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Neal L. Asher
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Hilldiggers Reprints Edition, Kindle Edition

by Neal Asher (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,363 ratings
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Discover action, intrigue and mind-bending science in Hilldiggers, a gripping science fiction novel from Neal Asher where four siblings holding the keys to unthinkable power.

Two planets, bound by the same solar system, were once locked in war. Then a cosmic super-string overflowing with alien technology - or life - was discovered. For safety, it was stored within a maximum-security space station.

Sometime later, a female scientist from the station became pregnant and gave birth to quadruplets. But she inexplicably committed suicide by walking directly out into space.

When war finally ends, one planet is devastated. It has been decimated by the other planet's hilldigger weaponry, so named as their blasts are capable of transforming landscapes into mountains.

As the remnants of their society rebuild, the quadruplets, adults now, begin their ascension to power. One of them has his sights set on claiming the hilldiggers and their power for himself. But with what consequences for humanity?

Set in the aftermath of Neal Asher's Spatterjay trilogy, Hilldiggers is an action-packed science fiction story.

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  1. ISBN-13
    978-0330528474
  2. Edition
    Reprints
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Tor
  5. Publication date
    August 21, 2009
  6. Part of series
    Polity Universe: Standalone Novels
  7. Language
    English
  8. File size
    818 KB
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Neal Asher:

“Neal Asher’s books are like an adrenaline shot targeted directly for the brain.” —New York Times bestselling author John Scalzi

“With mind-blowing complexity, characters, and combat, Asher’s work continues to combine the best of advanced cybertech and military SF.” ?Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Asher is a modern master of sci-fi.” —Starburst magazine

“A wide-screen special-effects extravaganza, a space opera featuring gods and monsters . . . Doc Smith and Olaf Stapledon in a blender, turned up to eleven, with the contents splattering across the ceiling.” ?Russell Letson, Locus

“Asher has an amazing talent for world-building, for writing larger-than-life characters, for weaving gripping plots and for imagining exotic alien races and wonderful technologies. Huge ships! Big weapons! Space battles! Ground battles! Treason! Revenge! This is New Space Opera at its best.” —Sense of Wonder

“Hardboiled, fast-paced space opera . . . Asher’s books are similar to the world of Iain M. Banks’ Culture universe, but the Polity is arguably a much darker and more vicious environment—and all the better for it.” —The Register

About the Author

Essex-born author Neal Asher was writing short science fiction for many years before he embarked on his full-length novel Gridlinked, followed by four others which have been translated into nine different languages.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003DWC6PO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tor; Reprints edition (August 21, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 21, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 818 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 558 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0330528475
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,363 ratings

About the author

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Neal L. Asher

Neal L. Asher

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Neal Asher lives sometimes in England, sometimes in Crete and mostly at a keyboard. Having over twenty-five books published he has been accused of overproduction (despite spending far too much time on the social media, or kayaking and walking) but doesn’t intend to slow down just yet.

http://theskinner.blogspot.com/

https://www.nealasher.co.uk

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
1,363 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jaivon
5.0 out of 5 stars Does not fumble following more than one character
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2021
Verified Purchase
One of the best sci fi novels I have ever read. First time I got this from the local library then I bought a new version on line but then because its such a classic and vast story line, I had to buy an original copy. If I start to explain why I love this book ill be here for hours. At first it took a few pages to get into the pattern of Neal Ashers style of writing but then I found out he was from Billericay, United Kingdom so to the average american/canadian may be new to this way of telling a story. 10/10
2 people found this helpful
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illiandantic
4.0 out of 5 stars 14th in "Polity"
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2016
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Neal Asher's "Hilldiggers" (2007) is currently the 14th novel in his "Polity Universe" series. This one takes place outside the Polity in a Line world. It's a very well done book, with some new world-building, and good characterizations. There's plenty of action, though it doesn't seem as frenzied as some of it in earlier works. The only issue I have with it is the amount of politics in it. I suppose that with the subject matter, it really can't avoid that. But, I found it a bit irritating. Still, I'm happy to rate the book at a Very Good 4 stars out of 5.
7 people found this helpful
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Rich Garabedian
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and worth savoring every word...
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2019
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Neal Asher is consistently excellent with his multi-layered, multi-faceted characters, plots and subplots. And of course, GREAT SF in the Polity Universe. His grasp and extensive knowledge of past and future sciences is fantastic. I Need More...
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Schappell
4.0 out of 5 stars Tigger eats Whinnie ,sex with robots (AI's) well not actual sex but nanobot influenced gestation.
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
Asher always nails it!
It being the idea that the idea can be real.
Oroburros :the doughnut that eats itself everlasting.
Hmmm... doughnut.
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Richard Albanese
3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not the best Asher
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2014
Verified Purchase
I've been on an Asher kick for the last year and have devoured all the Polity, Spatterjay, and Owner books, plus a few others. This is the last available one for me until his next release.

