Hellhole — Brian Herbert; Kevin J. Anderson

Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson have spent the past decade writing the brilliant, ambitious novels that expanded and explored Frank Herbert's Dune universe. Every one of their Dune novels has been an international bestseller, garnering critical acclaim, awards, and the respect of fans around the world.

Now they have created the first novel in an original three-book series -- Hellhole--an epic story on a galactic scale packed with nonstop adventure, fascinating characters, and wondrous concepts. The human interstellar government, the Constellation, consists of twenty allied "old guard" worlds. The society is wealthy, with a decadent upper class ruled by the dowager Diadem Michella Duchenet. But as the population of the core worlds has grown, pressures increase for change and for new territory. After the failure of a devastating revolution, the Diadem realizes she must open the wild frontier of unexplored planets.

Thus begins a large-scale expansion as ambitious risk-takers rush out to claim fifty-four newly opened planets in the Deep Zone. The most infamous of the new planets is Hallholme, named "Hellhole" by the miserable settlers. Tortured by horrific storms and volcanic eruptions, the planet is a dumping ground for undesirables ... but also a haven for dreamers and independent pioneers. Hellhole is ruled by an exiled military leader, General Adolphus, who was defeated in the abortive revolution -- but he still harbors the grand dreams of a liberator and is secretly determined to turn his prison into the center of a new coalition of planets free of the Diadem's heavy taxes that go to feed the nobles.

Consumed by the plots and feuds of those around her, Diadem Michella is confident that the general has been neutralized. She has no idea of the revolt growing in the Deep Zone ... or does she?

What no one knows is this Hellhole hides the remnants of an alien civilization and the buried memories of its past that could tear apart human civilization.
Astonishing, fascinating, and intense, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson have used their superb creative talents once again to create a novel with a true sense of awe and wonder. Hellhole is science fiction at its best: accessible, classic ... and timeless.