The Risen Empire: Amazon.co.uk: Scott Westerfeld: Books

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'Superior space adventure' LOCUS 'To master [space opera] and still bring to life characters with recognizable emotions and aspirations is a challenge few writers care to take on. Westerfeld succeeds admirably' NEW YORK TIMES 'Recalls some of the best of Asimov but written with a more concise and breathless speed. It's been quite a while since I've read science fiction I've enjoyed more.' INTERZONE

Book Description

A cutting-edge space opera in which galactic cultures clash: human, inhuman and post-human --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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First Sentence
The five small craft passed from shadow, emerging with the suddenness of coins thrown into sunlight. Read the first page

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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

4.1 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A short review., 6 Mar 2006

By

Randall Richmond (Santa Rosa, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Risen Empire (Paperback)

The only reason that I can see that this work did not win either the CLARKE or HUGO awards, is because it was split into two seperate novels when first published. What a shame, because this is one of the best science fiction books written this decade! The science, pacing, and drama all are superior. I understand why publishers make the decision to split a book up, but artisticly this book will never get the recognition it deserves unless enough people buy this edition. A pity.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nearly an Epic..., 31 Oct 2008

By

K. Charlton "Happy Dad" (Surrey, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Risen Empire (Paperback)

I dug around a bit and discovered that 'The Risen Empire' and the 'Killing of Worlds' was one manuscript but was chopped in half because the publisher didn't think a Sci-Fi book that long from a relative unknown would sell for the higher price a larger book costs.
Or so is claimed.
A bit of a shame really because like other reviewers I think this book deserved at least a mention in the big awards.
I will review both books here.
A very original story line winds through a well thought out and well fleshed out universe that the author has taken time to make quite believable. Different political parties, a Senate, an Emperor all help the story to rise above the standard Space Opera, and make the reader believe there is a functioning Universe within the pages of this book.
Characters are well detailed with even bit players not feeling superficial or shallow. There are even different classes of people all with their own agendas or in the case of the risen, dark secrets.
The high tech military hardware and operations blend nicely with the Senatorial episodes and the love interests between Captain and politician, Captain and Exec and a data analyst and a cyborg/gestalt being are important subplots rather than just an 'interest'
The highlight of the whole book has to be the space battle between the outclassed latest Imperial prototype and an advanced sentient gestalt type race. It is a fantastic bit of story telling with heavy yet understandable science and engineering underpinning the combat. Its probably one of the best examples of what space warfare might be like I have read.
Well worth a read, just remember if you just get the first book it will cut off in the midst of the action and you will kick yourself.

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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Four star opera, 7 April 2005

By

Mr. D. Dingwall "blacksuit" (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Risen Empire (Hardcover)

An interesting take on the cultural struggle between the living, and those enhanced with longer life " the Risen". Unfortunately to be enhanced they have to kill you first.... Space Navy and Imperial politics mingle through the book, as the Emperor's sister is held as a hostage by the cybernetic Rix. Clear your calendar and make time to read this. I'm sure there will be more of this universe in future books

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars space battle and techno babble
The reader's reviews for this book were very good and that's the reason why I finished it at all - because I was patiently waiting for the interesting part to come. Read more

Published 8 days ago by Ben