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The Sun Eater #1
Empire of Silence
Hadrian Marlowe, a man revered as a hero and despised as a murderer, chronicles his tale in the galaxy-spanning debut of the Sun Eater series, merging the best of space opera and epic fantasy.
It was not his war.
On the wrong planet, at the right time, for the best reasons, Hadrian Marlowe started down a path that could only end in fire. The galaxy remembers him as a hero: the man who burned every last alien Cielcin from the sky. They remember him as a monster: the devil who destroyed a sun, casually annihilating four billion human lives—even the Emperor himself—against Imperial orders.
But Hadrian was not a hero. He was not a monster. He was not even a soldier.
Fleeing his father and a future as a torturer, Hadrian finds himself stranded on a strange, backwater world. Forced to fight as a gladiator and navigate the intrigues of a foreign planetary court, he will find himself fighting a war he did not start, for an Empire he does not love, against an enemy he will never understand.
It was not his war.
On the wrong planet, at the right time, for the best reasons, Hadrian Marlowe started down a path that could only end in fire. The galaxy remembers him as a hero: the man who burned every last alien Cielcin from the sky. They remember him as a monster: the devil who destroyed a sun, casually annihilating four billion human lives—even the Emperor himself—against Imperial orders.
But Hadrian was not a hero. He was not a monster. He was not even a soldier.
Fleeing his father and a future as a torturer, Hadrian finds himself stranded on a strange, backwater world. Forced to fight as a gladiator and navigate the intrigues of a foreign planetary court, he will find himself fighting a war he did not start, for an Empire he does not love, against an enemy he will never understand.
753 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 3, 2018
About the author
Christopher Ruocchio
27 books2,064 followersChristopher Ruocchio is the author of The Sun Eater, a space opera fantasy series, as well as the Assistant Editor at Baen Books, where he has co-edited four anthologies. He is a graduate of North Carolina State University, where he studied English Rhetoric and the Classics. Christopher has been writing since he was eight and sold his first novel, Empire of Silence, at twenty-two. To date, his books have been published in five languages.
Christopher lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife, Jenna. He may be found on both Facebook and Twitter with the handle ‘TheRuocchio.’
Christopher lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife, Jenna. He may be found on both Facebook and Twitter with the handle ‘TheRuocchio.’
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,821 reviews
November 2, 2023
A good read. Everyone draws their own lines regarding prose. Some want very workmanlike lines that put the whole focus on story. Some like to lose themselves in the beauty of the language. There's a line that divides poetic prose from purple prose and everyone draws their own version of that too. I liked the writing in the book. It was dramatic and occasionally a little overblown, but it was done with skill and I didn't consider it purple.
At the start the book has strong Dune vibes with technology restrictions leading to the book's equivalent of mentats, & feudal hierarchies overlaying a hightech world. The planet even has a rare & valuable element to mine and powerful traders who come to negotiate for it. I was aching for someone to say "Let the spice flow." But it's not a big thing and the parallels end there.
The book also gave me Name of the Wind vibes, arising from several sources. There is the aforementioned poetic prose. Then there is the fact that we are given a grand framing narrative in which much later on our hero is a figure of legend, a man who did this grand thing and that grand thing. And as the book unfolds, rather like in TNOTW, we see a disconnect between the scale of the story and the frame. Hadrian might well be going to put out suns and lay empires low one day, but for the entirety of this quite long book he is not even going to approach the foothills of those things. The TNOTW vibe is further enhanced by hard on the heels of his history changing future we get to see him fall from grace and roll about in the streets rather like the "I was down and out in Tarbean" section from Rothfuss's epic.
So it's a space opera but with a feudal, in many ways medieval society where religion holds sway and heretics are extravagantly tortured. It's fun in lots of ways. Most of the technology is like magic.
I can buy into shields, faster than light communication, a fear of computers, and high matter swords, no problem. There was only bit that hurt my science & sense of reality which concerned the ancient ruins they spend a long time exploring. And it was that these ruins, known of for many centuries of occupation by separate empires, are made of material that doesn't register on scans & they can't break bits from. The implication is this stuff is wholly new to science & not made of atoms... This is the sort of thing that drives new science & scientists go crazy for. But for 100s of years nobody has given a damn.
Anyway, rather than space battles and ray guns this is really a planet-based book with sword fighting and archaeology, character focused, and with the plot driven in large part by the sole PoV's curiosity and desire not to follow orders, be they from his family or other of the empire's nobility.
I've not read sci-fi of this type for quite some time, and this was a nice reminder of it. I had fun with the book.
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At the start the book has strong Dune vibes with technology restrictions leading to the book's equivalent of mentats, & feudal hierarchies overlaying a hightech world. The planet even has a rare & valuable element to mine and powerful traders who come to negotiate for it. I was aching for someone to say "Let the spice flow." But it's not a big thing and the parallels end there.
The book also gave me Name of the Wind vibes, arising from several sources. There is the aforementioned poetic prose. Then there is the fact that we are given a grand framing narrative in which much later on our hero is a figure of legend, a man who did this grand thing and that grand thing. And as the book unfolds, rather like in TNOTW, we see a disconnect between the scale of the story and the frame. Hadrian might well be going to put out suns and lay empires low one day, but for the entirety of this quite long book he is not even going to approach the foothills of those things. The TNOTW vibe is further enhanced by hard on the heels of his history changing future we get to see him fall from grace and roll about in the streets rather like the "I was down and out in Tarbean" section from Rothfuss's epic.
So it's a space opera but with a feudal, in many ways medieval society where religion holds sway and heretics are extravagantly tortured. It's fun in lots of ways. Most of the technology is like magic.
I can buy into shields, faster than light communication, a fear of computers, and high matter swords, no problem. There was only bit that hurt my science & sense of reality which concerned the ancient ruins they spend a long time exploring. And it was that these ruins, known of for many centuries of occupation by separate empires, are made of material that doesn't register on scans & they can't break bits from. The implication is this stuff is wholly new to science & not made of atoms... This is the sort of thing that drives new science & scientists go crazy for. But for 100s of years nobody has given a damn.
Anyway, rather than space battles and ray guns this is really a planet-based book with sword fighting and archaeology, character focused, and with the plot driven in large part by the sole PoV's curiosity and desire not to follow orders, be they from his family or other of the empire's nobility.
I've not read sci-fi of this type for quite some time, and this was a nice reminder of it. I had fun with the book.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
..
October 5, 2023
This review is a copy of the transcript of my video review on Empire of Silence
This was an absolutely stunning, ambitious, and well-written debut novel. From the first page to the last, Empire of Silence is an unputdownable new addition to my list of favorite books.
History.
My history with Empire of Silence did not start recently. In reality, it goes back to early 2018. So back then, I got an offer to read and review an advance reading copy of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio. Ruocchio's debut novel was pitched to readers as Dune meets The Name of the Wind by Gollancz, the UK publisher of the first three books in The Sun Eater. Long story short, due to my increasing day-by-day review request, I couldn't accept and get around to reading Empire of Silence. Since then, despite the series being on my radar, it was not until the past two and a half years, practically after I recently started my Booktube channel, that I had the urge to dive into the series. And this is because, in my seven years of reading and reviewing SFF books, no series has ever been recommended to me as much as The Sun Eater series. Seriously. My friends, viewers, and followers across my social media have all the confidence that I would love the series. Today, five years after the ARC of Empire of Silence landed in my sight, I have finally begun my journey with the series. And they were right. I completely loved Empire of Silence.
If you have heard about Empire of Silence or The Sun Eater, you might have heard it often recommended to readers who love Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown or The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I am one of those readers. And I believe this is, among many other reasons, why several people have recommended this series to me repeatedly. I have frequently mentioned this, but a framing device or an SFF series with a main character chronicling their tale operates like a black hole for me. After reading The Kingkiller Chronicle and Blood Song six years ago, I have realized I have a soft spot for this manner of storytelling. And this narrative style is magnificently executed, without it ever being a clone of The Name of the Wind, by Ruocchio in Empire of Silence. I’ve read and reviewed roughly 700 books in my life. When I read a book, the clarification of certainty in knowing a book or a writing style is suitable for me will differ. Sometimes, half a novel is required. Sometimes, a few chapters. Maybe a few pages. In the case of Empire of Silence, the first two pages were enough to convince me that it is my duty to read the tale of Hadrian Marlowe to the end. Empire of Silence is the first book in the Sun Eater series by Christopher Ruocchio, and it chronicled the beginning of the tales of Hadrian Marlowe, a soldier, servant, captain, captive, sorcerer, and scholar with many names. One among many of his name: The Sun Eater.
Empire of Silence, and I can safely assume the entire series, is a personification of journey before destination. From the first chapter, we immediately know the galaxy revered Hadrian as a hero who burned every last alien Cielcin from the sky. And they remember him as a monster, a devil who destroyed a sun and annihilated four billion human lives against Imperial orders. But these are the destinations. Hadrian was not a hero, was not a monster, he was not even a soldier. He was someone on the wrong planet for the best reasons, and he starts down a crimson path that can only end in fire. And we are witnessing all the full details of his account of the war between mankind and the Cielcin, translated into classical English by Tor Paulos of Nov Belgaer on Colchis. Essentially, it's akin to finding out how Kvothe or Vaelin al Sorna attained their names and titles. However, although the comparison to The Name of the Wind is fair, it is worth noting that it is not precise to say a similar framing device is implemented throughout the novel.
This is not Kvothe sitting in a tavern telling his story to Chronicler and Bast. The narrative did not shift back and forth between the past and the present timeframe like The Kingkiller Chronicle did. Hadrian’s chronicle is told chronologically, but Hadrian did occasionally give teasers, sometimes even what we readers call spoilers, on what would happen in the future of the characters he encountered. Yes, this is an example of a storytelling choice that could be deemed an annoyance for readers; it usually does for me. But in Empire of Silence, it totally worked. The scope of this series is massive. You can tell from Empire of Silence that this is an epic-scale space opera with a LOT of names—characters, languages, unique terms, and settings—to remember. Having these teasers assisted me in making sure which character I should pay attention to. One example is Bassander Lin. Bassander Lin did not have a lot of spotlight in Empire of Silence. But in his first appearance, Hadrian straightaway mentioned Bassander would become his rival, last friend, enemy, a veteran of a hundred battles, and a traitor with the title of Phoenix. Having this information registered in my mind allowed me to cement Bassander Lin as a crucial character to remember, even though he did not have many appearances in Empire of Silence.
In order to enjoy Empire of Silence to the fullest, I consider it imperative to succeed at loving Hadrian as a character or at least feel invested in his narration. Hadrian is the singular POV character, after all. From my perspective, Hadrian is an incredibly well-written and flawed character. He is utterly melodramatic, like Darrow or Kvothe, and hey, I am a fan of reading this type of character. Through Hadrian’s organic character development and intimate narration, Ruocchio has deftly handled resonating themes of freedom, artistry, power, knowledge, fear, poverty, suffering, understanding, rage, death, and many more. I did not expect languages, artistry, and translations to be such dominant themes of Empire of Silence. This bodes well for me. As a reader with English as his third language, linguistics is always a fascinating topic for me. It is necessary for the development of civilizations. English and translations are how we understand and communicate with each other in this review right now. In a world of highly ruthless expectations, I loved reading about Hadrian’s passion and determination to become a scholiast and to learn languages, such as Cielcin’s, and his deep affection for Tor Gibson, his mentor and pretty much the ideal father figure to him, unlike his jerk of a biological father: Alastair Marlowe. I felt Ruocchio truly understood his characters. Hadrian's mentorship under Gibson, how he absorbed his philosophical and life lessons, then Hadrian's conflicting rivalry with his brother, Crispin, to how he strived for recognition from Alastair never felt out of place. To make things better, these are merely a relatively small fraction of the novel as these are characters in Planet Delos. The quality of the narrative improved further after Hadrian landed on Planet Emesh. Most of Empire of Silence takes place in the city of Borosevo on Emesh, and there, Hadrian meets new characters along with several new trials and tribulations.
The events in Delos can be surmised as a brilliant prelude to the main story. I did mention Red Rising earlier but do not misconstrue this statement as saying this would be a fast-paced and action-packed novel. Empire of Silence employed a slow-burn chronicle with well-placed action scenes to savor. It is thought-provoking, imbued with melodrama and melancholy. Just like The Name of the Wind, it is not a battle-oriented science fiction novel, even though it does feature more battle scenes than The Name of the Wind. And I loved it. The main plotlines in Empire of Silence start after Hadrian arrives in Borosevo. It can take some time to get used to the pacing as the story and pacing essentially restarts. However, the slow burn made the hardships Hadrian faced more emotional. And the friendships he formed with Cat, the myrmidon companions, Olorin Milta, and Valka more impactful and everlasting. There is a difference between hearing the news of a distant planet’s destruction and seeing the bloody death of a person in front of you. The latter often is more traumatizing. And it is on Planet Emesh that Hadrian will learn that good intention doesn’t always bring positive results. The ugliness of the world is experienced extensively when he truly walks and lives among the poor and the suffering. But as Gibson said, joy is a wind. I believe the same notion is applicable to sorrow as well. Like mortality, joy and sorrow are ephemeral. They come and go, time and time again, only to end when the burning flame of our soul is snuffed out. On the killing floor of the Colosso, a brotherhood was formed among gladiators. In the city and bastille of Borosevo, affection for a xenologist with the same desire toward understanding the Cielcin, Valka Onderra, emerged.
I am ashamed to admit the few claims stating Empire of Silence plagiarize The Name of the Wind and Dune did distract my interest to start reading Empire of Silence five years ago. The reality is simply not true. Now that I have read Empire of Silence, I do not think the accusations hold any water. This is why I always say, now, once your interest in reading a series has sparked, ignore the reviews. Read and find out for yourself. Even though I disagree, I can understand some readers alluding Empire of Silence to The Name of the Wind story structure due to the way Hadrian is telling his account in the first few chapters, and maybe comparing Hadrian’s time in Borosevo to Kvothe’s time in Tarbean, or Hadrian’s infatuation with Valka to Kvothe’s obsession with Denna. I disagree; they were more like inspirations, and Rothfuss is not the pioneer of framing devices in SFF. But I can understand. Every reader has their own subjective reading experience. But Dune? I did not see it. If no one told me Dune was an inspiration for this, I would not know from reading this. Or maybe I am just dumb or not fanatical enough about Dune to see it. And I cannot believe I almost missed out on starting The Sun Eater because of some reviews. I owe this superb reading experience to all of you who continuously recommended this to me.
In hindsight, maybe this is all for the better that I read Empire of Silence now instead of back then. Ruocchio has one of the finest styles of writing I love to read. I cannot get enough of reading his prose. The entire novel was beautifully written and superbly polished. Hadrian's narration was utterly compelling and embedded with scores of remarkable passages to ponder. The dialogues were engaging, and the world-building is galactic-sized and epic in scope. Reading this has made me fully realize how few sci-fi novels manage to capture the political galactic complexity of immense space opera from their first volume. The worlds are immersive, intricately designed, and bloody ambitious. All the hints and details on the planets, cultures, technologies, clothing, weaponry like highmatters (think of this as the lightsaber of this world), Cielcin, and more were nothing short of outstanding. If all of these end up overwhelming, remember that at the back of the book, there are lists of characters and a glossary of terminologies and settings to act as a guide.
Finally, although not a battle-oriented novel, the battle scenes were placed effectively and efficiently. For instance, seeing Olorin Milta—one of the greatest swordmasters in the human universe, a maeskolos with three highmatters and the capability to engage a hundred legionnaires and survive—in action was astonishing. It was a minimal appearance with a prominent impact. I feel blessed to initiate my journey in this immersive universe now because, at the moment, I still have four published novels, two novellas, and three collections of short stories in The Sun Eater to read. You can tell how vast the series would be just from reading Empire of Silence, and I wish many modern sci-fi manage to achieve this sense of expansiveness with their world-building. After a breathtaking climax sequence, Empire of Silence ended with a rewarding and satisfying final few chapters while leaving many mysteries of the galaxy and Cielcin to discover in the sequels. And I assure you, I will pursue the delicious breadcrumbs left in the blazing trails.
Underrated.
Empire of Silence is a criminally underrated sci-fi novel. Maybe not on the Booktube sphere, but in other circles. It is puzzling how a sci-fi debut of this caliber remains relatively under the radar. Plus, this was written and published when the author was still in his early 20s! I will end this review with this. If Empire of Silence is the weakest of the series, then you are, right now, in the presence of a new Scholiast devoted to unraveling all the tales of Hadrian Marlowe, The Sun Eater. Empire of Silence is the best sci-fi debut I have ever read. As far as the first book of a series goes, this topped Red Rising by Pierce Brown, the first book in Red Rising Saga, for me. And remember, I think of Red Rising Saga as my current favorite number 1 sci-fi series. I was confident this crowned position would remain unchallenged, but there’s a new powerful challenger now. The Sun Eater by Christopher Ruocchio has the potential to become my favorite sci-fi series of all time. And I am seriously excited to discover how stronger the potential is after I read the sequel to Empire of Silence, Howling Dark, very soon.
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This was an absolutely stunning, ambitious, and well-written debut novel. From the first page to the last, Empire of Silence is an unputdownable new addition to my list of favorite books.
“It is a mistake to believe we must know a thing to be influenced by it. It is a mistake to believe the thing must even be real.”
History.
My history with Empire of Silence did not start recently. In reality, it goes back to early 2018. So back then, I got an offer to read and review an advance reading copy of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio. Ruocchio's debut novel was pitched to readers as Dune meets The Name of the Wind by Gollancz, the UK publisher of the first three books in The Sun Eater. Long story short, due to my increasing day-by-day review request, I couldn't accept and get around to reading Empire of Silence. Since then, despite the series being on my radar, it was not until the past two and a half years, practically after I recently started my Booktube channel, that I had the urge to dive into the series. And this is because, in my seven years of reading and reviewing SFF books, no series has ever been recommended to me as much as The Sun Eater series. Seriously. My friends, viewers, and followers across my social media have all the confidence that I would love the series. Today, five years after the ARC of Empire of Silence landed in my sight, I have finally begun my journey with the series. And they were right. I completely loved Empire of Silence.
“Dangerous things, names. A kind of curse, defining us that we might live up to them, or giving us something to run away from. I have lived a long life, longer than the genetic therapies the great houses of the peerage can contrive, and I have had many names.”
