In the 25th century the human species, long exiled from the devastated Earth, sent a fleet of robot probes on voyages of discovery. Their objective was to find another planet suitable for terraforming and eventual human habitation.

Ninety years later, across the empty oceans of space, the Tau Ceti probe reported success.

Now, in the year 2531, a human expedition led by Captain Leonie Strider sets off from Jupiter orbit to claim humanity's first colony world outside the Solar System. But their progress is rudely halted by a hyperspace portal that snatches them millions of parsecs off course -- and into the middle of a galactic conflict . . . in someone else's galaxy. They must decide whether to stay and fight or to try to find their way home.

But first they must survive . . .

[Strider's Galaxy] discards restraint and lets rip. Unashamedly occupying the pure entertainment end of the spectrum, this is a primary-colors read -- exotic, extravagant, zingy. Pipe-and-slippers science fiction it isn't.

----Stan Nicholls, Time Out