Couple of books I have enjoyed reading recently were books 1 & 2 of The Seven Suns Saga by Kevin Anderson. Book 1 is called The Hidden Empire, book 2 is called A Forest of Stars.
Pretty good space-opera style Sci-Fi, nothing too radical although I do like the aliens, they live in the middle of gas giants. Groovy (my god, I am English and said that word as if I meant it!!
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Has anyone read The Praxis by W Williams, or its sequel The Sundering? These look like they may be good Sci-fi, but would appreciate a steer befoe I lay out the cash..
Final comment, read some Sci-fi by Elizabeth Moon. Seemed to be about fox hunting. Weird.