If you have heard about Empire of Silence or The Sun Eater, you might have heard it often recommended to readers who love Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown or The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I am one of those readers. And I believe this is, among many other reasons, why several people have recommended this series to me repeatedly. I have frequently mentioned this, but a framing device or an SFF series with a main character chronicling their tale operates like a black hole for me. After reading The Kingkiller Chronicle and Blood Song six years ago, I have realized I have a soft spot for this manner of storytelling. And this narrative style is magnificently executed, without it ever being a clone of The Name of the Wind, by Ruocchio in Empire of Silence. I’ve read and reviewed roughly 700 books in my life. When I read a book, the clarification of certainty in knowing a book or a writing style is suitable for me will differ. Sometimes, half a novel is required. Sometimes, a few chapters. Maybe a few pages. In the case of Empire of Silence, the first two pages were enough to convince me that it is my duty to read the tale of Hadrian Marlowe to the end. Empire of Silence is the first book in the Sun Eater series by Christopher Ruocchio, and it chronicled the beginning of the tales of Hadrian Marlowe, a soldier, servant, captain, captive, sorcerer, and scholar with many names. One among many of his name: The Sun Eater.
“Strange, isn’t it, how the greatest disasters in history often feel hollow and abstract, like distant thunder? A single death, wrote one ancient king, is a tragedy, but a genocide can only be understood through statistics.”
Empire of Silence, and I can safely assume the entire series, is a personification of journey before destination. From the first chapter, we immediately know the galaxy revered Hadrian as a hero who burned every last alien Cielcin from the sky. And they remember him as a monster, a devil who destroyed a sun and annihilated four billion human lives against Imperial orders. But these are the destinations. Hadrian was not a hero, was not a monster, he was not even a soldier. He was someone on the wrong planet for the best reasons, and he starts down a crimson path that can only end in fire. And we are witnessing all the full details of his account of the war between mankind and the Cielcin, translated into classical English by Tor Paulos of Nov Belgaer on Colchis. Essentially, it's akin to finding out how Kvothe or Vaelin al Sorna attained their names and titles. However, although the comparison to The Name of the Wind is fair, it is worth noting that it is not precise to say a similar framing device is implemented throughout the novel.
“Civilization is a kind of prayer: that by right action we might bring to pass the peace and quiet that is the ardent desire of every decent heart. But nature resists, for even in the heart of so great a city as Meidua, on so civilized a world as Delos, a young man might simply take a wrong turn and be set upon by brigands. No prayer is perfect, nor any city.”
This is not Kvothe sitting in a tavern telling his story to Chronicler and Bast. The narrative did not shift back and forth between the past and the present timeframe like The Kingkiller Chronicle did. Hadrian’s chronicle is told chronologically, but Hadrian did occasionally give teasers, sometimes even what we readers call spoilers, on what would happen in the future of the characters he encountered. Yes, this is an example of a storytelling choice that could be deemed an annoyance for readers; it usually does for me. But in Empire of Silence, it totally worked. The scope of this series is massive. You can tell from Empire of Silence that this is an epic-scale space opera with a LOT of names—characters, languages, unique terms, and settings—to remember. Having these teasers assisted me in making sure which character I should pay attention to. One example is Bassander Lin. Bassander Lin did not have a lot of spotlight in Empire of Silence. But in his first appearance, Hadrian straightaway mentioned Bassander would become his rival, last friend, enemy, a veteran of a hundred battles, and a traitor with the title of Phoenix. Having this information registered in my mind allowed me to cement Bassander Lin as a crucial character to remember, even though he did not have many appearances in Empire of Silence.
“The artist sees things not in terms of what is or might be, but in terms of what must be. Of what our world must become. This is why a portrait will—to the human observer—always defeat the photograph.”
In order to enjoy Empire of Silence to the fullest, I consider it imperative to succeed at loving Hadrian as a character or at least feel invested in his narration. Hadrian is the singular POV character, after all. From my perspective, Hadrian is an incredibly well-written and flawed character. He is utterly melodramatic, like Darrow or Kvothe, and hey, I am a fan of reading this type of character. Through Hadrian’s organic character development and intimate narration, Ruocchio has deftly handled resonating themes of freedom, artistry, power, knowledge, fear, poverty, suffering, understanding, rage, death, and many more. I did not expect languages, artistry, and translations to be such dominant themes of Empire of Silence. This bodes well for me. As a reader with English as his third language, linguistics is always a fascinating topic for me. It is necessary for the development of civilizations. English and translations are how we understand and communicate with each other in this review right now. In a world of highly ruthless expectations, I loved reading about Hadrian’s passion and determination to become a scholiast and to learn languages, such as Cielcin’s, and his deep affection for Tor Gibson, his mentor and pretty much the ideal father figure to him, unlike his jerk of a biological father: Alastair Marlowe. I felt Ruocchio truly understood his characters. Hadrian's mentorship under Gibson, how he absorbed his philosophical and life lessons, then Hadrian's conflicting rivalry with his brother, Crispin, to how he strived for recognition from Alastair never felt out of place. To make things better, these are merely a relatively small fraction of the novel as these are characters in Planet Delos. The quality of the narrative improved further after Hadrian landed on Planet Emesh. Most of Empire of Silence takes place in the city of Borosevo on Emesh, and there, Hadrian meets new characters along with several new trials and tribulations.
“The world’s soft the way the ocean is. Ask any sailor what I mean. But even when it is at its most violent, Hadrian . . . focus on the beauty of it. The ugliness of the world will come at you from all sides. There’s no avoiding it. All the schooling in the universe won’t stop that… But in most places in the galaxy, nothing is happening. The nature of things is peaceful, and that is a mighty thing.”
The events in Delos can be surmised as a brilliant prelude to the main story. I did mention Red Rising earlier but do not misconstrue this statement as saying this would be a fast-paced and action-packed novel. Empire of Silence employed a slow-burn chronicle with well-placed action scenes to savor. It is thought-provoking, imbued with melodrama and melancholy. Just like The Name of the Wind, it is not a battle-oriented science fiction novel, even though it does feature more battle scenes than The Name of the Wind. And I loved it. The main plotlines in Empire of Silence start after Hadrian arrives in Borosevo. It can take some time to get used to the pacing as the story and pacing essentially restarts. However, the slow burn made the hardships Hadrian faced more emotional. And the friendships he formed with Cat, the myrmidon companions, Olorin Milta, and Valka more impactful and everlasting. There is a difference between hearing the news of a distant planet’s destruction and seeing the bloody death of a person in front of you. The latter often is more traumatizing. And it is on Planet Emesh that Hadrian will learn that good intention doesn’t always bring positive results. The ugliness of the world is experienced extensively when he truly walks and lives among the poor and the suffering. But as Gibson said, joy is a wind. I believe the same notion is applicable to sorrow as well. Like mortality, joy and sorrow are ephemeral. They come and go, time and time again, only to end when the burning flame of our soul is snuffed out. On the killing floor of the Colosso, a brotherhood was formed among gladiators. In the city and bastille of Borosevo, affection for a xenologist with the same desire toward understanding the Cielcin, Valka Onderra, emerged.
"I do not consider myself a great artist, though she made me wish I was. I could not have known at this first meeting how many times I would fail to capture her, in charcoal and in life. The brazen declaration of her: the pride in that upturned chin, the pointed nose, and the tidy carelessness that put her above the opinions of lesser men. There’s little sign of her wit—so close to cruelty—in any of the drawings I made of her, and this poor prose cannot contain her beauty, body or soul. They are only echoes, as is this."
I am ashamed to admit the few claims stating Empire of Silence plagiarize The Name of the Wind and Dune did distract my interest to start reading Empire of Silence five years ago. The reality is simply not true. Now that I have read Empire of Silence, I do not think the accusations hold any water. This is why I always say, now, once your interest in reading a series has sparked, ignore the reviews. Read and find out for yourself. Even though I disagree, I can understand some readers alluding Empire of Silence to The Name of the Wind story structure due to the way Hadrian is telling his account in the first few chapters, and maybe comparing Hadrian’s time in Borosevo to Kvothe’s time in Tarbean, or Hadrian’s infatuation with Valka to Kvothe’s obsession with Denna. I disagree; they were more like inspirations, and Rothfuss is not the pioneer of framing devices in SFF. But I can understand. Every reader has their own subjective reading experience. But Dune? I did not see it. If no one told me Dune was an inspiration for this, I would not know from reading this. Or maybe I am just dumb or not fanatical enough about Dune to see it. And I cannot believe I almost missed out on starting The Sun Eater because of some reviews. I owe this superb reading experience to all of you who continuously recommended this to me.
“The poets speak of rage as a fiery thing, consuming, destroying, twisting a soul to mistaken action. They sing songs of revenge, of lovers killed in the night, of passions inflamed, of houses torn asunder. But there is little heat in rage. The scholiasts have it right. Rage is blindness. A red color blurring out the world. It is light, not fire. And light, when finely tuned, can cut as surely as steel.”
In hindsight, maybe this is all for the better that I read Empire of Silence now instead of back then. Ruocchio has one of the finest styles of writing I love to read. I cannot get enough of reading his prose. The entire novel was beautifully written and superbly polished. Hadrian's narration was utterly compelling and embedded with scores of remarkable passages to ponder. The dialogues were engaging, and the world-building is galactic-sized and epic in scope. Reading this has made me fully realize how few sci-fi novels manage to capture the political galactic complexity of immense space opera from their first volume. The worlds are immersive, intricately designed, and bloody ambitious. All the hints and details on the planets, cultures, technologies, clothing, weaponry like highmatters (think of this as the lightsaber of this world), Cielcin, and more were nothing short of outstanding. If all of these end up overwhelming, remember that at the back of the book, there are lists of characters and a glossary of terminologies and settings to act as a guide.
“We live in stories, and in stories, we are subject to phenomena beyond the mechanisms of space and time. Fear and love, death and wrath and wisdom—these are as much parts of our universe as light and gravity.”
Finally, although not a battle-oriented novel, the battle scenes were placed effectively and efficiently. For instance, seeing Olorin Milta—one of the greatest swordmasters in the human universe, a maeskolos with three highmatters and the capability to engage a hundred legionnaires and survive—in action was astonishing. It was a minimal appearance with a prominent impact. I feel blessed to initiate my journey in this immersive universe now because, at the moment, I still have four published novels, two novellas, and three collections of short stories in The Sun Eater to read. You can tell how vast the series would be just from reading Empire of Silence, and I wish many modern sci-fi manage to achieve this sense of expansiveness with their world-building. After a breathtaking climax sequence, Empire of Silence ended with a rewarding and satisfying final few chapters while leaving many mysteries of the galaxy and Cielcin to discover in the sequels. And I assure you, I will pursue the delicious breadcrumbs left in the blazing trails.
“The Cielcin fought for themselves, for their right to exist. We were no different. So long as their existence threatened our colonies, so long as our soldiers destroyed their worldship fleets, there would be no peace. So long as atrocity was met with atrocity, murder with murder, fire with fire, it mattered not at all whose sword was bloodier.”
Underrated.
Empire of Silence is a criminally underrated sci-fi novel. Maybe not on the Booktube sphere, but in other circles. It is puzzling how a sci-fi debut of this caliber remains relatively under the radar. Plus, this was written and published when the author was still in his early 20s! I will end this review with this. If Empire of Silence is the weakest of the series, then you are, right now, in the presence of a new Scholiast devoted to unraveling all the tales of Hadrian Marlowe, The Sun Eater. Empire of Silence is the best sci-fi debut I have ever read. As far as the first book of a series goes, this topped Red Rising by Pierce Brown, the first book in Red Rising Saga, for me. And remember, I think of Red Rising Saga as my current favorite number 1 sci-fi series. I was confident this crowned position would remain unchallenged, but there’s a new powerful challenger now. The Sun Eater by Christopher Ruocchio has the potential to become my favorite sci-fi series of all time. And I am seriously excited to discover how stronger the potential is after I read the sequel to Empire of Silence, Howling Dark, very soon.
“The fool believes the iniquities of the world are the fault of other men. Gibson’s voice, dry as old manuscript pages, had never been more clear. The truly wise try to change themselves, which is the more difficult and less grand task.”
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February 26, 2024
Is this my new favourite sci-fi series? Yes... Yes I think it is!
Final Rating: 4.6/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
Admittedly, my journey through science fiction hasn't been as deep as with fantasy, primarily because I've found the genre often prioritizes complex world-building and advanced technology over the plot. Yet, plot is what I crave—the unexpected twists and intricate narratives akin to Brandon Sanderson's storytelling.
Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio breaks this mold for me, feeling more like an epic fantasy set in space than a traditional sci-fi novel. It's the story's focus on plot over technological spectacle that truly captivates me. While hardcore sci-fi fans might find it a bit off the beaten path, for someone seeking a story-driven experience, this book is a remarkable find.
I've heard some say this is the weakest book in the series, which leaves me in awe. If this is the starting point, I can only imagine the heights the rest of the series reaches.
Plot Summary
Empire of Silence unfolds the tale of Hadrian Marlowe, a scion of nobility entangled in the complexities of political machinations and the looming specter of existential crises. In an attempt to dodge a life mapped out by his heritage, including an unwanted marriage, Hadrian makes a daring escape from his aristocratic bindings, only to find himself marooned on a remote planet. This drastic change of fortune strips him of his privileged status, plunging him into a stark reality far from the opulence he once knew.
In his struggle to adapt to this harsh new existence, Hadrian is drawn into a confrontation with the Cielcin, an enigmatic and belligerent alien species. The narrative probes deeply into the dynamics of empire, the nature of conflict, and an individual's place within the broad sweep of history. With the shadow of being condemned as a betrayer by his own species hanging over him, Hadrian's journey also explores the moral and philosophical dilemmas he faces, as his actions will ultimately forge the destiny of the cosmos.
Plot: 3.5/5
The book utilizes a framing narrative, a storytelling device where the main story is nested within a broader narrative context. In other words we know the ending of this series within the first couple of pages, and we’re looking back on how Hadrian arrived at that endpoint. Also, unlike other epic fantasy books I know, the tale is exclusively told from the perspective of Hadrian Marlowe, providing a deeply personal and introspective view of the unfolding events.
Despite my previously stated enthusiasm for plot-driven narratives, if there's one element of "Empire of Silence" that could be considered a weak point, I think it’s the overarching plot itself. The story, in essence, feels almost like an elongated introduction to the series, meticulously laying down the groundwork for the epic saga to follow. This is emphasised even more because the book is broken into four distinct chapters/acts of Hadrian’s life. While each act of the book contains its own compelling and memorable moments, they sometimes feel more like a collection of vignettes than a cohesive narrative, connected primarily through the experiences and growth of Hadrian. This structure left me very attached to Hadrian the character, but I struggled to see how each narrative arc was necessary or really connected with the other. I imagine that the true significance of these events will be revealed in subsequent volumes.
“My memory is to the world as a drawing is to the photograph. Imperfect. More perfect. We remember what we must, what we choose to, because it is more beautiful and real than the truth.”
In terms of the framing narrative, I think it really enriched the story with a sense of inevitability and tragedy, inviting me to ponder not just what happens, but why it happens and how Hadrian's choices resonate through the galaxy. It's this reflective quality that can make Empire of Silence feel like a prologue to something grander, a foundational epic that promises to intertwine the personal with the political, the intimate with the interstellar. In other words, while I wasn’t blown away by the plot, I am absolutely ravenous to get my hands on the next book.
World building: 4/5
In "Empire of Silence," Christopher Ruocchio crafts a universe that's both vast and filled with detail, making a vivid stage for Hadrian Marlowe's journey. The book doesn’t dive deep into the nuts and bolts of hard science fiction; instead, it brings in enough tech and cool elements to spice up the story without getting bogged down in the specifics. This approach keeps the focus on the characters and their adventures, letting the tech bits play a supporting role to enhance the tale.
Ruocchio's universe is a rich mix of planets, cultures, and beings, all adding layers to the Sollan Empire's complexity. He skillfully portrays societal setups, political intrigue, and interactions with the alien Cielcin with an eye for detail, pulling readers into a well-crafted world. Concepts like social hierarchies, space travel, and the mysterious Cielcin unfold naturally, enriching our understanding of this carefully imagined universe bit by bit.
““It is a mistake to believe we must know a thing to be influenced by it. It is a mistake to believe the thing must even be real.””
The cultural depth and historical backstories in Ruocchio's creation add a real sense of intrigue, presenting a universe where history and tradition play a big role in shaping current events and perspectives. This setting isn't just a backdrop but a key part of the story, touching on themes of power, identity, and resistance in a world where the past has a strong grip on the present.
Characterisation: 5/5
Like a lot of single POV stories, much of how one views the characterization can be summed up by answering the question: how much do you like the main character? For me, I adored Hadrian Marlowe. He was complex and captivating. Experiencing the universe through his eyes wasn't just about embarking on an epic adventure; it felt like I was on a journey of self-discovery and moral exploration right alongside him.
The whole setup with the framing narrative really hooked me. Knowing from the get-go where Hadrian ends up adds this awesome layer of mystery to his story. I kept wondering, how does this privileged young guy, who’s had everything handed to him, turn into the legend we’re hinted at from the start? Watching Hadrian change and grow with that question in mind was super intriguing. Ruocchio doesn’t just tell us about Hadrian’s journey; he shows us, making me feel every high and low along the way.
“The world’s soft the way the ocean is. Ask any sailor what I mean. But even when it is at its most violent, Hadrian . . . focus on the beauty of it. The ugliness of the world will come at you from all sides. There’s no avoiding it. All the schooling in the universe won’t stop that.”
And the people Hadrian meets? Each one of them adds something special to his story, pushing him, challenging him, and sometimes throwing him for a loop. These relationships were crucial in shaping the man he was becoming, making the story (and Hadrian himself) even more compelling.
Not to forget the Cielcin. Ruocchio could’ve easily made them the straightforward bad guys, but he went deeper than that. He gives us peeks into their world, making the whole conflict more gray than black and white, which I really loved. This nuanced approach to storytelling added depth to the overarching plot and Hadrian's role within it.
Prose: 6/5
I’m not usually someone who gets all caught up in fancy writing. As long as I can follow what’s happening, I’d say the prose is doing its job, and that’s good enough for me. But even a prose noob like myself knows standout writing when I see it. And boy oh boy, does Christopher Ruocchio know how to write! I found out after the fact that he wrote it in his early 20’s - WHAT THE FLIPPIN HECK! I don’t even know how that is possible.
“We live in stories, and in stories, we are subject to phenomena beyond the mechanisms of space and time. Fear and love, death and wrath and wisdom, these are as much part of our universe as light and gravity.”
The way he writes, it's like he’s laying down a feast of words that’s so delicious, you want to savor every bite. His prose has this way of pulling you in, making the vastness of space feel like a personal journey you’re taking with the characters. Every line is crafted with care, painting pictures so vivid, you’d swear you were there, feeling the buzz of the empire and the tension of alien encounters.
“The man who hopes for the future delays its arrival, and the man who dreads it summons it to his door.”
So even though I usually don’t fuss much about how beautifully a book is written, Ruocchio’s writing grabbed me. It’s almost for the prose alone that I’d tell anyone and everyone to pick up this book. The way he strings words together isn’t just skillful—it’s downright magical. I’ve heard that this book is often compared to The Name of the Wind, to be honest I haven’t read that book in about a decade so it's hard for me to make the comparison. However, what I will say is that Ruocchio’s prose is at least as good as Rothfuss’s. It’s that good.
