Empire in Black and Gold (Shadows of the Apt) [Paperback]

It's good to see that - in amidst all the authors who are content to trot out the same old tripe about farmboys and reluctant princes in dull secondary worlds - there are still some writers that attempt to produce something a little different. Writers who actually understand that some degree of innovation is required for the secondary-world fantasy genre to avoid stagnation...and care enough to provide it. British author Adrian Tchaikovsky is one such writer.

Upon first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking that Empire in Black and Gold is just another epic fantasy. An oppressive empire intent on taking over the world, some young heroes - guided by an older mentor - determined to stand in its way, and so on. Nothing special, nothing original there. Until you discover that the humans of this world all possess insect characteristics, and suddenly you've got something totally different.

It's such a simple idea, but hugely effective. Wasp soldiers (like the fellow on the cover) that can sting their enemies...and fly. Mantis warriors with bladed forearms and a furious bloodlust pumping through their veins. The spiders and their crafty intellect, the beetles and their industry...the list goes on. The result is something both familiar and yet totally exotic, a heady mix that just offers so much potential (which Tchaikovsky is quick to exploit). Couple these various insect-kinden with a curious world in which steam/clockwork technology features heavily, and you have a rich, vibrant setting which proves to be a real strength of the novel. There's no bland 13th century Europe replicas here.

Tchaikovsky proves an equally dab hand at populating his world with intriguing characters and competently builds up several believable relationships. The four young protagonists (Salma, Cheerwell, Tynisa and Totho) are perhaps a little stereotyped in parts - Cheerwell, for example, being the classic coming-of-age character - but they're all developed well. Refreshingly, all receive similar amounts of 'screen time' and Tchaikovsky flits smoothly from one POV to another (often within the same chapter, even paragraph). The antagonist - Captain Thalric - is the star of the show for me, a finely-crafted individual who fights a constant battle between his sense of duty and his conscience, a theme that Tchaikovsky handles with commendable depth and skill.

Plenty of other themes are explored as well, such as innovation versus tradition, which lends serious weight to two relationships in the novel. Various complex relationship issues are also probed, adding real depth to the characters involved and serving as a reminder that - for all their insect 'ancestor arts' - the characters are undeniably human. To complement his absorbing world and characters, Tchaikovsky serves up a solid plot with one or two twists that keep things fresh. His prose is admittedly more solid than stylish, and could have done with a bit more of a lyrical flourish at times. That said, the writing is competent, clean and - most importantly - instantly accessible.

The novel's not perfect: the first third is weaker than the rest of the novel and at times seemed a little lightweight, though my initial fears about Empire in Black and Gold straying into YA territory later proved unfounded. Other minor flaws persisted - for example, Cheerwell seeming to hold her own in one or two fights was a little hard to swallow given her clear martial failings earlier on. Such complaints however are minor and don't spoil what is a very promising debut from a bright new British author.

Ultimately, Empire in Black and Gold is as strong a debut as I've seen in some time, with some real innovation and solid characters and worldbuilding. A novel that is refreshing when compared to many recent books in the same genre. Well worth checking out; Tchaikvosky has real potential to become a big name in epic fantasy.

I read until I finished the book in the early hours of the morning because I simply could not put it down.

'The Empire in Black and Gold' tells the story of Stenwold Maker and his student agents who believe that an invasion of their homeland by the neighbouring Wasp Empire is imminent. They are soon caught up in schemes to undermine the enemy whilst trying to overcome the attitude of ignorance that most of their fellow countrymen have about the threat.

The first thing to be said about the book... it is about humans. Not quite like you and me maybe, but even though the various races are described as 'beetle-kinden', 'spider-kinden', 'moth-kinden' etc... and have peculiarities that relate to the name (moth-kinden for example like the night), they do not look like giant spiders, ants etc... and it is easy for the reader to relate to the characters. Each race has certain special attributes, for example, 'ant-kinden' can hear each others thoughts, which adds a lot of fun to the proceedings.

Fun. That is the main impression. The book was very entertaining and fun to read. Lots of action, great characters and a good adventure plot line. It is maybe not as in-depth in the world description as some like it, not as consistent in the way magic and technology are applied and used as could be, but you will note that even those who criticized, still enjoyed it. Guilty pleasure maybe?

If you are looking to find an entertaining fantasy read you won't be disappointed. If you are expecting high-brow, deep and meaningful, realistic in every detail... maybe wrong genre. Five stars because I ordered the next three in the series the moment I finished this one and I already know that it is a book which will end up on my regular re-read pile.

Update: One and two were my favourites, book four the least enjoyable, mainly due to the story progressively getting darker. I suppose this was inevitable as the war with the wasp empire intensifies. The good news is that there is a kind of closure at the end of book four, so even though there is more to come, you could almost read these first four books as a completed series. In this day and age of having to wait years for the next in a series, I quite appreciate that 'pause' effect. Overall I would rate the first four books a three-and-a-half to four star read. Given the price at the moment (April '10) you get excellent value for money.

I picked up this book on a recommendation and I'm not disappointed. Its a fast-paced and interesting book with a good mix of characterisation and action. Nobody is truly good or truly bad, or even truly what they seem - even the "big bad guy" Thralic has admirable qualities, and the "good guy" mentor figure could be said to be a little without morals in a lot of his methods.

What makes it truly stand out is its setting, which throws out standard fantasy conventions in favour of the "kinden", humans who share some of the traits of insects (and can use "the Art" to manifest some of their physical characteristics). The Mantis=kinden are superlative lone warriors, the Spider-kinden are the well-known manipulators of the world, the hive-mind Ant-kinden are masters of warfare, and the list goes on. An industrial revolution has run roughshod over a near-medieval world, with ornithopters, lighter-than-air ships and curious gadgets.

A final thing worthy of note is the author's easy to read and erudite style.

You'll like this if:
- You enjoy action-packed, but intelligently plotted, stories.
- You enjoy a book that draws you in to twists and turns.
- You like different, exotic concepts built on a solid fantasy base.

You'll dislike this if:
- You don't like your fantasy without Elves and Dragons.
- You don't like technology in your fantasy.
- You prefer whiter-than-white heroes and linear plots.

This is a great book, and I am looking forward to the sequel.