To Challenge Heaven - (Out of the Dark) by David Weber & Chris Kennedy

Book Synopsis

The third entry into the New York Times bestselling series, To Challenge Heaven brings another thrilling adventure from the masters of military science fiction, David Weber and Chris Kennedy.

In a universe teeming with predators, humanity needs friends. And fast.

We've come a long way in the forty years since the Shongairi attacked Earth, killed half its people, and then were driven away by an alliance of humans with the other sentient bipeds who inhabit our planet.

We took the technology they left behind, and rapidly built ourselves into a starfaring civilization. Because we haven't got a moment to lose. Because it's clear that there are even more powerful, more hostile aliens out there, and Earth needs allies.

But it also transpires that the Shongairi expedition that nearly destroyed our home planet ... wasn't an official one. That, indeed, its commander may have been acting as an unwitting cats-paw for the Founders, the ancient alliance of very old, very evil aliens who run the Hegemony that dominates our galaxy, and who hold the Shongairi, as they hold most non-Founder species, in not-so-benign contempt.

Indeed, it may turn out to be possible to turn the Shongairi into our allies against the Hegemony. There's just the small matter of the Shongairi honor code, which makes bushido look like a child's game. We might be able to make them our friends -- if we can crush their planetary defenses in the greatest battle we, or they, have ever seen...

Review Quotes

"This is thrilling and philosophical military science fiction, in which vampires become saviors and aliens become allies. It will appeal to fans looking for a more fantastic take on what Star Trek could have become." -Library Journal on To Challenge Heaven

"Audacious...Keeps the pedal to the metal." -Publishers Weekly on Out of the Dark

"Ambitious." -Kirkus on By Heresies Distressed

"A fun and entertaining space opera" -Locus on A Call to Vengeance

"Marvelously entertaining." -Vernor Vinge on Off Armageddon Reef

"Weber brings the political maneuvering, past and future technologies, and vigorous protagonists together for a cohesive, engrossing whole."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Off Armageddon Reef

"Effortlessly exceeds the magnificence of its predecessor...I cannot emphasize how much I want to read the next chapter in the Safehold saga."--Fantasy Book Critic on By Schism Rent Asunder

About the Author

DAVID WEBER is the most popular living author of military science fiction. Aside from the Safehold series beginning with Off Armageddon Reef, he is also known for the New York Times bestselling Honor Harrington series, which includes Uncompromising Honor. He lives in South Carolina.

CHRIS KENNEDY is a former school principal and naval aviator. His self-published novels include the Occupied Seattle military fiction duology, the Theogony and Codex Regius science fiction trilogies, and the War for Dominance fantasy trilogy.