TRANSPORTAL: Klikiss instantaneous transportation network.

ULDO'NH, QUL: maniple commander in the Ildiran Solar Navy.

ULIO: large trading complex in open space, frequented by traders of all sorts.

ULIO, MARIA: founder of the Ulio transfer hub.

VACONDA: wilderness planet, site of the Alakis forest watchtower station.

VANH, LARA: Klikiss researcher on Eljiid.

VAULT OF FAILURES: document crypt in Mijistra containing ancient discarded weapons designs developed for use against the Shana Rei.

VERDANI: organic-based sentience, manifested as the Theron worldforest.

VERNE: cargo ship flown by Xander Brindle and Terry Handon.

VOECKS, ALAN: tactical officer aboard the Kutuzov.

VORACIOUS CURIOSITY: Rlinda Kett's private ship.

VUORAL: small, obscure Confederation settlement on the Klikiss transportal network.

WARGLOBE: crystalline sphere used by hydrogues.

WARLINER: largest class of Ildiran battleship.

WENCESLAS, CHAIRMAN BASIL: former leader of the Terran Hanseatic League.

WENTALS: sentient water-based creatures.

WHISPER PALACE: traditional seat of power in the Terran Hanseatic League, where the figurehead Great Kings ruled.

WHISTLERS: possibly sentient cacti on Eljiid.

WILD, THE: unexplored continent on Theroc.

WINGO, MERCER: first officer aboard the Kutuzov.

WISSKOFF, ZACHARY: manager and matre d' of Rlinda Kett's Arbor restaurant.

WORLDFOREST: the interconnected, semisentient forest based on Theroc.

WORLDTREE: a separate tree in the interconnected, semisentient forest based on Theroc.

WULFTON: active star, home of numerous faeros.

YAZRA'H: daughter of the Mage-Imperator, skilled warrior and bodyguard. She is the mentor of Muree'n.

ZAN'NH, ADAR: Ildiran military officer, eldest son of Mage-Imperator Jora'h, Adar of the Ildiran Solar Navy.

TOR BOOKS BY KEVIN J. ANDERSON.

WITH BRIAN HERBERT.

The Road to Dune.

Dune: The Butlerian Jihad Dune: The Machine Crusade.

The Battle of Corrin Hunters of Dune Sandworms of Dune.

Paul of Dune The Winds of Dune.

Sisterhood of Dune Mentats of Dune.

Hellhole.

Hellhole Awakening.

WITH DOUG BEASON.

Ill Wind.

KEVIN J. ANDERSON.

NEBULA SHOWCASE 2011.

Slan Hunter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

Kevin J. Anderson is the author of more than 120 books, 52 of which have appeared on national or international bestseller lists; he has more than 23 million copies in print in 30 languages. His books have won or been nominated for the Nebula Award, the Bram Stoker Award, the Faust Award, the SFX Readers' Choice Award, the Scribe Award, and been selected as New York Times Notable Books.

Kevin has coauthored thirteen books in the Dune saga with Brian Herbert. His epic SF series The Saga of Seven Suns is a seven-volume opus that topped international bestseller lists.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

THE DARK BETWEEN THE STARS.

end.