In response to comment 11 (“Course of Empire” sequel) – is this still in the works?  I read CoE years ago and thought that it went far above the monikor of mere ‘pulp-sci-fi’ (which is what I thought it would be when I first picked up the book in a local library).  Have since managed to get it in hardback (tricky, that!) and it holds a pride of place in my ever-burdgeoning library; I’d love to see a sequel.