Kevin J Anderson

After the events of 'Hellhole Awakening', the people of Hellhole and the shadow-Xayans scramble to rally against the threat from the still-living rogue Xayans. Back on Sonjeera, the Monarchy is in an uproar after their surprising defeat and the breakaway of the Deep Zone planets. The dowager Queen decides to go to Hellhole on a diplomatic mission,

Gilbertus Albans has founded the Mentat School, a place where humans can learn the efficient techniques of thinking machines. But Gilbertus walks an uneasy line between his own convictions and compromises in order to survive the Butlerian fanatics, led by the madman Manford Torondo and his Swordmaster Anari Idaho.

It is 83 years after the last of the thinking machines were destroyed in the Battle of Corrin and Faykan Butler established himself as the first Emperor of a new Imperium. Even so, anti-technology fervour continues to sweep across the human-settled planets, with powerful fanatical groups imposing violent purges.

The universal computer mind Omnius has retreated to its last stronghold, where it plots a devastating new strategy that could undo the victories of the Butlerian Jihad. The surviving Titans are creating new lieutenants to do their will when at last they return to attack the human beings they once ruled. Originally published: London: Hodder & Stough