Let Anne McCaffrey, storyteller extraordinare and New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author, open your mind to new worlds and new concepts: alien nations, psychic powers, telepathy and planetary systems. Perfect for fans of David Eddings, Brandon Sanderson and Douglas Adams.'Anne McCaffrey, one of the queens of science fiction, knows exactly how to give her public what it wants' -- THE TIMES'Gripping! Great story, brilliantly written, ready for the next instalment' -- ***** Reader review'Loved each and every word' -- ***** Reader review'Awesome' -- ***** Reader review'Read multiple times - always amazing' -- ***** Reader review***************************************************************************************************Damia and Afra-Raven-Lyon have reared their children in a brilliant and unorthodox way. All their young have been 'paired' when six months old with the furry, one-eyed Mrdinis, the only other sentient beings in the Alliance, who can communicate with humans by their 'dream messages'. Together, Man and Mrdini work to create prosperous worlds and guard against the terrible threat of the annihilating Hivers.And now, in the deeps of Space, Mrdini scouts have crossed the path of three Hive ships -- ships that are giant hulks of cell units, bearing the queens and workers out into space, to breed and multiply and destroy wherever they find a viable planet.It is the four elder children of Damia -- Laria, Thian, Rojer and Zara -- all uniquely talented in their various ways, who will play their part, helped by their life-long Dini friends, in the conquering and investigation of the Alien threat of the Hivers.