some life [thanks to Herbert] but the blatant rewriting of their same old ideas didn't do it for me. If I had read this trilogy before starting the Seven Suns, I might have let the Dune'esque copycatness stuff go and enjoyed this. But once again, Anderson screws me over. Ballz to that. So I just stopped. Not worth the aggravation AND repetitiveness..." ( )

Herbert and Anderson’s first co-authored work outside Frank Herbert’s Dune universe follows the Constellation, a galactic empire that has been relatively stable for centuries and which is now colonizing numerous Deep Zone planets. Beginning with the end of a failed rebellion, publically loved General Tiber Adolphus and his followers are sent to the planet Hallholme (Hellhole), a battered world whose ecosystem was almost entirely destroyed by a meteor impact long ago. As the dispossessed, the disheartened, the adventurous, and others work to live in the Deep Zone worlds they begin to build their own societies but are harmed and endangered by the excessive tributes demanded of them and the threat of violence from the Crown Jewels worlds. As Tiber’s plan to create a stringline network for fast space travel between Deep Zone worlds and to cut ties with the Constellation comes to fruition, an extraordinary discovery is made on Hallholme tied to the civilization that lived their previously-- the only aliens humans have found evidence of in the galaxy. As Crown Jewels politics destroy families, the nobles vie for power and control of the throne following Diadem Michella’s death, and the Princess Keana attempts to thwart the position she has been relegated to, Hallholme becomes central not only to the Deep Zone worlds, but to events and intrigues throughout the known galaxy. Hallholme, it becomes clear, will be pivotal in the war to come. ( )

This was a fascinating read to me, and I've noted many reviews by people who thought this book was just average at best. Herbert and Anderson's writing style just really resonates with me, and I found this book easy to read, intriguing, and great escapism from the daily grind. I'm looking forward to the two sequels coming up to find out how the battle for the Deep Zone planets turns out. The Duchenet v. Adolphus saga to be continued...... ( )