The undead Emperor has ruled his mighty interstellar empire of eighty human worlds for sixteen hundred years. Because he can grant a form of eternal life-after-death, creating an elite known as the Risen, his power is absolute. He and his sister, the Child Empress, who is eternally a little girl, are worshipped as living gods.The Rix are machine-augmented humans who worship very different gods: AI compound minds of planetary size. Cool, relentless fanatics, their only goal is to propagate such AIs. They seek to end the Emperor's prolonged rule, and supplant it with an eternal cybernetic dynasty. They begin by taking the Child Empress hostage. Captain Laurent Zai of the Imperial Frigate Lynx is tasked with her rescue.Separated by light years, bound by an unlikely love, Zai and pacifist Senator Nara Oxham must both face the challenge of the Rix, and both will hold the fate of the empire in their hands.
The Risen Empire
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Praise for "The Risen Empire"
"Westerfeld illumines the clash of mighty galactic empires by focusing on individuals who, despite the distractions of war and politics, cannot help falling in love."
"--The New York Times
""Westerfeld's exceptionally smart and empathetic novel...confirms the buzz that space opera is one of the most exciting branches of current SF."
--"Publishers Weekly "(starred review)
Book Description
A cutting-edge space opera in which galactic cultures clash: human, inhuman and post-human
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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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The five small craft passed from shadow, emerging with the suddenness of coins thrown into sunlight. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By K. Charlton
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
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.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Risen Empire Omnibus edition- Excellence personified in book form.
I first read this when the omnibus edition came out in paperback, featuring " The Risen Empire " and " The Killing of Worlds". Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. G. P. Schofield
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 15 months ago by Ben
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant read
A thick book but I whizzed through it it no time - it really is an un-put-down-able page turning read that I went back to at every opportunity. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2011 by Mark Booth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Two versions of The Risen Empire?
There seems to be two versions of the Risen Empire?
The 2006 Orbit publication (ISBN-10: 1841493724), at 720 pages, has both Succession books in it: (i) The Risen Empire, and... Read more
The 2006 Orbit publication (ISBN-10: 1841493724), at 720 pages, has both Succession books in it: (i) The Risen Empire, and... Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2010 by R Young
5.0 out of 5 stars
a stunning stand alone sci-fi novel
I read this as one book having bought 'the risen empire' as the large second publication- and am amazed it was ever split in two. Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2010 by finnelix
1.0 out of 5 stars
Propagate Proper Grates.
What's with the overuse of the word "Propagate"?
Every subsequent time I read it, it felt like a slap round the head with a wet fish. Read more
Every subsequent time I read it, it felt like a slap round the head with a wet fish. Read more
Published on 1 April 2009 by Mr. A. S. Lally
5.0 out of 5 stars
couldn't put it down
A fantastic novel - especially when you read it all in one go and not the split version!
Couldn't put it down. Wish he'd get on and write the next instalment...
Couldn't put it down. Wish he'd get on and write the next instalment...
Published on 3 Jan 2009 by Bex Frg
4.0 out of 5 stars
Relatively good sci-fi
The saga of Laurent Zai and the Risen Empire has really impressed me as a well thought out and enjoyable space opera. Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2007 by Kuma
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
I really enjoyed this book. It's big, enthralling and you can't help but get involved with the characters.
I won't give any spoilers other than to say... read it.
I won't give any spoilers other than to say... read it.
Published on 31 Aug 2006 by R. J. Beed
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice story, decent characters, plot moves along niceley
Says it all really. The other reviewers are pretty accurate. Nice work scott!
Published on 31 July 2006 by Robert
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