Enjoyment: 4.5/5
Impressed. That’s the overall feeling that I’ve had as I wrapped up my reading experience. Especially given that there's talk that this might be considered the weakest book in the series, which only excites me about what's to come. This wasn't just an introduction to a new story; it felt like stepping into an entirely new realm of storytelling.
Pretty hard not to reiterate how Ruocchio's writing completely drew me in. His prose is exceptional, making even a prose novice like me sit up and take notice. I also loved Hadrian - and the growth that we saw from him throughout the book. I couldn't have asked for a better guide through this epic saga. I felt every step of his journey, connected with his trials and triumphs on a deeply personal level.
The only downside for me is that the plot did seem to serve as a lengthy setup for future events. Yet, overall this didn't detract from my enjoyment much; instead, it left me eager for more. I'm wholly invested in discovering how Hadrian's story unfolds, driven by a compelling need to see how it all ends. I think a useful indication of my enjoyment (or an indication of my future enjoyment) is that I’ve gone and ordered all of the books in this series.
Honestly, I’m kind of sitting here, blown away. For something categorized under sci-fi (of which I’m not the biggest fan), it has surpassed many of my expectations and preconceived notions about the genre. It's not solely the plot, the world-building, or even Hadrian's intricate character development that has won me over. It's Ruocchio's ability to weave these elements seamlessly together, crafting a narrative that's as thought-provoking as it is engaging.
Final Rating: 4.6/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
The Sun Eater :
Book 1. Empire of Silence
My favourite books of 2024 in preferential order
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕:
1. The Way of Kings - (My Review: 5.0/5)
2. Dungeon Crawler Carl - (My Review: 4.8/5)
3. Empire of Silence
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗:
4. The Shadow of What Was Lost - (My Review: 4.3/5)
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑:
5. The Poppy War - (My Review: 4.0/5)
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑:
...
🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑:
...
🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑:
...
Final Rating: 4.6/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
Admittedly, my journey through science fiction hasn't been as deep as with fantasy, primarily because I've found the genre often prioritizes complex world-building and advanced technology over the plot. Yet, plot is what I crave—the unexpected twists and intricate narratives akin to Brandon Sanderson's storytelling.
Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio breaks this mold for me, feeling more like an epic fantasy set in space than a traditional sci-fi novel. It's the story's focus on plot over technological spectacle that truly captivates me. While hardcore sci-fi fans might find it a bit off the beaten path, for someone seeking a story-driven experience, this book is a remarkable find.
I've heard some say this is the weakest book in the series, which leaves me in awe. If this is the starting point, I can only imagine the heights the rest of the series reaches.
Plot Summary
Empire of Silence unfolds the tale of Hadrian Marlowe, a scion of nobility entangled in the complexities of political machinations and the looming specter of existential crises. In an attempt to dodge a life mapped out by his heritage, including an unwanted marriage, Hadrian makes a daring escape from his aristocratic bindings, only to find himself marooned on a remote planet. This drastic change of fortune strips him of his privileged status, plunging him into a stark reality far from the opulence he once knew.
In his struggle to adapt to this harsh new existence, Hadrian is drawn into a confrontation with the Cielcin, an enigmatic and belligerent alien species. The narrative probes deeply into the dynamics of empire, the nature of conflict, and an individual's place within the broad sweep of history. With the shadow of being condemned as a betrayer by his own species hanging over him, Hadrian's journey also explores the moral and philosophical dilemmas he faces, as his actions will ultimately forge the destiny of the cosmos.
Plot: 3.5/5
The book utilizes a framing narrative, a storytelling device where the main story is nested within a broader narrative context. In other words we know the ending of this series within the first couple of pages, and we’re looking back on how Hadrian arrived at that endpoint. Also, unlike other epic fantasy books I know, the tale is exclusively told from the perspective of Hadrian Marlowe, providing a deeply personal and introspective view of the unfolding events.
Despite my previously stated enthusiasm for plot-driven narratives, if there's one element of "Empire of Silence" that could be considered a weak point, I think it’s the overarching plot itself. The story, in essence, feels almost like an elongated introduction to the series, meticulously laying down the groundwork for the epic saga to follow. This is emphasised even more because the book is broken into four distinct chapters/acts of Hadrian’s life. While each act of the book contains its own compelling and memorable moments, they sometimes feel more like a collection of vignettes than a cohesive narrative, connected primarily through the experiences and growth of Hadrian. This structure left me very attached to Hadrian the character, but I struggled to see how each narrative arc was necessary or really connected with the other. I imagine that the true significance of these events will be revealed in subsequent volumes.
“My memory is to the world as a drawing is to the photograph. Imperfect. More perfect. We remember what we must, what we choose to, because it is more beautiful and real than the truth.”
In terms of the framing narrative, I think it really enriched the story with a sense of inevitability and tragedy, inviting me to ponder not just what happens, but why it happens and how Hadrian's choices resonate through the galaxy. It's this reflective quality that can make Empire of Silence feel like a prologue to something grander, a foundational epic that promises to intertwine the personal with the political, the intimate with the interstellar. In other words, while I wasn’t blown away by the plot, I am absolutely ravenous to get my hands on the next book.
World building: 4/5
In "Empire of Silence," Christopher Ruocchio crafts a universe that's both vast and filled with detail, making a vivid stage for Hadrian Marlowe's journey. The book doesn’t dive deep into the nuts and bolts of hard science fiction; instead, it brings in enough tech and cool elements to spice up the story without getting bogged down in the specifics. This approach keeps the focus on the characters and their adventures, letting the tech bits play a supporting role to enhance the tale.
Ruocchio's universe is a rich mix of planets, cultures, and beings, all adding layers to the Sollan Empire's complexity. He skillfully portrays societal setups, political intrigue, and interactions with the alien Cielcin with an eye for detail, pulling readers into a well-crafted world. Concepts like social hierarchies, space travel, and the mysterious Cielcin unfold naturally, enriching our understanding of this carefully imagined universe bit by bit.
““It is a mistake to believe we must know a thing to be influenced by it. It is a mistake to believe the thing must even be real.””
The cultural depth and historical backstories in Ruocchio's creation add a real sense of intrigue, presenting a universe where history and tradition play a big role in shaping current events and perspectives. This setting isn't just a backdrop but a key part of the story, touching on themes of power, identity, and resistance in a world where the past has a strong grip on the present.
Characterisation: 5/5
Like a lot of single POV stories, much of how one views the characterization can be summed up by answering the question: how much do you like the main character? For me, I adored Hadrian Marlowe. He was complex and captivating. Experiencing the universe through his eyes wasn't just about embarking on an epic adventure; it felt like I was on a journey of self-discovery and moral exploration right alongside him.
The whole setup with the framing narrative really hooked me. Knowing from the get-go where Hadrian ends up adds this awesome layer of mystery to his story. I kept wondering, how does this privileged young guy, who’s had everything handed to him, turn into the legend we’re hinted at from the start? Watching Hadrian change and grow with that question in mind was super intriguing. Ruocchio doesn’t just tell us about Hadrian’s journey; he shows us, making me feel every high and low along the way.
“The world’s soft the way the ocean is. Ask any sailor what I mean. But even when it is at its most violent, Hadrian . . . focus on the beauty of it. The ugliness of the world will come at you from all sides. There’s no avoiding it. All the schooling in the universe won’t stop that.”
And the people Hadrian meets? Each one of them adds something special to his story, pushing him, challenging him, and sometimes throwing him for a loop. These relationships were crucial in shaping the man he was becoming, making the story (and Hadrian himself) even more compelling.
Not to forget the Cielcin. Ruocchio could’ve easily made them the straightforward bad guys, but he went deeper than that. He gives us peeks into their world, making the whole conflict more gray than black and white, which I really loved. This nuanced approach to storytelling added depth to the overarching plot and Hadrian's role within it.
Prose: 6/5
I’m not usually someone who gets all caught up in fancy writing. As long as I can follow what’s happening, I’d say the prose is doing its job, and that’s good enough for me. But even a prose noob like myself knows standout writing when I see it. And boy oh boy, does Christopher Ruocchio know how to write! I found out after the fact that he wrote it in his early 20’s - WHAT THE FLIPPIN HECK! I don’t even know how that is possible.
“We live in stories, and in stories, we are subject to phenomena beyond the mechanisms of space and time. Fear and love, death and wrath and wisdom, these are as much part of our universe as light and gravity.”
The way he writes, it's like he’s laying down a feast of words that’s so delicious, you want to savor every bite. His prose has this way of pulling you in, making the vastness of space feel like a personal journey you’re taking with the characters. Every line is crafted with care, painting pictures so vivid, you’d swear you were there, feeling the buzz of the empire and the tension of alien encounters.
“The man who hopes for the future delays its arrival, and the man who dreads it summons it to his door.”
So even though I usually don’t fuss much about how beautifully a book is written, Ruocchio’s writing grabbed me. It’s almost for the prose alone that I’d tell anyone and everyone to pick up this book. The way he strings words together isn’t just skillful—it’s downright magical. I’ve heard that this book is often compared to The Name of the Wind, to be honest I haven’t read that book in about a decade so it's hard for me to make the comparison. However, what I will say is that Ruocchio’s prose is at least as good as Rothfuss’s. It’s that good.
Enjoyment: 4.5/5
Impressed. That’s the overall feeling that I’ve had as I wrapped up my reading experience. Especially given that there's talk that this might be considered the weakest book in the series, which only excites me about what's to come. This wasn't just an introduction to a new story; it felt like stepping into an entirely new realm of storytelling.
Pretty hard not to reiterate how Ruocchio's writing completely drew me in. His prose is exceptional, making even a prose novice like me sit up and take notice. I also loved Hadrian - and the growth that we saw from him throughout the book. I couldn't have asked for a better guide through this epic saga. I felt every step of his journey, connected with his trials and triumphs on a deeply personal level.
The only downside for me is that the plot did seem to serve as a lengthy setup for future events. Yet, overall this didn't detract from my enjoyment much; instead, it left me eager for more. I'm wholly invested in discovering how Hadrian's story unfolds, driven by a compelling need to see how it all ends. I think a useful indication of my enjoyment (or an indication of my future enjoyment) is that I’ve gone and ordered all of the books in this series.
Honestly, I’m kind of sitting here, blown away. For something categorized under sci-fi (of which I’m not the biggest fan), it has surpassed many of my expectations and preconceived notions about the genre. It's not solely the plot, the world-building, or even Hadrian's intricate character development that has won me over. It's Ruocchio's ability to weave these elements seamlessly together, crafting a narrative that's as thought-provoking as it is engaging.
Final Rating: 4.6/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
The Sun Eater :
Book 1. Empire of Silence
My favourite books of 2024 in preferential order
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕:
1. The Way of Kings - (My Review: 5.0/5)
2. Dungeon Crawler Carl - (My Review: 4.8/5)
3. Empire of Silence
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗:
4. The Shadow of What Was Lost - (My Review: 4.3/5)
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑:
5. The Poppy War - (My Review: 4.0/5)
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑:
...
🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑:
...
🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑:
...
January 12, 2024
Full Video Review Here: https://youtu.be/LSiWehkjiGs
Interview with the author here: https://youtu.be/q4quQsws1vA
In a year that I accidentally let get away from me when it came to balance between the genres and I was suffering some fantasy burnout, I decided to move this one up my list since it was the next science-fiction book on my TBR. And was it just the kick in the pants I needed.
A lot of reviews sold this book as "The Name of the Wind meets Dune." This had me torn, as I've never understood the fascination with NotW, but Dune is my favorite book of all time. So I went in with mixed expectations and did it ever hit a homerun for me.
Is that sales job accurate? Partly. I can see why many would have a Name of the Wind comparison since it's a frame tale with the protagonist, Hadrian, telling you his story of how things got to the way they are. I mean, Dickens did this 160 years before Rothfuss, so I don't put any merit on that. But the credit I do give his book is that is does have a meticulous way with words. In that, I can see the comparison in Empire of Silence because Mr. Ruocchio is ever the wordsmith.
I don't like to throw out a phrase like "Bradbury" lightly, but the way that Ruocchio is able to describe things with his use of the English language is nothing short of magnificent. Ray Bradbury had that way of writing something that was horrific yet you found yourself saying "my, that's just beautifully written." The same applies with this first story in the Sun Eater series.
As for the Dune comparison side of it...I don't see it. Maybe because it's thousands of years in our future and there is a hierarchy and games of houses and things like that, I mean Dune isn't the only thing to do that. So, again, I feel like that's the wrong comparison. This is an excellent story, but I don't think it's quite as thought provoking and philosophical as what Frank Herbert did.
If I was to make a blank meets blank comparison with this book, I'd say it's imagine Patrick Rothfuss writing the Red Rising saga. And that is not meant as a slander to Pierce Brown, one of my favorite authors working today, but a testament to Ruocchio's talents as a writer.
Imagine Red Rising, but Darrow starts off as a Gold, Nero is his father, and Cassius is his brother. That's the feeling I got with this book. The action is good, the character work is well done in that you find yourself caring almost instantly about characters when bad things happen to them, and this universe feels well-crafted and leaves you wanting to reach for book 2 immediately.
This was one of my most pleasant surprises of the year and it's an author I can't wait to read more from in 2021. Do yourself a favor and check out Empire of Silence immediately.
Interview with the author here: https://youtu.be/q4quQsws1vA
In a year that I accidentally let get away from me when it came to balance between the genres and I was suffering some fantasy burnout, I decided to move this one up my list since it was the next science-fiction book on my TBR. And was it just the kick in the pants I needed.
A lot of reviews sold this book as "The Name of the Wind meets Dune." This had me torn, as I've never understood the fascination with NotW, but Dune is my favorite book of all time. So I went in with mixed expectations and did it ever hit a homerun for me.
Is that sales job accurate? Partly. I can see why many would have a Name of the Wind comparison since it's a frame tale with the protagonist, Hadrian, telling you his story of how things got to the way they are. I mean, Dickens did this 160 years before Rothfuss, so I don't put any merit on that. But the credit I do give his book is that is does have a meticulous way with words. In that, I can see the comparison in Empire of Silence because Mr. Ruocchio is ever the wordsmith.
I don't like to throw out a phrase like "Bradbury" lightly, but the way that Ruocchio is able to describe things with his use of the English language is nothing short of magnificent. Ray Bradbury had that way of writing something that was horrific yet you found yourself saying "my, that's just beautifully written." The same applies with this first story in the Sun Eater series.
As for the Dune comparison side of it...I don't see it. Maybe because it's thousands of years in our future and there is a hierarchy and games of houses and things like that, I mean Dune isn't the only thing to do that. So, again, I feel like that's the wrong comparison. This is an excellent story, but I don't think it's quite as thought provoking and philosophical as what Frank Herbert did.
If I was to make a blank meets blank comparison with this book, I'd say it's imagine Patrick Rothfuss writing the Red Rising saga. And that is not meant as a slander to Pierce Brown, one of my favorite authors working today, but a testament to Ruocchio's talents as a writer.
Imagine Red Rising, but Darrow starts off as a Gold, Nero is his father, and Cassius is his brother. That's the feeling I got with this book. The action is good, the character work is well done in that you find yourself caring almost instantly about characters when bad things happen to them, and this universe feels well-crafted and leaves you wanting to reach for book 2 immediately.
This was one of my most pleasant surprises of the year and it's an author I can't wait to read more from in 2021. Do yourself a favor and check out Empire of Silence immediately.
July 27, 2018
This is by a wide margin the single most derivative book I have ever read.
Young Kvothe Atreides grows up in a life of privilege and power, learning from his father's Mentat. Alas, he's not to be the heir! Instead, he's to be admitted to the Orange Catholic Church, who prevent the use of intelligent technology throughout the galaxy. And also torture people. Not liking this, he runs away from home. Betrayal ensues, and he finds himself stranded penniless on the streets of Tarbean! Fortunately, he's able to enter the gladiatorial arena and make some money for himself. But, a misguided attempt to speak with an alien prisoner sees him brought before the local lord, who realises his identity and takes him on as a tutor for his children. Here, he meets the brilliant Cordelia Naismith, and falls in love! And so on. The entire book is a transparent mash-up of The Name of the Wind, Dune, and Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga, and the greatest enjoyment I got from it was spotting which paragraphs were lifted most directly from their source material.
A selection of familiar passages...
Young Kvothe Atreides grows up in a life of privilege and power, learning from his father's Mentat. Alas, he's not to be the heir! Instead, he's to be admitted to the Orange Catholic Church, who prevent the use of intelligent technology throughout the galaxy. And also torture people. Not liking this, he runs away from home. Betrayal ensues, and he finds himself stranded penniless on the streets of Tarbean! Fortunately, he's able to enter the gladiatorial arena and make some money for himself. But, a misguided attempt to speak with an alien prisoner sees him brought before the local lord, who realises his identity and takes him on as a tutor for his children. Here, he meets the brilliant Cordelia Naismith, and falls in love! And so on. The entire book is a transparent mash-up of The Name of the Wind, Dune, and Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga, and the greatest enjoyment I got from it was spotting which paragraphs were lifted most directly from their source material.
A selection of familiar passages...
[Empire of Silence]
So let us bypass history, sidestep the politics and the marching tramp of empires. Forget the beginnings of mankind in the fire and ash of Old Earth, and so too ignore the Cielcin rising in cold and from darkness. Those tales are recorded elsewhere in all the tongues of mankind and her subjects. Let us move to the only beginning I’ve a right to: my own.
---
[The Name of the Wind (Patrick Rothfuss)]
Very well, for simplicity's sake, let us assume I am the center of creation. In doing this, let us pass over innumerable boring stories: the rise and fall of empires, sagas of heroism, ballads of tragic love. Let us hurry forward to the only tale of any real importance." His smile broadened. "Mine."
.
[Empire of Silence]
During the war, I was Hadrian Halfmortal and Hadrian the Deathless. After the war, I was the Sun Eater. To the poor people of Borosevo, I was a myrmidon called Had. To the Jaddians, I was Al Neroblis. To the Cielcin, I was Oimn Belu and worse things besides. I have been many things: soldier and servant, captain and captive, sorcerer and scholar and little more than a slave.
But before I was any of these, I was a son.
---
[The Name of the Wind (Patrick Rothfuss)]
My first mentor called me E'lir because I was clever and I knew it. My first real lover called me Dulator because she liked the sound of it. I have been called Shadicar, Lightfinger, and Six-String. I have been called Kvothe the Bloodless, Kvothe the Arcane, and Kvothe Kingkiller. I have earned those names. Bought and paid for them.
But I was brought up as Kvothe. My father once told me it meant 'to know.'
.
[Empire of Silence]
In my long life I have known too many palatines, men and women both, who so abused their underlings. There are words for creatures who so abuse their power, but none shall ever be applied to me.
