Completely left out here are the interesting bits about the Golgotha underground and a daring rescue of a rebel esper, a particularly good part dealing with the Empress' court, and dealings with aliens by Captain John Silence and Investigator Frost. Silence and Frost are loyal to the Empress, yet you can't help but like them. Like Owen and his companions, Silence and Frost went through the Madness Maze and emerged changed. More of their background can be found in Ghostworld , part of Twilight of the Empire . Simon R. Green's Deathstalker universe is a strange mix of high tech and swordplay, like a grand space opera.
Projectile weapons are virtually absent, replaced by disruptors.
Though powerful, they take several minutes to recharge. It makes for lots of action-packed scenes and heroic efforts. Then throw in espers, who have mental abilities ranging from telepathy and telekinesis to pyrokinesis and teleportation. And don't forget the Hadenmen, who once tried to destroy all humans and are now helping the rebellion, and the Shub AIs, intelligent machines who are still trying to destroy mankind. Then include the corrupt Imperial government and the powerful Clans who are always fighting with each other and the Empire.