Alliance Rising is the first in the Hinder Star series, which means it is part of Cherryh’s classic Alliance-Union world. While there are already many books set in this universe, the Hinder Stars series tells the backstory of this amazing setting.
The book recounts significant events in the history of the Hinder Stars, those stars closest to Earth. The story begins when the merchant ship Finity’s End arrives at Alpha Station. The Captain of Finity’s End invites the local merchant families into the new Merchanter Alliance. However, the Sol authorities on Alpha do not react well to either the arrival of the massive Finity’s End or the proposed alliance of merchant ships.
The presence at Alpha of a similar-sized ship which is being built by Sol further complicates the situation. When the Alpha-based merchanters realise that this new ship is not configured to carry cargo, the dispute quickly escalates. If Sol is building a warship, then this could be a prelude to war with those stations further out in human space.
These political machinations form the backdrop to events on Alpha docks, where local merchanters and the crew of Finity’s End mix. Ross and Fallon, crew of the local Galway, are quickly caught up in the tensions, drawn to side with the visiting spacers, yet wanting to support their home station. These personal conflicts run parallel with the wider plot.
For a book written by two authors, the tone and style of Alliance Rising is seamless. Frankly, this reads just like any other CJ Cherryh SF novel I have read. With all due respect for Fancher, Cherryh is the more prolific writer, so it is not surprising that her style shines through the novel.
In her previous work, Cherryh excels at making emotional or political conflicts as thrilling as a battle. Alliance Rising is no different, where events and bad choices ratchet up the situation on Alpha’s docks. Yet, this is the first book in a new series, so do not expect the plot to be neatly wrapped up by the end. There is a story arc, but much remains unresolved. Alliance Rising effectively lays the groundwork for the next book in the series.
I loved reading about the origins of the Alliance-Union setting and learning more about the Neihart family who run Finity’s End. For anyone familiar with Cherryh’s SF universe, Alliance Rising was a wonderful combination of the new and the familiar. Finity’s End has a novel to itself later in the series, so Alliance Rising was like reading the family history of an old friend.
Yet, the book also works as an introduction to the complex Alliance-Union setting. Here we are during the establishment of the merchanters who are a staple part of the setting. Alliance Rising is an ideal way to sample the world of the Alliance-Union, with a book that takes a fresh look at this classic hard SF universe.
Alliance Unbound, Part 2 of The Hinder Stars series is scheduled for publication in August 2023.