---
[The Name of the Wind (Patrick Rothfuss)]
Needless to say, I kept my distance. There are names for people who take advantage of women who are not in full control of themselves, and none of those names will ever rightfully be applied to me.
.
[Empire of Silence]
Her nostrils flared, and she leaned on what I would one day learn was her favorite swear word: "Imperials."
---
[The Warrior's Apprentice (Lois McMaster Bujold)
She went off toward the library, muttering her favorite swear word under her breath, "Barrayarans!"
.
[Empire of Silence]
My mother was late to my birth, and both my parents watched from a platform above the surgical theater while I was decanted from the vat.
---
[Diplomatic Immunity (Lois McMaster Bujold)]
She breathed a short laugh. "For all that I try to be all modern and galactic, that feels so strange. All sorts of men don't make it home for the births of their children. But 'My mother was out of town on the day I was born, so she missed it,' just seems ... seems like a more profound complaint, somehow."
.
[Empire of Silence]
I spun to face him, shrugged, and reframed my thought. “They have no say in being eaten. Pawns again. Biology is destiny.”
---
[Miles Errant (Lois McMaster Bujold]
"Biology is Destiny," gasped Miles, popping his eyes open.
April 4, 2022
Hmmm, 4 Stars. So, I’ve been listening to this reread for a few days. The first time I read it, I gave it 5 stars and now I’ve changed it to 4 stars. This time a lot of it felt like a slog to me. I’m not sure if it’s my mood but I’m getting tired of my big books 😬. I never thought I’d say that, maybe it’s just a phase or the time I have to spend rereading etc is getting to me. I plan to reread Malazan and Wheel of Time and a few others. I’m looking to get rid of a lot of things that are not doing it for me as a reread. I mean what’s the point. I’ve gotten mad and just let go of a lot of stuff without rereads. This isn’t just books though, I’m trying to get rid of many things. Danish death cleaning, right?
Now I listened to this audio through the library and ugg that ugly audio cover compared to the beautiful paperback! What were they thinking! I own the next two books in paperback and audible and if I feel the same with those, I’ll keep and get them all on audio and trade in the books. Have you seen the 4th book cover though! And the 5th one coming out soon is pretty too. I think it’s what’s her head on the cover of that one 🤔
Geez, this turned into a crazy ramble 🤨. Carry on peeps!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Now I listened to this audio through the library and ugg that ugly audio cover compared to the beautiful paperback! What were they thinking! I own the next two books in paperback and audible and if I feel the same with those, I’ll keep and get them all on audio and trade in the books. Have you seen the 4th book cover though! And the 5th one coming out soon is pretty too. I think it’s what’s her head on the cover of that one 🤔
Geez, this turned into a crazy ramble 🤨. Carry on peeps!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
August 14, 2023
The best science fiction book I have ever read!
Watch my video review by clicking here.
Watch my video review by clicking here.
April 20, 2018
The Name of the Wind but in space.
Hadrian is the first son of Lord Alistair, destined to succeed him as the head of the House Marlowe and Archon of Meidua Prefecture on Delos, and to live a relatively easy life with a several centuries life-span. Or at least that's what he thinks. He ends up destroying a Sun, snuffing billions of lives (humans and aliens alike) and obliterating an entire race instead.
Christopher Ruocchio's debut is an exhilarating read full of intrigue, tension, exciting action sequences and impossible situations. It's a story about love and hate, survival and absolution, ideas and values. Αn autobiography of someone bigger than life. The rise and fall (or fall and rise?) of a God amongst mortal men.
Empire of Silence is a nicely crafted novel with an intricate and well-thought-out plot, a propulsive narrative, and a smooth-as-silk prose with lovely and lavish descriptions. While it's a hefty book, Ruocchio has made use of every single page either to explore and expand his universe or to develop and flesh-out his characters when he doesn't move the story forwards. The story itself is original, gritty, grim and intimate, with a steady pace that keeps building momentum up until the very finale.
All in all, Empire of Silence is an excellent SF story and a book to look out for.
Hadrian is the first son of Lord Alistair, destined to succeed him as the head of the House Marlowe and Archon of Meidua Prefecture on Delos, and to live a relatively easy life with a several centuries life-span. Or at least that's what he thinks. He ends up destroying a Sun, snuffing billions of lives (humans and aliens alike) and obliterating an entire race instead.
"The light of that murdered sun still burns me. I see it through my eyelids, blazing out of history from that bloody day, hinting at fires indescribable. It is like something holy, as if it were the light of God's own heaven that burned the world and billions of lives with it. I carry that light always, seared into the back of my mind. I make no excuses, no denials, no apologies for what I have done. I know what I am."
Christopher Ruocchio's debut is an exhilarating read full of intrigue, tension, exciting action sequences and impossible situations. It's a story about love and hate, survival and absolution, ideas and values. Αn autobiography of someone bigger than life. The rise and fall (or fall and rise?) of a God amongst mortal men.
Empire of Silence is a nicely crafted novel with an intricate and well-thought-out plot, a propulsive narrative, and a smooth-as-silk prose with lovely and lavish descriptions. While it's a hefty book, Ruocchio has made use of every single page either to explore and expand his universe or to develop and flesh-out his characters when he doesn't move the story forwards. The story itself is original, gritty, grim and intimate, with a steady pace that keeps building momentum up until the very finale.
All in all, Empire of Silence is an excellent SF story and a book to look out for.
June 27, 2021
Full video review here: https://youtu.be/YWmtSDHbW7c
Absolutely fucking loved this book. It's such a wonderful blend of science fiction and fantasy, space opera, Dune, A Song of Ice and Fire, Name of the Wind, just so many great things went into crafting this novel. I expected to enjoy this but WOW it blew me away. Hadrian is such a fascinating and interesting character and I absolutely love what is being established with his character here.
The prose is brilliant in this book as well and truly impressive for Ruocchio's first novel. It's beautifully written and such a great blend of straight-forward dialogue when necessary and poetry when the time is right. Everything from the dialogue, the action, to the worldbuilding is simply excellent and I loved damn near every page of this book.
There is so much love and passion put into the story that is unfolding and such care put into the world and I truly thought it was unique and interesting. Yes you will find some of the same story beats and moments found in other novels that inspired this but Ruocchio has truly made this his own and it was just great.
I'm incredibly excited to continue this series and follow Hadrian down the path that we know he's headed down. I'm going to go order the other books right now.
Absolutely fucking loved this book. It's such a wonderful blend of science fiction and fantasy, space opera, Dune, A Song of Ice and Fire, Name of the Wind, just so many great things went into crafting this novel. I expected to enjoy this but WOW it blew me away. Hadrian is such a fascinating and interesting character and I absolutely love what is being established with his character here.
The prose is brilliant in this book as well and truly impressive for Ruocchio's first novel. It's beautifully written and such a great blend of straight-forward dialogue when necessary and poetry when the time is right. Everything from the dialogue, the action, to the worldbuilding is simply excellent and I loved damn near every page of this book.
There is so much love and passion put into the story that is unfolding and such care put into the world and I truly thought it was unique and interesting. Yes you will find some of the same story beats and moments found in other novels that inspired this but Ruocchio has truly made this his own and it was just great.
I'm incredibly excited to continue this series and follow Hadrian down the path that we know he's headed down. I'm going to go order the other books right now.
November 3, 2018
I'm finding this character driven sci-fi book a difficult one to review as it is not often I've encountered a book that was as much of a mixed bag as this one.
The Good
-Christopher Ruocchio's writing. The guy had an engaging writing style and as a result I was sucked into Hadrian's story.
-The sci-fi world. We got a decent sci-fi world for the setting of this tale. Humanity has spread out to the stars and Earth is but a distant memory. Unfortunately the main bulk of humanity is ruled by an Emperor and governed by a class-biased system reminiscent of the feudal systems of our past. Thrown into the mix was the fact that an Earth obsessed cult religion was a powerful force and the fact humanity was at war with the only other sentient aliens capable of communication and it made for interesting times!
-The plot. The story was actually fairly decent. It was a single person POV tale so we followed the life of the lead character, Hadrian, a member of a moderately powerful noble family. This tale chronicled his early life with his family on his own planet and then his time making his way on his own on a distant second planet. It was fairly interesting and Hadrian was a likeable, if flawed, lead that was usually fairly easy to root for on his various adventures.
-The mix of sci-fi and fantasy elements in the story. I actually quite enjoyed this aspect of the story. It reminded me a little of how Pierce Brown managed to blend the genres so well in the Red Rising books. We got some cool sci-fi tech but others things were really limited by the mandate of the dominant religion who sought to control the populace with an iron fist!
The Bad
-The story set up. I know a lot of people are not a fan of 1st person POV stories, especially ones where the character is looking back and telling the story of their own life, but I usually love the format. It tends to help me identify with the main character and get really emotionally invested in the story. To a degree that was the case with this book. The flaw with the way Ruocchio set it up was that Hadrian was telling us his story but not sticking to doing so chronologically. What I mean by that was the guy told us the end of his story first and then proceeded to blab spoilers throughout the story and babble all sorts of commentary with the aid of hindsight. This worked on a few occasions to the benefit of the story but more often it was actually a little annoying. Who wants some fool constantly blabbing spoilers and killing the anticipation and tension? Not me even if that guy is the main character lol!
-Random annoying moments. Best example I can think of was the time Hadrain found himself stranded and alone on a new planet and living on the streets for a bit. He was living a life of hardship and poverty begging on the streets and then we get a bit of internal monologue where he tells us it was the best time of his life as he felt so free from his stifling life as a noble scion. I get that Ruocchio was likely trying to show that Hadrian was glad to have gained his independence but it was such an eye-rolling moment as it made it seem like Ruocchio himself was completely detached and unaware of what it is really like to live in that (or any) level of poverty!
-The use of quotes from the likes of Shakespeare and Marcus Aurelius. Both guys were among a bunch of Earth scholars that got name dropped in the story. Which was so bizarre and out of place as in this sci-fi world Earth just a distant memory to the people. It was a myth and not a place that still existed! It was ridiculous to have us believe that in all those years people were still using those quotes and not ones by scholars of any of the more recent ages of their own history. It felt a bit pretentious to me and like Ruocchio was trying to show us all those college lit and philosophy classes had not gone to waste. It would have worked fine if the guy used a bit of subtlety! He should have repurposed the quotes and attributed them to made up scholars of the time. People familiar with the quotes themselves would still recognize them while those that did not would not have had to suffer the jarring sensation they provided to the world-building. It was annoying! Ruocchio did actually use one of my favourite Orwell quotes, which felt very relevant for his world, but it felt less jarring since he skipped the name dropping for that one. I just wish he had been as subtle with the others!
Overall
I still think that despite all the flaws in this one that I did still quite enjoy it. I was sucked into the story most of the time and I'll definitely pick up the second instalment to read about what is next for Hardian. My lasting impression of this one will likely be that it was a decent read that could have been even better with just a few adjustments.
Rating: 3.5 stars. I'm rounding up to 4 stars here on Goodreads as this was too engaging to get a 3 star rating:)
Audio Note: This was narrated by John Lee. I felt like he gave a good performance. His voice was a perfect fit for a noble scion like Hadrian and I feel like he is a decent voice actor. Not one of my favourite narrators but very solid and good.
The Good
-Christopher Ruocchio's writing. The guy had an engaging writing style and as a result I was sucked into Hadrian's story.
-The sci-fi world. We got a decent sci-fi world for the setting of this tale. Humanity has spread out to the stars and Earth is but a distant memory. Unfortunately the main bulk of humanity is ruled by an Emperor and governed by a class-biased system reminiscent of the feudal systems of our past. Thrown into the mix was the fact that an Earth obsessed cult religion was a powerful force and the fact humanity was at war with the only other sentient aliens capable of communication and it made for interesting times!
-The plot. The story was actually fairly decent. It was a single person POV tale so we followed the life of the lead character, Hadrian, a member of a moderately powerful noble family. This tale chronicled his early life with his family on his own planet and then his time making his way on his own on a distant second planet. It was fairly interesting and Hadrian was a likeable, if flawed, lead that was usually fairly easy to root for on his various adventures.
-The mix of sci-fi and fantasy elements in the story. I actually quite enjoyed this aspect of the story. It reminded me a little of how Pierce Brown managed to blend the genres so well in the Red Rising books. We got some cool sci-fi tech but others things were really limited by the mandate of the dominant religion who sought to control the populace with an iron fist!
The Bad
-The story set up. I know a lot of people are not a fan of 1st person POV stories, especially ones where the character is looking back and telling the story of their own life, but I usually love the format. It tends to help me identify with the main character and get really emotionally invested in the story. To a degree that was the case with this book. The flaw with the way Ruocchio set it up was that Hadrian was telling us his story but not sticking to doing so chronologically. What I mean by that was the guy told us the end of his story first and then proceeded to blab spoilers throughout the story and babble all sorts of commentary with the aid of hindsight. This worked on a few occasions to the benefit of the story but more often it was actually a little annoying. Who wants some fool constantly blabbing spoilers and killing the anticipation and tension? Not me even if that guy is the main character lol!
-Random annoying moments. Best example I can think of was the time Hadrain found himself stranded and alone on a new planet and living on the streets for a bit. He was living a life of hardship and poverty begging on the streets and then we get a bit of internal monologue where he tells us it was the best time of his life as he felt so free from his stifling life as a noble scion. I get that Ruocchio was likely trying to show that Hadrian was glad to have gained his independence but it was such an eye-rolling moment as it made it seem like Ruocchio himself was completely detached and unaware of what it is really like to live in that (or any) level of poverty!
-The use of quotes from the likes of Shakespeare and Marcus Aurelius. Both guys were among a bunch of Earth scholars that got name dropped in the story. Which was so bizarre and out of place as in this sci-fi world Earth just a distant memory to the people. It was a myth and not a place that still existed! It was ridiculous to have us believe that in all those years people were still using those quotes and not ones by scholars of any of the more recent ages of their own history. It felt a bit pretentious to me and like Ruocchio was trying to show us all those college lit and philosophy classes had not gone to waste. It would have worked fine if the guy used a bit of subtlety! He should have repurposed the quotes and attributed them to made up scholars of the time. People familiar with the quotes themselves would still recognize them while those that did not would not have had to suffer the jarring sensation they provided to the world-building. It was annoying! Ruocchio did actually use one of my favourite Orwell quotes, which felt very relevant for his world, but it felt less jarring since he skipped the name dropping for that one. I just wish he had been as subtle with the others!
Overall
I still think that despite all the flaws in this one that I did still quite enjoy it. I was sucked into the story most of the time and I'll definitely pick up the second instalment to read about what is next for Hardian. My lasting impression of this one will likely be that it was a decent read that could have been even better with just a few adjustments.
Rating: 3.5 stars. I'm rounding up to 4 stars here on Goodreads as this was too engaging to get a 3 star rating:)
Audio Note: This was narrated by John Lee. I felt like he gave a good performance. His voice was a perfect fit for a noble scion like Hadrian and I feel like he is a decent voice actor. Not one of my favourite narrators but very solid and good.
June 15, 2022
El Imperio del Silencio, primer libro de la majestuosa y épica saga "Sun Eater" de Christopher Ruocchio. Un libro, una trama y un personaje principal que me me enganchó ya sin remedio desde el principio y de una manera que pocos lo consiguen. Este autor tiene un pedazo don para crear y plasmarlo que me ha dejado anonadado. Y más aún en CF.
Nunca, nunca hago caso de la publicidad para vender que ponen los libros o mismo los autores recomendándolos. Para mi siempre es lo mismo. El nuevo Harry Potter o la versión moderna del Señor de los Anillos. Siempre los comparan con los grandes éxitos. En este caso se habla de una mezcla entre, "El Nombre del Viento", "Dune" y "Amanecer Rojo".
Pues por primera vez, coincido con eso, no sólo una magistral mezcla, OJO, no es copia de nada, es original en TODO, peeero tiene esos toques e ideas maravillosas que te recuerdan a esos.
Hadrian Marlowe, un hombre reverenciado como un héroe y despreciado como asesino, relata su historia en el debut galáctico de la saga "Sun Eater" fusionando lo mejor de la ópera espacial y la fantasía épica.
No era su guerra..
La galaxia lo recuerda como un héroe. El hombre que quemó hasta el último Cielcin alienígena del cielo. Lo recuerdan como un monstruo, el diablo que destruyó un sol, aniquilando billones de vidas humanas, incluso al propio Emperador, en contra de las órdenes imperiales.
Pero no era un héroe. Él no era un monstruo. Ni siquiera era un soldado..
En el planeta equivocado, en el momento adecuado, por las mejores razones, Hadrian inicia un camino que solo puede terminar en fuego y destrucción. Huye de su padre y de un futuro como torturador solo para quedarse varado en un mundo extraño y atrasado.
Obligado a pelear como gladiador y navegar las intrigas de una corte planetaria extranjera, Hadrian debe pelear una guerra que él no comenzó, por un Imperio que no ama, contra un enemigo que nunca entenderá.
Tengo muchísimos elogios para este libro. Desde todos y cada uno de sus múltiples personajes, pasando por sus diálogos, perfectos, adecuados y ya no un worldbuilding, ya que estamos ante un puto imperio galáctico. Todo a través de una narrativa impecable, tan agradable como la de Rothfuss. Usando al principio un estilo como el del Nombre del Viento. Pues Hadrian nos relata su historia. Y la prosa de Christopher Ruocchio es tan agradable y te absorbe como lo hace la de Rothfuss. Tiene ese don. Sin ser poética o adornada como la de Rothfuss. Para mi a sido sublime. Y la historia pega un giro brutal.
Un imperio en guerra con otra especie, y él terminó con la guerra. ¿Cómo?, ¿Porqué?..
Hadrian Marlowe nos cuenta su historia, y ya confesando desde la primera página lo que hizo. Eliminar a una especie entera y destruir un sol aniquilando así billones de vidas humanas en el proceso, y al mismísimo emperador.
Demonio, héroe y monstruo, lo recordarán por esos nombres. Un hombre que nisiquiera era un soldado.
Leed, sumergiros y viajar por sus páginas a través de un imperio del silencio. Seréis así testigos de su historia. Pues qué pasaría, si por ejemplo, Anakin Skywalker convirtiéndose en Darth Vader hubiera sido la decisión correcta..
No voy a entrar en detalles de la historia creo que ir de 0 es lo mejor.
La historia que tiene lugar en "The Empire of Silence" se ensambla maravillosamente con un ritmo increíble y los personajes con los que Hadrian interactúa son interesantes y tendrán una importancia para este libro o para libros futuros. Ojo, los que sobrevivan claro.
Hay una guerra, siempre una guerra cuando se trata de humanos, en el telón de fondo entre los humanos y los Cielcin, una raza alienígena con apariencia humana pero demonizada por la Iglesia. Los personajes son diversos y le dan al universo una gran sensación de profundidad.
