Book excerpt: Now with a new afterword by David Drake! The inhuman Rulers of the galaxy sent three fleets to learn what had happened to the world located by Captain North and the Survey Team he led. Neither a soul nor a message returned. The fourth time, the Rulers sent a single man: Nils Hansen. Commissioner Hansen had a mind that saw the shortest path to each task's completion and a ruthless determination to do what the task required. The cost - to himself and whoever happened to be in the way - didn't matter. Hanson's Special Units had kept his planet safe from the most sophisticated and violent criminals in the galaxy. Now Hansen was being sent to penetrate a spacetime enigma which had made gods or demons of the first humans to discover it. He would succeed or die. Northworla place of slashing violence and mystic transformation Northworla place of treachery and dazzling beauty Northworla place of honor, of faith, and of love. Hansen's iron will and strong arm confront godlike power and godlike cunning while a galaxy trembles for the outcome. And if Hansen dies - he will not die alone! At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). Praise for The Northworld Trilogy: "Down and dirty . . . this one blazes!" ¾Los Angeles Daily News "Fast-paced adventure with convincing depth!" ¾Publishers Weekly "Good military SF . . . the action is fast and the tension is high!" ¾Locus "Northworld is that rare work-a novel that works on more than one level. A stunning tapestry . . . highly recommended!" ¾The SFRA Newsletter