Funeral games

"The battle for the unification and rule of the Far Stars Confederation will be decided in this exhilarating third and final book in the swashbuckling space saga begun with Shadow of Empire and Enemy in the Dark. The Far Stars stands on the edge of a precipice. The forces of Governor Vos have surged forth, conquering worlds and imposing the emperor's brutal rule over millions. Only one thing stands in the way of total victory: Marshal Augustin Lucerne and his newly created Confederation. Vos has a simple plan: assassinate the marshal, and manipulate his generals to fight over his legacy, destroying each other in the process. But another threat lurks: Arkarin Blackhawk. The smuggler and mercenary has been the marshal's ally, working in the shadows and unraveling Vos' plans. The governor can only hope the mysterious adventurer continues to resist a formal position in the Confederation. Or he can have Blackhawk assassinated, too. Because with Blackhawk succeeding Lucerne, the black and gold imperial flags will be stained red with blood. For his is a dark and dangerous past, and if he is put at the helm of the Confederation armies, the brutal imperial general he once had been may rise once again.The Far Stars are facing the final battle. The Imperials seem unstoppable. But if Blackhawk somehow survives--and can come to grips with the horror deep within him--he just might be able to save the Far Stars from the iron hand of empire"-- "To eliminate any opposition to Imperial rule of the Far Stars, Governor Vos must crush the Confederation created by Marshal Augustin Lucerne. Utterly ruthless, though, Vos has a simple plan: assassinate the marshal, remove their top military leader, and let chaos ensue. But the governor knows that one thing could upset this plan: if Arkanian Blackhawk assumes command as Lucerne's chosen successor. The smuggler and mercenary has been a constant thorn in Vos' side and could undo everything he has worked for. The only thing he can hope for is that Blackhawk--notoriously resistant to taking a proper role in the Confederation--refuses the position. Or is assassinated, too. Because with Blackhawk succeeding Lucerne, the only thing the black and gold imperial flags will be good for is to staunch the blood of his enemies. His is a dark and dangerous past, and if put at the helm of the Confederation armies, the brutal general he used to be may rise once again. The Far Stars are balanced on the edge of a precipice. The Imperials seem an unstoppable force. But if Blackhawk somehow survives--and can come to grips with his violent memories--the Confederation just might be able to free the Far Stars once and for all"--

Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Science Fiction, Nonfiction, Fiction. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.