Hay muchísimos de lugares en este libro ya que se trata de un universo, y la atmósfera que lo cubre todo está ilustrada de manera magistral. Disfruté de esa exploración de la libertad como tema principal del libro. Disfrutando todo lo que Hadrian decidía para ser libre de todas las decisiones de su padre, todo lo que le pasó y en lo que respecta a los descubrimientos, ya que se lanza de cara y juega un papel importante en los principales eventos. Ves que Hadrian cambia y poco a poco se irá metiendo en el papel que forjara su destino. Fuego y muerte.
Por último, el autor es un mago de las palabras. Un artesano de mundos, tecnología e ideas la verdad, brillantes, como lectores nos atrapan La prosa de Ruocchio es sublime, maravillosa. No demasiado florida, pero lo suficientemente bonita. La verdad, no tengo nada negativo que decir sobre este libro.
A medida que estoy escribiendo estas palabras no se si ponerle 4 y reservar las 5 para el resto pues confío plenamente en Ruocchio, o ponerle las 5 pues no tengo nada negativo que resaltar y eso es la ostia.
El Imperio abarca una gran parte del universo, y aunque no toda la humanidad vive dentro de él, una gran población de humanos sí lo hace. El Imperio, clases, ejércitos todo con un estilo muy "romanos", con mucho énfasis puesto en cómo uno de la clase plebeya interactúa con uno de la clase patricia y viceversa.
La religión también es un parte importante del Imperio, enseña que el universo pertenece a la humanidad, básicamente fue creado solo para nosotros, porque la Madre Tierra así lo dice, por lo que todas las demás formas de vida tienen que ser o bien aniquiladas o bien subyugadas para que sean nuestras esclavas.
Y cualquiera que no esté de acuerdo con esta doctrina es un hereje, y la herejía es un crimen en el Imperio. Castigable desde el exilio, hasta la tortura y hasta la muerte..
Me gustó Hadrian como personaje. Y lo apoyé desde el principio, incluso a pesar de saber, que al menos en algún nivel de la historia, hará lo que hará. Causó la muerte de miles de millones de personas y básicamente aniquiló totalmente a toda una raza. Destruyó un sol y con el como dije, billones de vidas humanas, entre ellas el emperador, contra órdenes imperiales.
Pero, ¿Cómo llegó a esto?, ¿Cómo ocurrieron esos hechos? En ningún momento se disculpa por lo que ha hecho. Él no lo niega. ¿Por qué?..
Este libro me llevó a dar un paseo increíble, eso seguro. Es difícil resumir partes sin estropear partes enteras, así que solo diré que Hadrian termina en situaciones que curiosamente no las vi venir. Es lo curioso de esta saga, sabes como termina, o no, pero lo que pasa en medio es todo tan complejo, extenso, cambiante que yo no he podido ver venir nada. Y eso, señor Christopher Ruocchio es una puta pasada.
Disfruté mucho esta historia, continuaré, bueno ya empecé mejor dicho. Hadrian Marlowe es un personaje muy internalizado, en parte debido a la técnica del punto de vista a lo largo del libro en primera persona, pero sobre todo porque es un personaje muy inusual, se basa sobretodo en su inteligencia y su sabiduría, en comparación con su fuerza. Que la tiene, las batallas en el libro se llevan un notable muy alto.
El universo es vasto y muy bien desarrollado. Tenemos varias culturas con múltiples idiomas, larga historia y mitología, jerarquías complejas y mapas políticos, diferentes planetas, varios extraterrestres, armas, vehículos. Esta es una de esas series que tiene páginas de notas de construcción del mundo, como un glosario o un gráfico de idiomas al final del libro.
El conflicto principal te pide que te cuestiones la motivación y hasta dónde puede llegar un personaje antes de convertirse en una persona malvada, como dice Marlowe, algunos sienten que es un héroe, otros un monstruo.
Christopher Ruocchio es un escritor sólido y es impresionante para un autor debutante. Tiene una prosa elocuente y hermosa. La verbosidad agrega la sensación tan épica o mítica de la historia que toma prestada la influencia griega o romana. Space ópera entre la CF y fantasía épica. Brillante. Me ha conquistado.
Esta no es una historia de espada y planeta de ciencia ficción de lectura rápida. Más bien, una historia rica y en diversas y diferentes capas que crea personajes complejos, un universo que es vasto y detallado, todo explicado. Pero eso si sin rozar extremos al explicar. Una trama que no se detiene. No tiene momentos aburridos.. y los Cielcin ufff espero leer más.. Cosa que ya estoy haciendo, irresistible e inevitable.
No recuerdo si fue en su página, en su canal de YouTube o en una entrevista, pero mencionó su interés por que traduzcan la saga, así que fans de la CF, rezar.
Rezar a lo que sea que receis, dioses, seres, cosas o Paul Atreides para que os traigan lo mejor desde Dune y Asimov.
"Empire of Silence" es un debut brillante, y el primero de la serie "Sun Eater". Se ha descrito como "El Nombre del Viento" se encuentra con "Dune" y eso es una descripción bastante buena en realidad. El telón de fondo es grandioso.
Nunca, nunca hago caso de la publicidad para vender que ponen los libros o mismo los autores recomendándolos. Para mi siempre es lo mismo. El nuevo Harry Potter o la versión moderna del Señor de los Anillos. Siempre los comparan con los grandes éxitos. En este caso se habla de una mezcla entre, "El Nombre del Viento", "Dune" y "Amanecer Rojo".
Pues por primera vez, coincido con eso, no sólo una magistral mezcla, OJO, no es copia de nada, es original en TODO, peeero tiene esos toques e ideas maravillosas que te recuerdan a esos.
Hadrian Marlowe, un hombre reverenciado como un héroe y despreciado como asesino, relata su historia en el debut galáctico de la saga "Sun Eater" fusionando lo mejor de la ópera espacial y la fantasía épica.
No era su guerra..
La galaxia lo recuerda como un héroe. El hombre que quemó hasta el último Cielcin alienígena del cielo. Lo recuerdan como un monstruo, el diablo que destruyó un sol, aniquilando billones de vidas humanas, incluso al propio Emperador, en contra de las órdenes imperiales.
Pero no era un héroe. Él no era un monstruo. Ni siquiera era un soldado..
En el planeta equivocado, en el momento adecuado, por las mejores razones, Hadrian inicia un camino que solo puede terminar en fuego y destrucción. Huye de su padre y de un futuro como torturador solo para quedarse varado en un mundo extraño y atrasado.
Obligado a pelear como gladiador y navegar las intrigas de una corte planetaria extranjera, Hadrian debe pelear una guerra que él no comenzó, por un Imperio que no ama, contra un enemigo que nunca entenderá.
Tengo muchísimos elogios para este libro. Desde todos y cada uno de sus múltiples personajes, pasando por sus diálogos, perfectos, adecuados y ya no un worldbuilding, ya que estamos ante un puto imperio galáctico. Todo a través de una narrativa impecable, tan agradable como la de Rothfuss. Usando al principio un estilo como el del Nombre del Viento. Pues Hadrian nos relata su historia. Y la prosa de Christopher Ruocchio es tan agradable y te absorbe como lo hace la de Rothfuss. Tiene ese don. Sin ser poética o adornada como la de Rothfuss. Para mi a sido sublime. Y la historia pega un giro brutal.
Un imperio en guerra con otra especie, y él terminó con la guerra. ¿Cómo?, ¿Porqué?..
Hadrian Marlowe nos cuenta su historia, y ya confesando desde la primera página lo que hizo. Eliminar a una especie entera y destruir un sol aniquilando así billones de vidas humanas en el proceso, y al mismísimo emperador.
Demonio, héroe y monstruo, lo recordarán por esos nombres. Un hombre que nisiquiera era un soldado.
Leed, sumergiros y viajar por sus páginas a través de un imperio del silencio. Seréis así testigos de su historia. Pues qué pasaría, si por ejemplo, Anakin Skywalker convirtiéndose en Darth Vader hubiera sido la decisión correcta..
No voy a entrar en detalles de la historia creo que ir de 0 es lo mejor.
La historia que tiene lugar en "The Empire of Silence" se ensambla maravillosamente con un ritmo increíble y los personajes con los que Hadrian interactúa son interesantes y tendrán una importancia para este libro o para libros futuros. Ojo, los que sobrevivan claro.
Hay una guerra, siempre una guerra cuando se trata de humanos, en el telón de fondo entre los humanos y los Cielcin, una raza alienígena con apariencia humana pero demonizada por la Iglesia. Los personajes son diversos y le dan al universo una gran sensación de profundidad.
Hay muchísimos de lugares en este libro ya que se trata de un universo, y la atmósfera que lo cubre todo está ilustrada de manera magistral. Disfruté de esa exploración de la libertad como tema principal del libro. Disfrutando todo lo que Hadrian decidía para ser libre de todas las decisiones de su padre, todo lo que le pasó y en lo que respecta a los descubrimientos, ya que se lanza de cara y juega un papel importante en los principales eventos. Ves que Hadrian cambia y poco a poco se irá metiendo en el papel que forjara su destino. Fuego y muerte.
Por último, el autor es un mago de las palabras. Un artesano de mundos, tecnología e ideas la verdad, brillantes, como lectores nos atrapan La prosa de Ruocchio es sublime, maravillosa. No demasiado florida, pero lo suficientemente bonita. La verdad, no tengo nada negativo que decir sobre este libro.
A medida que estoy escribiendo estas palabras no se si ponerle 4 y reservar las 5 para el resto pues confío plenamente en Ruocchio, o ponerle las 5 pues no tengo nada negativo que resaltar y eso es la ostia.
El Imperio abarca una gran parte del universo, y aunque no toda la humanidad vive dentro de él, una gran población de humanos sí lo hace. El Imperio, clases, ejércitos todo con un estilo muy "romanos", con mucho énfasis puesto en cómo uno de la clase plebeya interactúa con uno de la clase patricia y viceversa.
La religión también es un parte importante del Imperio, enseña que el universo pertenece a la humanidad, básicamente fue creado solo para nosotros, porque la Madre Tierra así lo dice, por lo que todas las demás formas de vida tienen que ser o bien aniquiladas o bien subyugadas para que sean nuestras esclavas.
Y cualquiera que no esté de acuerdo con esta doctrina es un hereje, y la herejía es un crimen en el Imperio. Castigable desde el exilio, hasta la tortura y hasta la muerte..
Me gustó Hadrian como personaje. Y lo apoyé desde el principio, incluso a pesar de saber, que al menos en algún nivel de la historia, hará lo que hará. Causó la muerte de miles de millones de personas y básicamente aniquiló totalmente a toda una raza. Destruyó un sol y con el como dije, billones de vidas humanas, entre ellas el emperador, contra órdenes imperiales.
Pero, ¿Cómo llegó a esto?, ¿Cómo ocurrieron esos hechos? En ningún momento se disculpa por lo que ha hecho. Él no lo niega. ¿Por qué?..
Este libro me llevó a dar un paseo increíble, eso seguro. Es difícil resumir partes sin estropear partes enteras, así que solo diré que Hadrian termina en situaciones que curiosamente no las vi venir. Es lo curioso de esta saga, sabes como termina, o no, pero lo que pasa en medio es todo tan complejo, extenso, cambiante que yo no he podido ver venir nada. Y eso, señor Christopher Ruocchio es una puta pasada.
Disfruté mucho esta historia, continuaré, bueno ya empecé mejor dicho. Hadrian Marlowe es un personaje muy internalizado, en parte debido a la técnica del punto de vista a lo largo del libro en primera persona, pero sobre todo porque es un personaje muy inusual, se basa sobretodo en su inteligencia y su sabiduría, en comparación con su fuerza. Que la tiene, las batallas en el libro se llevan un notable muy alto.
El universo es vasto y muy bien desarrollado. Tenemos varias culturas con múltiples idiomas, larga historia y mitología, jerarquías complejas y mapas políticos, diferentes planetas, varios extraterrestres, armas, vehículos. Esta es una de esas series que tiene páginas de notas de construcción del mundo, como un glosario o un gráfico de idiomas al final del libro.
El conflicto principal te pide que te cuestiones la motivación y hasta dónde puede llegar un personaje antes de convertirse en una persona malvada, como dice Marlowe, algunos sienten que es un héroe, otros un monstruo.
Christopher Ruocchio es un escritor sólido y es impresionante para un autor debutante. Tiene una prosa elocuente y hermosa. La verbosidad agrega la sensación tan épica o mítica de la historia que toma prestada la influencia griega o romana. Space ópera entre la CF y fantasía épica. Brillante. Me ha conquistado.
Esta no es una historia de espada y planeta de ciencia ficción de lectura rápida. Más bien, una historia rica y en diversas y diferentes capas que crea personajes complejos, un universo que es vasto y detallado, todo explicado. Pero eso si sin rozar extremos al explicar. Una trama que no se detiene. No tiene momentos aburridos.. y los Cielcin ufff espero leer más.. Cosa que ya estoy haciendo, irresistible e inevitable.
No recuerdo si fue en su página, en su canal de YouTube o en una entrevista, pero mencionó su interés por que traduzcan la saga, así que fans de la CF, rezar.
Rezar a lo que sea que receis, dioses, seres, cosas o Paul Atreides para que os traigan lo mejor desde Dune y Asimov.
"Empire of Silence" es un debut brillante, y el primero de la serie "Sun Eater". Se ha descrito como "El Nombre del Viento" se encuentra con "Dune" y eso es una descripción bastante buena en realidad. El telón de fondo es grandioso.
February 5, 2024
Check out my Booktube channel at: The Obsessive Bookseller
Booktube was right -> this is amazing.
There wasn't a single thing I didn't like about Empire of Silence. Having read and reviewed books for an audience for so long, it's a rare thing when I can turn off my critical mind long enough to enjoy a book with wild abandon. I loved everything from start to finish.
And they tell me it only gets better!
This book was a cool hodgepodge of fantasy and scifi. It read kind of like a Stormlight Archive book in tone and scope, but in a dramatic scifi setting not unlike Red Rising. And did I mention the writing voices was akin to Rothfuss' Name of the Wind? I realize I'm referencing many SFF heavy-hitters, but Empire o Silence had so many of the best elements of each that I feel it deserves the comparisons.
My favorite aspects of the book were the characters and world-building. The character profiles enhanced it all. The main character reminded me a little of the Mandalorian where he periodically gets the ever-loving crap kicked out of him, but has to figure out how to pull himself back up. Sometimes he gets in his own way, but it's always interesting to me to see the growth arc of a character like that. I also love the blurring of genres, and how creative the setting. Everything from the human cultures and infrastructures to the delightfully weird flora and fauna... so cool. And the alien villains? Loved them.
The writing was lyrical without being too heavy-handed, the pacing was on-point, the characters were clever and engaging, the world-building was epic and fun, the villains were bomb, and I'm so excited for the rest of the series I can hardly stand it.
Recommendations: if you loved any of the series mentioned in this review, then you're already primed to like Empire of Silence. Give into the hype-train... it's worth it.
Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Jen, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, and Elizabeth! <3
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like:
Booktube was right -> this is amazing.
There wasn't a single thing I didn't like about Empire of Silence. Having read and reviewed books for an audience for so long, it's a rare thing when I can turn off my critical mind long enough to enjoy a book with wild abandon. I loved everything from start to finish.
And they tell me it only gets better!
This book was a cool hodgepodge of fantasy and scifi. It read kind of like a Stormlight Archive book in tone and scope, but in a dramatic scifi setting not unlike Red Rising. And did I mention the writing voices was akin to Rothfuss' Name of the Wind? I realize I'm referencing many SFF heavy-hitters, but Empire o Silence had so many of the best elements of each that I feel it deserves the comparisons.
My favorite aspects of the book were the characters and world-building. The character profiles enhanced it all. The main character reminded me a little of the Mandalorian where he periodically gets the ever-loving crap kicked out of him, but has to figure out how to pull himself back up. Sometimes he gets in his own way, but it's always interesting to me to see the growth arc of a character like that. I also love the blurring of genres, and how creative the setting. Everything from the human cultures and infrastructures to the delightfully weird flora and fauna... so cool. And the alien villains? Loved them.
The writing was lyrical without being too heavy-handed, the pacing was on-point, the characters were clever and engaging, the world-building was epic and fun, the villains were bomb, and I'm so excited for the rest of the series I can hardly stand it.
Recommendations: if you loved any of the series mentioned in this review, then you're already primed to like Empire of Silence. Give into the hype-train... it's worth it.
Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Jen, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, and Elizabeth! <3
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like:
March 28, 2024
3.5 Stars
Series Review: https://youtu.be/kXL0N5cbLEA
This is a science fiction story that reads like a piece of epic fantasy. While this series is set in the future on other planets, this felt like reading a classic coming of age story filled with the traditional tropes. Told in a first person perspective, the narrative reads like one long monologue. Admittedly, I found the middle section too long and slow for my tastes. Regardless, I am definitely interested to keep reading because my feelings towards this entire series will largely depend on where the story goes and how it ends.
Series Review: https://youtu.be/kXL0N5cbLEA
This is a science fiction story that reads like a piece of epic fantasy. While this series is set in the future on other planets, this felt like reading a classic coming of age story filled with the traditional tropes. Told in a first person perspective, the narrative reads like one long monologue. Admittedly, I found the middle section too long and slow for my tastes. Regardless, I am definitely interested to keep reading because my feelings towards this entire series will largely depend on where the story goes and how it ends.
March 7, 2024
Reread update: Hadrian comes across as even more dramatic on audio.
Foreshadowing go brrrrrr. Fun book to reread with how much narrator Hadrian alludes to the future, and how far in the past this is from the current book. As a random example to start the book the Cielsen war has been happening for 300 years and it feels like it has been forever, it never occurred to me that with how much time has happened in world, that way more time of cielsen war has happened since the start of EoS than before the start of EoS.
original review:
great protagonist, great supporting cast, incredibly creative worldbuilding, in a world that feels truly huge.
The most common criticism for this book is that it is derivative, especially of Dune and Name of the Wind
For the first third of the book, I get it. I disagree, but I get it. For the second 2 thirds of this book I don't really see it all.
8.8
Foreshadowing go brrrrrr. Fun book to reread with how much narrator Hadrian alludes to the future, and how far in the past this is from the current book. As a random example to start the book the Cielsen war has been happening for 300 years and it feels like it has been forever, it never occurred to me that with how much time has happened in world, that way more time of cielsen war has happened since the start of EoS than before the start of EoS.
original review:
great protagonist, great supporting cast, incredibly creative worldbuilding, in a world that feels truly huge.
The most common criticism for this book is that it is derivative, especially of Dune and Name of the Wind
For the first third of the book, I get it. I disagree, but I get it. For the second 2 thirds of this book I don't really see it all.
