The Court of a Thousand Suns by Chris Bunch
Sten had fought his way up from slave labour on a factory world to commander of the Eternal Emperor's bodyguard, the Imperial Gurkhas. But during his first three months on Prime World, the most dangerous weapons Sten had encountered were the well-phrased lies of Court politicians. It seems no place for an honest fighting man. But when a bomb destroys a local bar, Sten discovers the danger and corruption behind Court intrigue. Look out for more information on this book and others on the Orbit website at www.orbitbooks.co.uk