This first of a trilogy is an example of great world-building. The physical characteristics of the Flow, the Interdependency of worlds, and the office of the Emperox (essentially the grand leader) are excellent and make for a compelling read. Scalzi sets up an impending collapse of interconnectivity of the empire, and I'm fascinated to see how it goes. I especially appreciated the strong women in the story. I already have the next book and will start it right away. 2018 Hugo Award Best Novel finalist and 2018 Locus Award winner.
Good, old-fashioned Galactic Empire Space Opera, which (delightfully) isn't so old-fashioned.
I was greatly enjoying this, the first in a trilogy about the Interdependency, and the emerging tribulations of its interconnected network of planets, its wheeler-dealering aristocrats, and its freshly minted (and supremely reluctant) new "Emperox," Cardenia Wu, now Grayland II. And then I hit the last few pages, and it dawned on me what Scalzi was doing (Clever Mr. Scalzi!!) and I loved it even more. Like Dune, the great Galactic Empire Space Opera, this manages to be both totally ridiculous bubble-gum for the mind, with lots of completely anachronistic, and supremely unlikely, Imperial silliness and seemingly no redeeming features whatsoever, AND to suddenly spring it on you that there's a lot more there to think about than you first realized.
Think about it -- a looming ecological (of sorts) disaster, which most of the Powers That Be are in ostrich-like denial about, and refuse to act upon, even as it's obvious that it will destroy everything that they know, and it's almost too late. Oooh, where do I recognize THAT from ... ?
Also achieved what is, for me, the rare reaction to the first book in a trilogy that I want to run out and grab Volume 2, right now. Enjoyable characters (even the evil ones), intriguing premise. Good handling of unexpected twists. And Scalzi's brisk sense of humor -- which doesn't always work for me -- keeps some of the Imperial trappings in their place, rather than diving into Dune-like ponderousness.
Yes, this will do, very nicely ...
I was greatly enjoying this, the first in a trilogy about the Interdependency, and the emerging tribulations of its interconnected network of planets, its wheeler-dealering aristocrats, and its freshly minted (and supremely reluctant) new "Emperox," Cardenia Wu, now Grayland II. And then I hit the last few pages, and it dawned on me what Scalzi was doing (Clever Mr. Scalzi!!) and I loved it even more. Like Dune, the great Galactic Empire Space Opera, this manages to be both totally ridiculous bubble-gum for the mind, with lots of completely anachronistic, and supremely unlikely, Imperial silliness and seemingly no redeeming features whatsoever, AND to suddenly spring it on you that there's a lot more there to think about than you first realized.
Think about it -- a looming ecological (of sorts) disaster, which most of the Powers That Be are in ostrich-like denial about, and refuse to act upon, even as it's obvious that it will destroy everything that they know, and it's almost too late. Oooh, where do I recognize THAT from ... ?
Also achieved what is, for me, the rare reaction to the first book in a trilogy that I want to run out and grab Volume 2, right now. Enjoyable characters (even the evil ones), intriguing premise. Good handling of unexpected twists. And Scalzi's brisk sense of humor -- which doesn't always work for me -- keeps some of the Imperial trappings in their place, rather than diving into Dune-like ponderousness.
Yes, this will do, very nicely ...