8.8
August 29, 2018
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/08/28/...
For epic fantasy lovers who want to see storytelling, characters, and worldbuilding get the same extensive, sweeping treatment in sci-fi, Empire of Silence is the answer. In this ambitious debut, author Christopher Ruocchio introduces readers to Hadrian Marlowe, a monster or a hero—you decide. The entire galaxy knows his name, but well before he achieved notoriety as the man who defeated an alien race—by destroying a sun and snuffing out billions of lives to do it—he was the disappointing firstborn son of a noble archon and hopeful heir to the family’s uranium empire. Since so much of the truth about his past has been misrepresented or obscured, Hadrian’s own accounting of his life’s story makes it clear there is much more than meets the eye.
As a youth, all Hadrian wanted was to one day take his father’s place as head of the family business, even though he held no enthusiasm for the prospect it in his heart. Sibling rivalry, however, would spur him on do anything to prevent his cruel and nasty younger brother Crispin form being named the heir. But their father, Alistair, had other plans. Recognizing that his bookish eldest son had none of the leadership qualities he wanted, the archon instead decides to ship Hadrian off to the Chantry so that the Marlowes would have an insider with influence in the galaxy’s most powerful religious organization.
Fortunately, with some help, Hadrian manages to avoid the bleak future Alistair had arranged for him, but winds up penniless and in exile on a remote backwater planet, going from privileged son of a nobleman to living like a beggar on the streets. Desperate to earn a way off-world, he sells his services as a gladiator, eventually achieving enough renown to be hired by an aristocratic family to tutor them in languages. His various roles lead him to an encounter with a prisoner from an alien race known as the Cielcins, who are at war with humans. Working together with a xenobiologist, Hadrian begins his journey to understand the so-called enemy in an attempt to broker peace between their two species.
Told in the tradition of epic fantasy novels like The Name of the Wind and Blood Song, Empire of Silence is an autobiography-style narrative recounted by a controversial and misunderstood protagonist who looks back at his long and storied life. It’s a confluence of genres as readers are presented a sprawling blockbuster novel containing just as many fantasy elements as sci-fi. Hadrian is brought up amidst lordly intrigue and drama not unlike something you would imagine on Game of Thrones, complete with castle cities and gladiatorial spectacles. Other readers have also commented on the Dune-like handling of the politics, economics, philosophy and history of this world. In fact, I can’t say there is much in this novel that is truly original, but what makes it special is Ruocchio’s enthusiasm and willingness to blend all these ideas together into one cool concoction.
Also, for a book like this to work, the story must quickly establish an emotional connection between the reader and the protagonist. This was a success for the most part; the early sections manage to create a lot of sympathy for Hadrian. He’s clever, but also awkward and sometimes frustrating in his youthful naivete and malaise. In other words, his confusion and lack of direction is something many of us can relate to, and indeed the first half of this book reads very much like coming-of-age narrative about a young man struggling to find his place in the world. Predictably, a string of unpleasant things happens to him to open to his eyes to the truth of his family, leading him to abandon his affluent lifestyle and everything he has ever known.
Things get real interesting at this point. Pacing is swift as Hadrian is shuffled through all kinds of tragedies, leaving me barely enough time to catch my breath between disasters. The highlight of the book for me was our protagonist’s brief stint as a gladiator, hanging out with his fellow fighters and teaching them to fight effectively as a team. Alas, all too soon it was over, along with my favorite part of the book. Admittedly, the second half of the novel did not hold my attention quite as well as the first, and at times the flow of the story felt sluggish due to the staggering amount of information dumped on us to establish Hadrian’s new role in humanity’s war against the Cielcin. Ironically, the plot started to lose me just as it was beginning to chronicle his first steps becoming the most reviled man in the galaxy, earning him the epithet Sun Eater. To be fair though, my tastes in epic science fiction fantasy tend to run towards personal stories, closer-quarter action, and high-spirited adventure, so perhaps it was only natural for me to find greater appeal in the first half of this novel. Others will likely not encounter the same issue.
Regardless, Empire of Silence is a rock solid debut, its derivative nature notwithstanding. Any points the novel loses in the originality department, Christopher Ruocchio more than makes up for it with his superb character development and the sheer “unputdownability” of his storytelling. Mark my words, this book is going places.
For epic fantasy lovers who want to see storytelling, characters, and worldbuilding get the same extensive, sweeping treatment in sci-fi, Empire of Silence is the answer. In this ambitious debut, author Christopher Ruocchio introduces readers to Hadrian Marlowe, a monster or a hero—you decide. The entire galaxy knows his name, but well before he achieved notoriety as the man who defeated an alien race—by destroying a sun and snuffing out billions of lives to do it—he was the disappointing firstborn son of a noble archon and hopeful heir to the family’s uranium empire. Since so much of the truth about his past has been misrepresented or obscured, Hadrian’s own accounting of his life’s story makes it clear there is much more than meets the eye.
As a youth, all Hadrian wanted was to one day take his father’s place as head of the family business, even though he held no enthusiasm for the prospect it in his heart. Sibling rivalry, however, would spur him on do anything to prevent his cruel and nasty younger brother Crispin form being named the heir. But their father, Alistair, had other plans. Recognizing that his bookish eldest son had none of the leadership qualities he wanted, the archon instead decides to ship Hadrian off to the Chantry so that the Marlowes would have an insider with influence in the galaxy’s most powerful religious organization.
Fortunately, with some help, Hadrian manages to avoid the bleak future Alistair had arranged for him, but winds up penniless and in exile on a remote backwater planet, going from privileged son of a nobleman to living like a beggar on the streets. Desperate to earn a way off-world, he sells his services as a gladiator, eventually achieving enough renown to be hired by an aristocratic family to tutor them in languages. His various roles lead him to an encounter with a prisoner from an alien race known as the Cielcins, who are at war with humans. Working together with a xenobiologist, Hadrian begins his journey to understand the so-called enemy in an attempt to broker peace between their two species.
Told in the tradition of epic fantasy novels like The Name of the Wind and Blood Song, Empire of Silence is an autobiography-style narrative recounted by a controversial and misunderstood protagonist who looks back at his long and storied life. It’s a confluence of genres as readers are presented a sprawling blockbuster novel containing just as many fantasy elements as sci-fi. Hadrian is brought up amidst lordly intrigue and drama not unlike something you would imagine on Game of Thrones, complete with castle cities and gladiatorial spectacles. Other readers have also commented on the Dune-like handling of the politics, economics, philosophy and history of this world. In fact, I can’t say there is much in this novel that is truly original, but what makes it special is Ruocchio’s enthusiasm and willingness to blend all these ideas together into one cool concoction.
Also, for a book like this to work, the story must quickly establish an emotional connection between the reader and the protagonist. This was a success for the most part; the early sections manage to create a lot of sympathy for Hadrian. He’s clever, but also awkward and sometimes frustrating in his youthful naivete and malaise. In other words, his confusion and lack of direction is something many of us can relate to, and indeed the first half of this book reads very much like coming-of-age narrative about a young man struggling to find his place in the world. Predictably, a string of unpleasant things happens to him to open to his eyes to the truth of his family, leading him to abandon his affluent lifestyle and everything he has ever known.
Things get real interesting at this point. Pacing is swift as Hadrian is shuffled through all kinds of tragedies, leaving me barely enough time to catch my breath between disasters. The highlight of the book for me was our protagonist’s brief stint as a gladiator, hanging out with his fellow fighters and teaching them to fight effectively as a team. Alas, all too soon it was over, along with my favorite part of the book. Admittedly, the second half of the novel did not hold my attention quite as well as the first, and at times the flow of the story felt sluggish due to the staggering amount of information dumped on us to establish Hadrian’s new role in humanity’s war against the Cielcin. Ironically, the plot started to lose me just as it was beginning to chronicle his first steps becoming the most reviled man in the galaxy, earning him the epithet Sun Eater. To be fair though, my tastes in epic science fiction fantasy tend to run towards personal stories, closer-quarter action, and high-spirited adventure, so perhaps it was only natural for me to find greater appeal in the first half of this novel. Others will likely not encounter the same issue.
Regardless, Empire of Silence is a rock solid debut, its derivative nature notwithstanding. Any points the novel loses in the originality department, Christopher Ruocchio more than makes up for it with his superb character development and the sheer “unputdownability” of his storytelling. Mark my words, this book is going places.
November 16, 2018
Really, 3.5* rounded up.
Do you remember that time that you read Dune for the 6th or 12th time and thought, "Hey! Wouldn't it be great to write fan fiction and mix up some of the elements in it, change all the names, and make it longer, more convoluted, and make Paul rebel against his family? Maybe just put him in House Corrino first, throw out the godlike abilities but keep 80% of the other worldbuilding under a thin shroud?"
Yeah. Me too.
And that's exactly what kept me from precisely enjoying this the way I wanted to. It was too close to the original. If I wanted a confluence of events exactly like the original, I think the original is STILL BRILLIANT.
This one reads in a more modern style with a first-person PoV. A huge stretch of the beginning just FEELS like Dune. And then, after it diverges, we have all the important scenes from Dune, such as playing with your opponent, extra gladiator stuff with Russel Crowe, and even a mad dash of what Patrick Rothfuss is known for. I guess I would have enjoyed this more had there been a lot LESS nods to Dune. Fear mantra? Floating Fat Man? Benighted race with a religious secret allowing total dominance of the universe?
Well, no, we haven't gotten THERE yet. That'll be in another huge honker of a book.
Whereas Dune conquered the known galaxy in ONE BOOK.
I guess the case could be made that this is for a new generation, blah, blah, blah, but there's just a bit too much imitation for my taste. Let's just write in the Dune universe instead. Or cut out all the homages, fly on the strength of your own tale.
There's something here. It might be a bonafide epic... eventually. But it's pulling on a few too many shirts right now.
Do you remember that time that you read Dune for the 6th or 12th time and thought, "Hey! Wouldn't it be great to write fan fiction and mix up some of the elements in it, change all the names, and make it longer, more convoluted, and make Paul rebel against his family? Maybe just put him in House Corrino first, throw out the godlike abilities but keep 80% of the other worldbuilding under a thin shroud?"
Yeah. Me too.
And that's exactly what kept me from precisely enjoying this the way I wanted to. It was too close to the original. If I wanted a confluence of events exactly like the original, I think the original is STILL BRILLIANT.
This one reads in a more modern style with a first-person PoV. A huge stretch of the beginning just FEELS like Dune. And then, after it diverges, we have all the important scenes from Dune, such as playing with your opponent, extra gladiator stuff with Russel Crowe, and even a mad dash of what Patrick Rothfuss is known for. I guess I would have enjoyed this more had there been a lot LESS nods to Dune. Fear mantra? Floating Fat Man? Benighted race with a religious secret allowing total dominance of the universe?
Well, no, we haven't gotten THERE yet. That'll be in another huge honker of a book.
Whereas Dune conquered the known galaxy in ONE BOOK.
I guess the case could be made that this is for a new generation, blah, blah, blah, but there's just a bit too much imitation for my taste. Let's just write in the Dune universe instead. Or cut out all the homages, fly on the strength of your own tale.
There's something here. It might be a bonafide epic... eventually. But it's pulling on a few too many shirts right now.
November 14, 2023
Second Read (2023):
I love this series
First Read (2022):
If what people say is true and the series only gets better from here, I couldn’t be more excited. I had a blast reading this book.
I love this series
First Read (2022):
If what people say is true and the series only gets better from here, I couldn’t be more excited. I had a blast reading this book.
August 22, 2020
Empire of Silence, the first book in the epic Suneater series and the author’s debut novel, is a fantastic interstellar fantasy tale. Standing tall at 617 pages, a length far too long for most books, it leaves you wanting another 600 pages of this terrific writing. It’s one of those books that you know is top notch right from the getgo and it never wavers or falters.
This is not some quick reading science fiction sword and planet story. Rather, it’s a rich, layered tale that creates complex characters, a universe that is vast and detailed, and a plot line that has no let up. It has no dull moments.
Like Herbert’s Dune series, it begins with humankind spread throughout the galaxy, primarily in an imperium with planets ruled by intermarrying feudal lords. There is also an all powerful religious order that brooks no heresy. And, as in Dune, the lead character, Hadrian, is a noble heir to a planetary fiefdom and trained by the best in logic, language, and the art of fighting. And, here, there is of course swordplay and shields and gladiator battles.
But Hadrian is a very complex character and his complexity is very important to the storyline which takes him from the world of palace intrigue and sibling rivalry to a world where he is penniless, destitute, and powerless. Part of the tale is the beginning of his suneater legend, but he is more a reluctant hero than the normal swashbuckling warrior.
All in all, just terrific and leaves you waiting desperately for the next installment in this new series.
This is not some quick reading science fiction sword and planet story. Rather, it’s a rich, layered tale that creates complex characters, a universe that is vast and detailed, and a plot line that has no let up. It has no dull moments.
Like Herbert’s Dune series, it begins with humankind spread throughout the galaxy, primarily in an imperium with planets ruled by intermarrying feudal lords. There is also an all powerful religious order that brooks no heresy. And, as in Dune, the lead character, Hadrian, is a noble heir to a planetary fiefdom and trained by the best in logic, language, and the art of fighting. And, here, there is of course swordplay and shields and gladiator battles.
But Hadrian is a very complex character and his complexity is very important to the storyline which takes him from the world of palace intrigue and sibling rivalry to a world where he is penniless, destitute, and powerless. Part of the tale is the beginning of his suneater legend, but he is more a reluctant hero than the normal swashbuckling warrior.
All in all, just terrific and leaves you waiting desperately for the next installment in this new series.
April 10, 2024
"Dangerous things, names. A kind of curse, defining us that we might live up to them, or giving us something to run away from."
It tells of the travails of one Hadrian Marlowe as he grows up the son of an archon in his home world, Delos, and escapes a life as laid out for him by his lord father. The whole book (which I found quite prolonged) is told from his perspective centuries into the future and how his early formative years was spent after his ship was wreaked on the planet Emesh and his contact with ruins of "The Quiet" and the alien invaders, the Cielcin, shaping him into becoming the genocidal power he implies turning into later on.
Christopher Ruocchio's Empire of Silence reads like a b-version of Frank Herbert's Dune written by a competent fan. The above quote is by far the most profound one that I could find within the book (imo), hence my lackluster rating for it.
The derivative bits were so much and so exactly similar that I couldn't help but be put off by such glaring similarities as opposed to the fanciful nods to a classic they were probably meant to be (surely?), hence more often than not, it left me with a sour taste instead of sweet nostalgic reminisces. With that outta the way, the book was engaging enough for me to not DNF it.
I'm nevertheless curious as how things are going to turn out so I'm still giving the series an open mind and hoping to continue with it. I'll hold on in dishing out a recommendation pending my read of the next book of the series, here's to hoping it gets much better.
2023 Read
It tells of the travails of one Hadrian Marlowe as he grows up the son of an archon in his home world, Delos, and escapes a life as laid out for him by his lord father. The whole book (which I found quite prolonged) is told from his perspective centuries into the future and how his early formative years was spent after his ship was wreaked on the planet Emesh and his contact with ruins of "The Quiet" and the alien invaders, the Cielcin, shaping him into becoming the genocidal power he implies turning into later on.
Christopher Ruocchio's Empire of Silence reads like a b-version of Frank Herbert's Dune written by a competent fan. The above quote is by far the most profound one that I could find within the book (imo), hence my lackluster rating for it.
The derivative bits were so much and so exactly similar that I couldn't help but be put off by such glaring similarities as opposed to the fanciful nods to a classic they were probably meant to be (surely?), hence more often than not, it left me with a sour taste instead of sweet nostalgic reminisces. With that outta the way, the book was engaging enough for me to not DNF it.
I'm nevertheless curious as how things are going to turn out so I'm still giving the series an open mind and hoping to continue with it. I'll hold on in dishing out a recommendation pending my read of the next book of the series, here's to hoping it gets much better.
2023 Read
June 17, 2019
This book. This book. I’m not sure if I’ve ever struggled so much in scoring a book as this one. On one hand, Christopher Ruocchio’s Empire of Silence is just what the critics say and so much more: a heady mix of The Name of the Wind and Dune featuring a vast political climate, an incredibly sophisticated universe, a visionary amalgam of ancient Rome inside a far-flung future, with a story that threatens to peel away at the very nature of time and space and life itself. Wow! Go buy it! Stop reading this review right now!
On the other hand, Ruocchio’s tendency to include the most excruciating minutia and abstract details has ballooned this tome to an unnecessary size, turning this pleasure read into a project. The prose features long, craggy sentences full of actions and thoughts, colors and descriptions, words and phrases that wrap around themselves, over and under, leading the reader through meandering tangents and asides, describing the clothing a passerby is wearing, or the shape of a shadow that the sun paints upon the wall, until I forget where we even started, much like this sentence.
And yet. And yet! There’s an early hook to keep you interested (though you'll soon realize that you’re probably fifteen books away from getting any answers). The themes that the author addresses are meaningful and admirable. The relationships are well written, the feelings are earned, and the total dedication to the Roman futurism aesthetic is impressive. If it weren’t so frustratingly tedious at times…
I feel like there’s a 5-star book hidden inside this novel that’s about 200 pages shorter. It feels like Ruocchio is writing this book like he’s designing a movie set – depicting every scene “just so” without leaving much room for reader interpretation. That’s fine when there’s purpose behind it, and when there’s important and relevant information being passed. But as the chapters wore on, I started paying close attention to what words were padding the prose, what was truly necessary, and finding that much of it was just prattle. The book already has a large series of universe-building aspects to absorb, so I became frustrated with all the unnecessary excess by the book’s end.
Ruocchio’s mind is a clear talent. His imagination is far-reaching and detailed, and he has a good grasp on what drives a person to do the right or wrong thing. I wonder if his vision would be brought to life more effectively in a different medium, such as film, television, or a graphic novel. There seems to be a visual sense to his art that he wants to convey to his audience that his words don’t easily transmit, and I think the struggle to present this part of his vision to his audience is what hampers the reading experience.
Your results may vary.
7.0 / 10
On the other hand, Ruocchio’s tendency to include the most excruciating minutia and abstract details has ballooned this tome to an unnecessary size, turning this pleasure read into a project. The prose features long, craggy sentences full of actions and thoughts, colors and descriptions, words and phrases that wrap around themselves, over and under, leading the reader through meandering tangents and asides, describing the clothing a passerby is wearing, or the shape of a shadow that the sun paints upon the wall, until I forget where we even started, much like this sentence.