I have to say that I was mildly disappointed in this one. It starts out with a great premise; an Old Captain, an intrepid drone (not Sniper but still cool), weird and well described aliens, and original alien worlds, but towards the end this novel became a bit predictable and rote.

As he has been known to do, especially in Prador Moon, Asher signals the ending early on. Though maybe not as blatant as Moon, but you figure it out soon enough to make the climax anti-climatic. Gone is the biting wit and horror-movie inspired gore of previous novels - replaced by an almost contractual-obligation-type feel of the prose... Like he just needed to get on with it. The character development, though not Asher's strongest suit anyway, is a bit ham fisted and transparent at times, while at other times too opaque. The transformation of the Old Captain was, for me, a big let down (since I love those guys as they are!) - with a minor subplot regarding the Spatterjay virus that wound up not being material to the story. And I was disappointed in plot trajectory of the drone Tigger.

Still, if you are a Polity junkie like me, this remains a must read. Sorry Neal, but know that I will be the first one to buy your next book.
15 people found this helpful
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HAL
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Read
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2014
Verified Purchase
A great story, great action, great price.This was a price reduced item. Books are such a "personal taste" item, so giving the 5 star rating is the best way I can describe the plot. I'm a long-time SF book fan, and this book kept me involved from start to finish.
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jost4566
4.0 out of 5 stars Sidebar novel of Polity
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2014
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This is a fun read for fans of the Polity series with all-new characters and a new locale. It's a first contact novel with a twist: the natives are restless, armed to the teeth and some are not keen on visitors. Two planets outside the Polity at war with each other for generations react with more than just suspicion when the arrival of the Polity Consul Assessor threatens to upset their cozy little war. Hi-jinks ensue. The book jumps around among its main characters and in time as four siblings in positions of power try to game the outcome of the Assessor's arrival. One is a little hard the swallow, with nearly god-like manipulative abilities until crunch time: is that a bomb in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? By the way, the term "hilldiggers" applies to a class of space dreadnoughts that leave really big footprints. This is a fine diversion, but perhaps not the place for Polity newbies to start.
2 people found this helpful
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PostOak
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Universe and a good story teller
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2019
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Could’ve been just as effective a story line as a straight temporal telling but nonetheless is a good read. The author was especially good at creating interesting cultural plot lines.
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely plot, good characters
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2023
Verified Purchase
Reminded me of Iain M Banks, which is praise indeed. Like all good books this is both simple and yet complex. Mr Asher leads you along the path, throwing out little clues along the way to hint at what is really happening and why. I did not anticipate the rather elegant and brutal ending but then that description really echoes through much of the book. A good read!
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Tom
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Reviewed in Canada on November 16, 2016
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Another hard to put down book from a great author. He has a phenomenal mind to enable him to keep such plot lines and twists active and engrossing.
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PerfWise
5.0 out of 5 stars Better and better...
Reviewed in Australia on December 7, 2018
Verified Purchase
Asher is right up there with the best. This second book in this series is better than the first, somehow more believable though I couldn't pin down why. Intelligent, intricate and frequently surprising, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars a masterful quip on foreign policy
Reviewed in Germany on February 27, 2015
Verified Purchase
in the usual quality, mr asher reflects on foreign polic(t)y and thereby offers a glimpse of the polity's future history.
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Kelly Coccimillo
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in Canada on September 4, 2017
Verified Purchase
This one wasn't my favorite but there really is no such thing as a bad Neal Asher book.
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