{"title":"Series: The Cruel Stars Trilogy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Cruel Stars Trilogy\u003c\/em\u003e invites readers into a gripping universe where artful storytelling meets profound exploration of human resilience and ambition. This collection blends elements of adventure and introspective philosophy, appealing to those drawn to both thrilling narratives and the deeper questions that shape our understanding of the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith themes that resonate across genres such as \u003cstrong\u003eArts \u0026amp; Culture\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003ePhilosophy \u0026amp; Psychology\u003c\/strong\u003e, the trilogy offers a compelling journey that challenges perceptions while engaging the imagination. It is a series well-suited for readers seeking stories that linger beyond the final page.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-cruel-stars-by-john-birmingham-9781789545937","title":"The Cruel Stars","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith a ruthless sect of humanity intent on wiping out their species, five intrepid heroes must think like their enemies in this epic sci-fi adventure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThey thought the Sturm were dead. They were wrong.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCenturies after their defeat, the enemy has returned with an overwhelming attack on the fringes of human space. On the brink of annihilation, humankind's only hope is a few brave souls who survived the initial onslaught: Commander Lucinda Hardy, commander of the Royal Armadalen Navy's only surviving warship; Booker3, a soldier of Earth, sentenced to die for treason; Alessia, a young royal forced to flee when her home planet is overrun and her entire family executed; Sephina L'trel, the leader of an outlaw band.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnd, finally, retired Admiral Frazer McLennan, the infamous hero of the first war with the Sturm, who hopes to rout his old foes once and for all – or die trying.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese five flawed, reluctant heroes must band together to prevail against a relentless enemy and near-impossible odds. For if they fail, the future itself is doomed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Cruel Stars\u003c\/em\u003e by John Birmingham offers an intense journey through the stars, where bravery and unity are the only defences against total obliteration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46706863046892,"sku":"9781789545937","price":22.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/3902623482825.jpg?v=1754033514"},{"product_id":"the-shattered-skies-by-john-birmingham-9781789545975","title":"The Shattered Skies","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCenturies after they were defeated and exiled to dark space, The Sturm have returned. 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The Sturm invaders remain vastly more powerful – and they may not be the only threat lurking in the darkness of space...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46708889518316,"sku":"9781789545975","price":24.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/3903003482825.jpg?v=1754080235"},{"product_id":"the-shattered-skies-by-john-birmingham-9781789545968","title":"The Shattered Skies","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith their advanced tech rendered null by the Sturm's attack, humanity face certain annihilation. Their only hope lies with a few brave souls who survived the initial onslaught – these five heroes might be humanity's only hope.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCenturies after they were defeated and exiled to Dark Space, the Sturm have returned.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sturm, an empire of species purists, have returned from the farthest reaches of Dark Space to wage a war against what they call mutants and borgs: any human being with genetic or neural engineering. In a sneak attack, they overwhelmed almost all of humanity's defences, blasting vicious malware across galaxy-spanning networks: dark code that transformed anyone connected to the system into a mindless psychotic killer. The Sturm's victory seemed complete, their final triumph inevitable, until one small band of intrepid, unlikely heroes struck back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommander Lucinda Hardy\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eAdmiral Frazer McLennan\u003c\/strong\u003e used the Armadalen Navy's final surviving warship to fend off the Sturm, destroying the massed power of an entire Attack Fleet. With brilliant tactics – and support from drunken, grief-ravaged pirate \u003cstrong\u003eSephina L'trel\u003c\/strong\u003e and treasonous battle-rig operator \u003cstrong\u003eBooker3\u003c\/strong\u003e – this ragtag crew sent the Sturm running, managing to save \u003cstrong\u003ePrincess Alessia\u003c\/strong\u003e, the sole surviving heir to the gigantic Montanblanc Corporation and perhaps Earth's only remaining senator.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNow left with the remains of a fallen civilization, they must work together to rebuild what was lost and root out the numberless enemies of Earth. 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The Sturm, an empire of species purists, have returned from the farthest reaches of Dark Space to wage a war against what they call mutants and borgs: any human being with genetic or neural engineering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn a sneak attack on the galaxy-spinning networks, they overwhelmed almost all of humanity's defences, blasting dark code that transformed anyone connected to the system into a mindless psychotic killer. The Sturm's victory seemed complete, their final triumph inevitable, until one small band of intrepid, unlikely heroes struck back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCommander Lucinda Hardy and Admiral Frazer McLennan used the Armadalen Navy's final surviving warship to fend off the Sturm, destroying the massed power of an entire Attack Fleet. With brilliant tactics, this ragtag crew sent the Sturm running, managing to save Princess Alessia, the sole surviving heir to the gigantic Montanblanc Corporation and perhaps Earth's only remaining senator.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNow left with the remains of a fallen civilisation, they must work together to rebuild what was lost and root out the numberless enemies of Earth. The Sturm invaders remain vastly more powerful – and they may not be the only threat lurking in the darkness of space...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47603281854700,"sku":"9781789545951","price":42.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781789545951-the-shattered-skies.jpg?v=1778059514"},{"product_id":"the-forever-dead-by-john-birmingham-9781789546002","title":"The Forever Dead","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWith sheer weight of numbers, the Sturm's Combined Fleet of the (self-proclaimed) Human Republic are driving ever deeper into the network of worlds they were exiled from over three centuries ago.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt a horrendous cost, Commander Lucinda Hardy, Admiral Fraser McLennan, Sephina L'trel, Booker3 and Princess Alessia lead the only resistance to the Sturm's overwhelming forces. Amid the ruins of a civilisation utterly corrupted by the Sturm's horrific darkcode malware, they must gather allies and weapons where they can. Old enmities must be overcome and unlikely partnerships forged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSurrounded, outnumbered and outgunned, the resistance cannot hold out. By strategy and deception, they must force a decisive confrontation with the Sturm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA final stand that will demand the ultimate sacrifice... and extreme violence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48318059217132,"sku":"9781789546002","price":38.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781789546002-the-forever-dead-1.jpg?v=1788752257"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/series-the-cruel-stars-trilogy.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}