And yet. And yet! There’s an early hook to keep you interested (though you'll soon realize that you’re probably fifteen books away from getting any answers). The themes that the author addresses are meaningful and admirable. The relationships are well written, the feelings are earned, and the total dedication to the Roman futurism aesthetic is impressive. If it weren’t so frustratingly tedious at times…
I feel like there’s a 5-star book hidden inside this novel that’s about 200 pages shorter. It feels like Ruocchio is writing this book like he’s designing a movie set – depicting every scene “just so” without leaving much room for reader interpretation. That’s fine when there’s purpose behind it, and when there’s important and relevant information being passed. But as the chapters wore on, I started paying close attention to what words were padding the prose, what was truly necessary, and finding that much of it was just prattle. The book already has a large series of universe-building aspects to absorb, so I became frustrated with all the unnecessary excess by the book’s end.
Ruocchio’s mind is a clear talent. His imagination is far-reaching and detailed, and he has a good grasp on what drives a person to do the right or wrong thing. I wonder if his vision would be brought to life more effectively in a different medium, such as film, television, or a graphic novel. There seems to be a visual sense to his art that he wants to convey to his audience that his words don’t easily transmit, and I think the struggle to present this part of his vision to his audience is what hampers the reading experience.
Your results may vary.
7.0 / 10
February 5, 2022
Maybe a 2.5? I don’t know. Ugh. It’s over
July 11, 2018
Superb. It really is a mix of Dune & Name of the Wind. Brilliant insightful writing too. One of the most refreshing space operas to come along in years. Loved. It.
September 11, 2023
متاسفانه بعد از خوندن حدود 50 درصد این کتاب رو نتونستم و نخواستم که ادامه بدم.
راستش بیایین تاریخ فانتزی و علمی تخیلی رو نگاه کنیم، از دههی نود همینطور حجم کتابها زیاد شده. یه زمانی جین وولف کانسپتهای پیچیده و قصهگویی خاصش رو توی چهار جلدِ سیصد صفحهای تموم میکرد، حالا ما باید کتابِ اولِ یه یارویی رو توی هزار صفحه بخونیم که از قضا این هزار صفحه تازه داره گرم میکنه برای خوندن هفتگانه (تو رو خدا، آخه چرا هفتتا؟). میدونین... رابرت جردن میتونست طولانی بنویسه، حتی استیون اریکسون، جو ابرکرومبی، پاتریک رافوث و چندتای دیگه باید بلند مینوشتن، داستانشون کشش این کار رو داشت و خودشون به حدی نویسندههای خوبی بودن و هستن که بتونن یک پلاتِ طولانی رو درست ارائه بدن. برای مثال شاهکش خیلی جاها وراجی میکرد، اما تمامشون برای داستان مهم بودن، جایی من حس نمیکردم که اطلاعاتی که میده صرفا تکراره یا تاثیری روی داستان نداره.
تمام اینها رو گفتم تا برسم به این کتاب. اسم و خلاصه خیلی وسوسهکننده بودن و جلدش حتی بیشتر از اونها منو جذب کرد که بیام سراغش. باید اشاره کنم شیش ماه پیشم سعیمو کردم بخونمش و گفتم از حوصلهی کم و مشکلاتِ اون موقع منه که نتونستم ادامهش بدم (اشتباه کردم، ربطی به وضعیت اون موقع نداشت.) پس دوباره اومدم سراغش.
داستان از جایی شروع میشه که یک موجودِ گناهکارِ سیاره خراب کن که تمام خطوطِ راهنمای "چطور یک کاراکتر بزرگتر از زندگی بنویسیم؟" توی سایت تیوی تروپز رو رعایت کرده، داره از جنایاتش میگه و خاطراتشو مینویسه (آشناس، نه؟) و میگه کسی قرار نیست بخونه، ولی مینویسمشون (اصلا هم شبیه شروع تمام رمانهای کلفتِ دههی پیشین نیست، اورجیناله) و شروع میکنه از خانوادهی پولدار و خلافکارش توی یه سیاره بگه که کارای بدی میکنن. این کاراکتر توی نیمهی اول کتاب مطلقا هیچی نداره! یعنی هر جایی که شما با شخصیت پردازی طرف هستین این توی سطحیترین حالت میمونه، صرفا چیزایی که بوده رو تکرار میکنه. بقیهی شخصیتا هم همینن. صرفا تصویر میسازه، این تصویر خیلی قشنگ و جذابه (من اعتقاد دارم این کار سختی نیست دیگه، تقریبا هر کسی میتونه انجامش بده) و به دل میشینن. اما هیچ عمقی نداره! صرفا دارن حجم داستانو میبرن بالا، این توی صد صفحهی اول اوکی بود، دنیای جدید و کشف کردن جالب میشد. صدتای دومی یکم میرفت سمت کش دادن داستان، توی صدتای سوم دیگه من نمیخوندم داره چی میگه. عملا مهم نبود! میدونستم ده صفحه بعد همونو تکرار کرده برام، دوباره بازم میگه و تا آخرشم همینه. چون نویسنده با بدبختی تمام سعی کرده حجم داستانشو ببره بالا. چون این ترنده، کتاب خیلی کلفت و گنده بهتر میفروشه ظاهرا.
این دقیقا برای دنیاسازی هم هست. شما کافیه یکم به روم باستان علاقه داشته باشین و حتی مطالعه هم نه، توی یوتیوب اطلاعاتی که دارین رو کسب کنین. تمومه! تقریبا کل دنیاسازی، سیاست، روابط خانوادگی، سیستم اجتماعی و... این دنیا رو میدونین. کافیه کلمهها رو عوض کنین (سایت برای جنریت اسمهای سایفای هست) و تمومه، میشه این داستان. حتی این قضیه به نظرم الهام گرفتن نبود، ما خیلی کارهای فانتزی با الهام از روم باستان داریم و خوبن اتفاقا. این کتاب مذکور تا نیمهای که من خوندم کپی کرده بود فقط.
واقعا این موضوع توی کتابهای فانتزی و علمی تخیلی چند سال اخیر فرسایشیه. توی دنیایی که ما هر روز که بیدار میشیم داستانها و روایتها میان سمتمون و تا وقتی بیدارم هستیم دنبالمونن، آدمای کمی یک داستان دارن که واقعا این همه صفحه نیاز داره (نسخهی من هفتصد و سی صفحهس) و اون ایده و داستان لیاقت مجموعه شدن رو داره. این کتاب دقیقا نقطهی مقابلشه. کشش داستان، مهارتِ نویسنده، شخصیتها و ایده (ایده واقعا؟ من حتی حس نکردم ایدهی خاصی پشتشه) نهایتا یک کتاب سیصد الی چهارصد صفحهای بود. حتی میتونست کمتر هم باشه. متاسفانه خوندن همینقدر هم تلف کردن وقتم بود.
پ.ن: میدونم الان یکی هست که تا جلد چهار و پنج خونده و دوست داشته. قراره توی دلش (یا کامنت) بگه که باید بهش فرصت بدم و از وسطای جلد دوم یا سوم قراره خیلی جالب بشه. خب باید بگم که واقعا مسخره س که هزار و پونصد الی دو هزار صفحه یه نفر بخونه تا یه داستان خوب بشه. هیچ وقت این منطقی نبوده. نمیفهمم چطور یکسری طرفدار کارهایی مثل اینن.
راستش بیایین تاریخ فانتزی و علمی تخیلی رو نگاه کنیم، از دههی نود همینطور حجم کتابها زیاد شده. یه زمانی جین وولف کانسپتهای پیچیده و قصهگویی خاصش رو توی چهار جلدِ سیصد صفحهای تموم میکرد، حالا ما باید کتابِ اولِ یه یارویی رو توی هزار صفحه بخونیم که از قضا این هزار صفحه تازه داره گرم میکنه برای خوندن هفتگانه (تو رو خدا، آخه چرا هفتتا؟). میدونین... رابرت جردن میتونست طولانی بنویسه، حتی استیون اریکسون، جو ابرکرومبی، پاتریک رافوث و چندتای دیگه باید بلند مینوشتن، داستانشون کشش این کار رو داشت و خودشون به حدی نویسندههای خوبی بودن و هستن که بتونن یک پلاتِ طولانی رو درست ارائه بدن. برای مثال شاهکش خیلی جاها وراجی میکرد، اما تمامشون برای داستان مهم بودن، جایی من حس نمیکردم که اطلاعاتی که میده صرفا تکراره یا تاثیری روی داستان نداره.
تمام اینها رو گفتم تا برسم به این کتاب. اسم و خلاصه خیلی وسوسهکننده بودن و جلدش حتی بیشتر از اونها منو جذب کرد که بیام سراغش. باید اشاره کنم شیش ماه پیشم سعیمو کردم بخونمش و گفتم از حوصلهی کم و مشکلاتِ اون موقع منه که نتونستم ادامهش بدم (اشتباه کردم، ربطی به وضعیت اون موقع نداشت.) پس دوباره اومدم سراغش.
داستان از جایی شروع میشه که یک موجودِ گناهکارِ سیاره خراب کن که تمام خطوطِ راهنمای "چطور یک کاراکتر بزرگتر از زندگی بنویسیم؟" توی سایت تیوی تروپز رو رعایت کرده، داره از جنایاتش میگه و خاطراتشو مینویسه (آشناس، نه؟) و میگه کسی قرار نیست بخونه، ولی مینویسمشون (اصلا هم شبیه شروع تمام رمانهای کلفتِ دههی پیشین نیست، اورجیناله) و شروع میکنه از خانوادهی پولدار و خلافکارش توی یه سیاره بگه که کارای بدی میکنن. این کاراکتر توی نیمهی اول کتاب مطلقا هیچی نداره! یعنی هر جایی که شما با شخصیت پردازی طرف هستین این توی سطحیترین حالت میمونه، صرفا چیزایی که بوده رو تکرار میکنه. بقیهی شخصیتا هم همینن. صرفا تصویر میسازه، این تصویر خیلی قشنگ و جذابه (من اعتقاد دارم این کار سختی نیست دیگه، تقریبا هر کسی میتونه انجامش بده) و به دل میشینن. اما هیچ عمقی نداره! صرفا دارن حجم داستانو میبرن بالا، این توی صد صفحهی اول اوکی بود، دنیای جدید و کشف کردن جالب میشد. صدتای دومی یکم میرفت سمت کش دادن داستان، توی صدتای سوم دیگه من نمیخوندم داره چی میگه. عملا مهم نبود! میدونستم ده صفحه بعد همونو تکرار کرده برام، دوباره بازم میگه و تا آخرشم همینه. چون نویسنده با بدبختی تمام سعی کرده حجم داستانشو ببره بالا. چون این ترنده، کتاب خیلی کلفت و گنده بهتر میفروشه ظاهرا.
این دقیقا برای دنیاسازی هم هست. شما کافیه یکم به روم باستان علاقه داشته باشین و حتی مطالعه هم نه، توی یوتیوب اطلاعاتی که دارین رو کسب کنین. تمومه! تقریبا کل دنیاسازی، سیاست، روابط خانوادگی، سیستم اجتماعی و... این دنیا رو میدونین. کافیه کلمهها رو عوض کنین (سایت برای جنریت اسمهای سایفای هست) و تمومه، میشه این داستان. حتی این قضیه به نظرم الهام گرفتن نبود، ما خیلی کارهای فانتزی با الهام از روم باستان داریم و خوبن اتفاقا. این کتاب مذکور تا نیمهای که من خوندم کپی کرده بود فقط.
واقعا این موضوع توی کتابهای فانتزی و علمی تخیلی چند سال اخیر فرسایشیه. توی دنیایی که ما هر روز که بیدار میشیم داستانها و روایتها میان سمتمون و تا وقتی بیدارم هستیم دنبالمونن، آدمای کمی یک داستان دارن که واقعا این همه صفحه نیاز داره (نسخهی من هفتصد و سی صفحهس) و اون ایده و داستان لیاقت مجموعه شدن رو داره. این کتاب دقیقا نقطهی مقابلشه. کشش داستان، مهارتِ نویسنده، شخصیتها و ایده (ایده واقعا؟ من حتی حس نکردم ایدهی خاصی پشتشه) نهایتا یک کتاب سیصد الی چهارصد صفحهای بود. حتی میتونست کمتر هم باشه. متاسفانه خوندن همینقدر هم تلف کردن وقتم بود.
پ.ن: میدونم الان یکی هست که تا جلد چهار و پنج خونده و دوست داشته. قراره توی دلش (یا کامنت) بگه که باید بهش فرصت بدم و از وسطای جلد دوم یا سوم قراره خیلی جالب بشه. خب باید بگم که واقعا مسخره س که هزار و پونصد الی دو هزار صفحه یه نفر بخونه تا یه داستان خوب بشه. هیچ وقت این منطقی نبوده. نمیفهمم چطور یکسری طرفدار کارهایی مثل اینن.
March 16, 2024
People gonna hate me tonight.
That book will probably earn my award for "what was the most promising premise that had the worst delivery for you".
I am a fan of the Dune universe and my favourite role playing setting is Fading Suns. So, a grand scope space opera in anachronistic feudal setting did sound perfect to me.
Sadly, the world and what it promises is the only aspect of the book I felt any anticipation and enjoyment. In fact, it is such a strong bait for me, that despite all the failings I am thinking of trying the next one hoping for a big improvement in the presentation of the story.
People compare this book to Dune and Ruocchio's style to Wolfe's. What I read was a derivative, slogging, power fantasy that feels nothing at all like Herbert's sensitivities or Wolfe's intricacy.
Ruocchio's writing, in my humble opinion, suffers from an endless exposition and over description. I have never read any other author with such a need to reveal so much of what is happening or going to happen. He foretells the fate of every relationship he builds in the book, he keeps saying to us about what he will do with a certain sun. He tells everything. Exactly the opposite of Wolfe's puzzling prose. People who compare them, have they really read Wolfe? Some Greek words do not make the trick.
I would describe his style as a mix of Red Rising and Name of the Wind but dull, without the passionate pace, spark and urgency of the former and the eloquent beauty of the latter. And I am not a fan of any of the two.
The story itself is full of predictable turns. So much that happens is so convenient for what needs to come next. Certain dialogues feel unrealistic because they happen their way just to set the next part.
Whole chapters felt boring or unnecessary to me, feeling they exist just to tick some trope box or for a supposedly profound quote at their end.
The use of first person perspective from the future does not help at all in anything. Be it the pace or a lack of coherence in Hadrian's character. In turns naive, philosopher, and always the one with the answer that solves things. No matter if scientists, veterans etc puzzle their minds for ages. A proper power fantasy.
Many respectable fellow readers urge me to keep on reading the sequel saying everything improves. I do not have much hope since most rated this one highly too. For the sake of the setting I will try the second one and hope they are right.
That book will probably earn my award for "what was the most promising premise that had the worst delivery for you".
I am a fan of the Dune universe and my favourite role playing setting is Fading Suns. So, a grand scope space opera in anachronistic feudal setting did sound perfect to me.
Sadly, the world and what it promises is the only aspect of the book I felt any anticipation and enjoyment. In fact, it is such a strong bait for me, that despite all the failings I am thinking of trying the next one hoping for a big improvement in the presentation of the story.
People compare this book to Dune and Ruocchio's style to Wolfe's. What I read was a derivative, slogging, power fantasy that feels nothing at all like Herbert's sensitivities or Wolfe's intricacy.
Ruocchio's writing, in my humble opinion, suffers from an endless exposition and over description. I have never read any other author with such a need to reveal so much of what is happening or going to happen. He foretells the fate of every relationship he builds in the book, he keeps saying to us about what he will do with a certain sun. He tells everything. Exactly the opposite of Wolfe's puzzling prose. People who compare them, have they really read Wolfe? Some Greek words do not make the trick.
I would describe his style as a mix of Red Rising and Name of the Wind but dull, without the passionate pace, spark and urgency of the former and the eloquent beauty of the latter. And I am not a fan of any of the two.
The story itself is full of predictable turns. So much that happens is so convenient for what needs to come next. Certain dialogues feel unrealistic because they happen their way just to set the next part.
Whole chapters felt boring or unnecessary to me, feeling they exist just to tick some trope box or for a supposedly profound quote at their end.
The use of first person perspective from the future does not help at all in anything. Be it the pace or a lack of coherence in Hadrian's character. In turns naive, philosopher, and always the one with the answer that solves things. No matter if scientists, veterans etc puzzle their minds for ages. A proper power fantasy.
Many respectable fellow readers urge me to keep on reading the sequel saying everything improves. I do not have much hope since most rated this one highly too. For the sake of the setting I will try the second one and hope they are right.
November 9, 2018
3.5 stars
This is a tough one to rate. I generally liked the story and the many interesting characters who emerged throughout the book. I'm not sure I am totally sold on the writing. It has the same deliberate and almost ponderous quality of Patrick Rothfuss and Pierce Brown, but without the same literary sparkle.
I'm also not sure I like the choice to position the story retrospectively. Since the outcome of Hadrian's life story is so heavily commented on as he relates it, and there are specific actions stated outright in some of the end materials, it greatly reduces the narrative tension that would otherwise be present.
Having said that, I do want to read the next book. This is a debut novel, and it has a certain unseasoned quality about it that I hope will fall away as Ruocchio gains more experience. So while I wouldn't call Empire of Silence great, it shows definite potential which I'm interested to see play out.
This is a tough one to rate. I generally liked the story and the many interesting characters who emerged throughout the book. I'm not sure I am totally sold on the writing. It has the same deliberate and almost ponderous quality of Patrick Rothfuss and Pierce Brown, but without the same literary sparkle.
I'm also not sure I like the choice to position the story retrospectively. Since the outcome of Hadrian's life story is so heavily commented on as he relates it, and there are specific actions stated outright in some of the end materials, it greatly reduces the narrative tension that would otherwise be present.
Having said that, I do want to read the next book. This is a debut novel, and it has a certain unseasoned quality about it that I hope will fall away as Ruocchio gains more experience. So while I wouldn't call Empire of Silence great, it shows definite potential which I'm interested to see play out.
November 13, 2023
Dang, this book was really, really good. It reminded me of Farseer meets Dune meets Gladiator (I see the Name of the Wind comparison thrown around too, I get what people mean, but the prose reminds me more of Hobb than Rothfuss) but is also it's own thing. I love when a book is able to wear its influences on its sleeves but manage to be unique.
"Romans in space" is pretty much all the sell I needed here, but the gist of Sun Eater is that Hadrian Marlowe is writing a chronicle of his life and the decisions he made. Hadrian is notorious around the galaxy for blowing up a sun to end a war with another species. How did it happen? Why did it happen? Is Hadrian a monster? That's the setup that Hadrian wants to explore as he tells you his tale, although this book doesn't get to any sun eating and instead a story about a young noble who flees his home planet and is forced to use subterfuge, fighting skills, and political acumen to survive.
There were no parts of this book that I wasn't captivated by, and that was mainly due to Ruocchio's prose. It's hard to describe. It is certainly dramatic (as Hadrian is, by admission, over-dramatic) but it is also poetic and philosophical. It reads incredibly smoothly. The way Ruocchio ends chapters is always fantastic, with Hadrian reflecting on the events in the chapter or teasing events to come. The prose in this book was a joy. But the plot and the characters were also well done, and some of the supporting cast were really interesting, something hard to pull off sometimes in first person retrospective.
The only reason this doesn't get full marks from me is because this felt a lot like a book one, and there is a lot of, not necessarily meandering, but "sections" of the story that don't feel like one complete whole. My feelings on this remind me of Assassin's Apprentice where I really liked everything about it but it doesn't quite feel like a five star read. Can't wait to continue!!
8.5/10
"Romans in space" is pretty much all the sell I needed here, but the gist of Sun Eater is that Hadrian Marlowe is writing a chronicle of his life and the decisions he made. Hadrian is notorious around the galaxy for blowing up a sun to end a war with another species. How did it happen? Why did it happen? Is Hadrian a monster? That's the setup that Hadrian wants to explore as he tells you his tale, although this book doesn't get to any sun eating and instead a story about a young noble who flees his home planet and is forced to use subterfuge, fighting skills, and political acumen to survive.
There were no parts of this book that I wasn't captivated by, and that was mainly due to Ruocchio's prose. It's hard to describe. It is certainly dramatic (as Hadrian is, by admission, over-dramatic) but it is also poetic and philosophical. It reads incredibly smoothly. The way Ruocchio ends chapters is always fantastic, with Hadrian reflecting on the events in the chapter or teasing events to come. The prose in this book was a joy. But the plot and the characters were also well done, and some of the supporting cast were really interesting, something hard to pull off sometimes in first person retrospective.
The only reason this doesn't get full marks from me is because this felt a lot like a book one, and there is a lot of, not necessarily meandering, but "sections" of the story that don't feel like one complete whole. My feelings on this remind me of Assassin's Apprentice where I really liked everything about it but it doesn't quite feel like a five star read. Can't wait to continue!!
8.5/10
December 23, 2023
Romanzo di esordio per C.Ruocchio e di apertura per la saga del "Sun Eater", attualmente composta da ben sei romanzi.
Si tratta di un romanzo YA ambientato 16.000 anni nel futuro ma lontano dalla fantascienza, quella è un'altra cosa. Astronavi, disgregatori e sistemi solari diversi dal nostro non bastano, Star Wars insegna che si può scrivere un fantasy anche tra le stelle senza scomodare la vera fantascienza che pone basi tematiche e riflessive di altro spessore. Mai all'interno della narrazione si parla di scienza o di una sua possibile evoluzione. Ogni scena potrebbe essere ambientata in un qualsiasi mondo fantasy.
Abbiamo: lingua giapponese, mandarino, latino, inglese, Shakespeare, le arene con i gladiatori, spade e scudi, matite per scrivere e riviste cartacee vendute in edicole, popcorn e sandwich, banconote e monete. Nobili e schiavi.
Ruocchio mi lascia basito e deluso dalla totale mancanza di inventiva anche perché il protagonista, Hadrian, ricorda il ben più famoso Drizzt do' Urden nella sua tetra città di Menzoberranzan, estraneo nella sua stessa famiglia; una manciata di elementi ripresi direttamente dall'ambientazione di "Dune", con il rampollo nobile, l'Impero e i computer umani (mentat), la cintura scudo e le faide tra casate.
Uno svolgimento dai toni e dalle tematiche prettamente adolescenziali raccontati in prima persona dal protagonista che mi ricordano, purtroppo, le disgrazie vissute dal Kvoth de "il Nome del Vento" di Ruthfuss. A differenza del racconto di Ruthfuss almeno qui il protagonista non è antipatico e saccente.
Nulla di nuovo anche se la lettura è risultata fluida. Un continuo susseguirsi di eventi che raccontano la vita del giovane Hadrian, tra risse con i bulli, fughe, povertà, prigionia, e l'immancabile storiella romantica. Tutto già visto, grazie.
Poco lo spazio dedicato ai personaggi secondari che appaiono, fanno la loro piccola parte e scompaiono dalla scena. La loro caratterizzazione si ferma alla descrizione fisica e ad un paio di frasi.
I dialoghi semplici, le interazioni sociali poco curate, il reparto scientifico inesistente, l'ambientazione fumosa e fantasy, la trama lineare e prevedibile, tutti questi elementi trovano soluzioni narrative superficiali e mai approfondite.
Forse è stato un po' sopravvalutato. Io non vi ho trovato nulla di veramente strepitoso.
A proposito, ricordate che fra 16.000 anni conoscere le lingue da una marcia in più. Il traduttore universale è una scienza troppo evoluta per questi umani del futuro.
-----------------------------
Debut novel for C.Ruocchio and opening for the "Sun Eater" saga, currently made up of six novels.
It's a YA novel set 16,000 years in the future but far from science fiction, that's another thing. Spaceships, disruptors and solar systems different from ours are not enough, Star Wars teaches that a fantasy can be written even among the stars without bothering true science fiction which lays thematic and reflective foundations of another thickness. Science or its possible evolution is never mentioned in the narrative. Each scene could be set in any fantasy world.
We have: Japanese, Mandarin, Latin, English, Shakespeare, gladiatorial arenas, swords and shields, writing pencils and paper magazines sold at newsstands, popcorn and sandwiches, bills and coins. Nobles and slaves.
Ruocchio leaves me stunned and disappointed by the total lack of inventiveness also because the protagonist, Hadrian, recalls the far more famous Drizzt do' Urden in his gloomy city of Menzoberranzan, a stranger in his own family; a handful of elements taken directly from the "Dune" setting, with the noble scion, the Empire and human computers (mentat), the shield belt and the feuds between houses.
A performance with purely adolescent tones and themes told in the first person by the protagonist who unfortunately remind me of the misfortunes experienced by the Kvoth of "the Name of the Wind" by Ruthfuss. Unlike Ruthfuss's story, at least here the protagonist is not obnoxious and know-it-all.
Nothing new even if the reading was fluid. A continuous succession of events that tell the life of the young Hadrian, between fights with bullies, escapes, poverty, imprisonment, and the inevitable romantic story. Already seen, thanks.
Little space is dedicated to secondary characters who appear, play their small part and disappear from the scene. Their characterization stops at the physical description and a couple of sentences.
The simple dialogues, the careless social interactions, the non-existent scientific department, the smoky and fantasy setting, the linear and predictable plot, all these elements find superficial and never in-depth narrative solutions.
Maybe it was a bit overrated. I haven't found anything really amazing about it.
By the way, remember that in 16,000 years knowing languages will give you something extra. The universal translator is too advanced a science for these humans of the future.
Si tratta di un romanzo YA ambientato 16.000 anni nel futuro ma lontano dalla fantascienza, quella è un'altra cosa. Astronavi, disgregatori e sistemi solari diversi dal nostro non bastano, Star Wars insegna che si può scrivere un fantasy anche tra le stelle senza scomodare la vera fantascienza che pone basi tematiche e riflessive di altro spessore. Mai all'interno della narrazione si parla di scienza o di una sua possibile evoluzione. Ogni scena potrebbe essere ambientata in un qualsiasi mondo fantasy.
Abbiamo: lingua giapponese, mandarino, latino, inglese, Shakespeare, le arene con i gladiatori, spade e scudi, matite per scrivere e riviste cartacee vendute in edicole, popcorn e sandwich, banconote e monete. Nobili e schiavi.
Ruocchio mi lascia basito e deluso dalla totale mancanza di inventiva anche perché il protagonista, Hadrian, ricorda il ben più famoso Drizzt do' Urden nella sua tetra città di Menzoberranzan, estraneo nella sua stessa famiglia; una manciata di elementi ripresi direttamente dall'ambientazione di "Dune", con il rampollo nobile, l'Impero e i computer umani (mentat), la cintura scudo e le faide tra casate.
Uno svolgimento dai toni e dalle tematiche prettamente adolescenziali raccontati in prima persona dal protagonista che mi ricordano, purtroppo, le disgrazie vissute dal Kvoth de "il Nome del Vento" di Ruthfuss. A differenza del racconto di Ruthfuss almeno qui il protagonista non è antipatico e saccente.
Nulla di nuovo anche se la lettura è risultata fluida. Un continuo susseguirsi di eventi che raccontano la vita del giovane Hadrian, tra risse con i bulli, fughe, povertà, prigionia, e l'immancabile storiella romantica. Tutto già visto, grazie.
Poco lo spazio dedicato ai personaggi secondari che appaiono, fanno la loro piccola parte e scompaiono dalla scena. La loro caratterizzazione si ferma alla descrizione fisica e ad un paio di frasi.
I dialoghi semplici, le interazioni sociali poco curate, il reparto scientifico inesistente, l'ambientazione fumosa e fantasy, la trama lineare e prevedibile, tutti questi elementi trovano soluzioni narrative superficiali e mai approfondite.
Forse è stato un po' sopravvalutato. Io non vi ho trovato nulla di veramente strepitoso.
A proposito, ricordate che fra 16.000 anni conoscere le lingue da una marcia in più. Il traduttore universale è una scienza troppo evoluta per questi umani del futuro.
-----------------------------
Debut novel for C.Ruocchio and opening for the "Sun Eater" saga, currently made up of six novels.
It's a YA novel set 16,000 years in the future but far from science fiction, that's another thing. Spaceships, disruptors and solar systems different from ours are not enough, Star Wars teaches that a fantasy can be written even among the stars without bothering true science fiction which lays thematic and reflective foundations of another thickness. Science or its possible evolution is never mentioned in the narrative. Each scene could be set in any fantasy world.
We have: Japanese, Mandarin, Latin, English, Shakespeare, gladiatorial arenas, swords and shields, writing pencils and paper magazines sold at newsstands, popcorn and sandwiches, bills and coins. Nobles and slaves.
Ruocchio leaves me stunned and disappointed by the total lack of inventiveness also because the protagonist, Hadrian, recalls the far more famous Drizzt do' Urden in his gloomy city of Menzoberranzan, a stranger in his own family; a handful of elements taken directly from the "Dune" setting, with the noble scion, the Empire and human computers (mentat), the shield belt and the feuds between houses.
A performance with purely adolescent tones and themes told in the first person by the protagonist who unfortunately remind me of the misfortunes experienced by the Kvoth of "the Name of the Wind" by Ruthfuss. Unlike Ruthfuss's story, at least here the protagonist is not obnoxious and know-it-all.
Nothing new even if the reading was fluid. A continuous succession of events that tell the life of the young Hadrian, between fights with bullies, escapes, poverty, imprisonment, and the inevitable romantic story. Already seen, thanks.
Little space is dedicated to secondary characters who appear, play their small part and disappear from the scene. Their characterization stops at the physical description and a couple of sentences.
The simple dialogues, the careless social interactions, the non-existent scientific department, the smoky and fantasy setting, the linear and predictable plot, all these elements find superficial and never in-depth narrative solutions.
Maybe it was a bit overrated. I haven't found anything really amazing about it.
By the way, remember that in 16,000 years knowing languages will give you something extra. The universal translator is too advanced a science for these humans of the future.
April 15, 2024
Reread update: It was a blast going back in time with Hadrian and living through his teenage years again knowing where his life will take him later. I can definitely see why a lot of first time readers struggle with the very deliberate slow pacing of this one, as it is never in a great rush to get where it's going. Ruocchio's storytelling just speaks to my soul so powerfully though, so even when it's taking its sweet time and not much is happening I'm always eating it up.
This is fantastically deep and essential set-up for all the fireworks to come, but it is so different from the feel of all the later books that I'd definitely say to anyone who's not having a great time with it to power through and give at least Howling Dark a full go before thinking of giving up on the utter precious gem of modern sff that is The Sun Eater.
Original Review:
I am blown away that this deep, lyrical, polished work of modern sci-fi could be Ruocchio's debut novel at such a young age -- I think what we are lucky to have here as the reading public is a true writing prodigy of our time.
I have a soft spot for sensitive and reflective protagonists, so I was quickly drawn into Hadrian's retelling of his life story.
Things were relatively slow-paced in terms of events happening infrequently and there being not too much action, but that never bothered me and in fact I enjoyed settling into the more deliberate pacing of this book compared to a lot of the faster paced fantasy I read these days. A lot of that I think has to do with the always-compelling reflections by Hadrian, which made this experience not too dissimilar from the Karl Ove Knausgaard autobiography volumes that are some of my favorite books in existence.
Even though this was told in first-person retrospective with plenty of comments hinting at how things turned out, it felt unpredictable and compelling at every turn. I cannot wait to explore more of this tale soon and have a feeling like the best is yet to come. 4.5 stars rounded up for an incredible and thought-provoking debut!
This is fantastically deep and essential set-up for all the fireworks to come, but it is so different from the feel of all the later books that I'd definitely say to anyone who's not having a great time with it to power through and give at least Howling Dark a full go before thinking of giving up on the utter precious gem of modern sff that is The Sun Eater.
Original Review:
I am blown away that this deep, lyrical, polished work of modern sci-fi could be Ruocchio's debut novel at such a young age -- I think what we are lucky to have here as the reading public is a true writing prodigy of our time.
I have a soft spot for sensitive and reflective protagonists, so I was quickly drawn into Hadrian's retelling of his life story.
Things were relatively slow-paced in terms of events happening infrequently and there being not too much action, but that never bothered me and in fact I enjoyed settling into the more deliberate pacing of this book compared to a lot of the faster paced fantasy I read these days. A lot of that I think has to do with the always-compelling reflections by Hadrian, which made this experience not too dissimilar from the Karl Ove Knausgaard autobiography volumes that are some of my favorite books in existence.
Even though this was told in first-person retrospective with plenty of comments hinting at how things turned out, it felt unpredictable and compelling at every turn. I cannot wait to explore more of this tale soon and have a feeling like the best is yet to come. 4.5 stars rounded up for an incredible and thought-provoking debut!
August 21, 2018
I picked this one up on audiobook as I thought I may not have the time otherwise to get to such a chunky sci fi, and I am very glad I did so. The audio narrator is good and does a lot of the intonation/accents in a way that keeps you engaged, and the story is also a very interesting one and told from the perspective of Hadrian Marlowe, our main character.
What I like about this is that it's a little reminiscent of The Name of the Wind in that the person telling you the story is the main character of the story, and therefore there is a lot of room for judgement, lies and reminiscing. This means there were times where the story flew by, and others where we see a lot of introspection and reminiscing, which I think made sense as this is kind of a memoir of sorts.
Hadrian's story starts out fairly simple, he's a young Lord, expecting to be his father's heir and to rule over the planet and people who he lives with. However, we quickly see Hadrian cast out from the family when his personality doesn't quite fit his father's ideas of what he should be, and then he is forced to flee the planet and go into hiding.
Of course in a space-based society there are all sorts of places he could go, but you need money and resources and it's hard for him to get these without help. Luckily one of the people in his family does try their best to assist, but this all ends in chaos too and from then on Hadrian's life is nowhere near to the life he thought he would lead.
I've heard this book compared to a few different ones, but for me the one that most fits in terms of style is a combination of Blood Song by Anthony Ryan and Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Both have a similar main character, and although they are both fantasy and this is sci fi, I do believe that there are many fantasy elements which have still managed to cross into this one.
We get to see Hadrian as he faces some truly terrible times, beaten, seeing torture, betrayal and more. He is constantly being pushed along on the waves of his legacy, and constantly trying to avoid thinking about what could have been... I will say some of the scenes with the aliens are pretty graphic and nasty, so just be aware if you're a bit squeamish!
On the whole I really enjoyed this story and although it's a long one and there is a lot to take in I do feel that it merited the length and was a fun book to read. I definitely liked following Hadrian and he is the sort of character I love to follow, so I will look forward to the next one in the series too :) 4*s from me.
What I like about this is that it's a little reminiscent of The Name of the Wind in that the person telling you the story is the main character of the story, and therefore there is a lot of room for judgement, lies and reminiscing. This means there were times where the story flew by, and others where we see a lot of introspection and reminiscing, which I think made sense as this is kind of a memoir of sorts.
Hadrian's story starts out fairly simple, he's a young Lord, expecting to be his father's heir and to rule over the planet and people who he lives with. However, we quickly see Hadrian cast out from the family when his personality doesn't quite fit his father's ideas of what he should be, and then he is forced to flee the planet and go into hiding.
Of course in a space-based society there are all sorts of places he could go, but you need money and resources and it's hard for him to get these without help. Luckily one of the people in his family does try their best to assist, but this all ends in chaos too and from then on Hadrian's life is nowhere near to the life he thought he would lead.
I've heard this book compared to a few different ones, but for me the one that most fits in terms of style is a combination of Blood Song by Anthony Ryan and Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Both have a similar main character, and although they are both fantasy and this is sci fi, I do believe that there are many fantasy elements which have still managed to cross into this one.
We get to see Hadrian as he faces some truly terrible times, beaten, seeing torture, betrayal and more. He is constantly being pushed along on the waves of his legacy, and constantly trying to avoid thinking about what could have been... I will say some of the scenes with the aliens are pretty graphic and nasty, so just be aware if you're a bit squeamish!
On the whole I really enjoyed this story and although it's a long one and there is a lot to take in I do feel that it merited the length and was a fun book to read. I definitely liked following Hadrian and he is the sort of character I love to follow, so I will look forward to the next one in the series too :) 4*s from me.
December 18, 2023
My full Youtube review link: https://youtu.be/plKvrlQI2GE
My Rating: 5/5
Check out my Youtube to participate in a poll and pick my next read!
Welcome back friends to another QuestBound Review! I'm happy to have all of you here yet again. This is my first Sci-fi book in what feels like a century and I can't wait to dive right in with y'all. As always if you want to help the community grow please follow my page on Youtube.
Story: 5/5
Arguably one of the best stories and introduction to a series I've ever experienced. This was on par with me to the Wandering Inn (which is my all time favorite fantasy series). Empire of silence is an amazing experience which tells the tale of Hadrian Marlowe, narrated by a future Hadrian roughly 1500 in the future. Here, Hadrian shares with us the details on how he became the Suneater, how he destroyed a race, how he went from being "Just a man" to the person he is now. Although this book only covers the start of this tale, It was a sensational start.
Characters: 5/5
I think I liked 90% of the characters in this book and the remaining 10% I wanted to punch in the face so bad that It made me want to read even faster to see if they got what they deserved. It's a great feeling when an author can both develop characters in a glorious way and also keep readers hooked with just enough action; reading this book really was refreshing. My favorite characters to date were Hadrian and Valka, and also oddly enough, the Cielcin.
World Building: 5/5
The sky is the limit....get it... because it's in space..... ok enough of that. This is an intergalactic, interplanetary experience unlike I have ever experienced. The world or worlds never felt small. We were shown not only many worlds but also the creatures that inhabit them. We are shown the power of the Chantry (religious power), and how they try to govern and destroy others who are not as pious as them.
Favorite parts:
I adored how Hadrian tries to escape his fate a multitude of times only to realize that he has, yet again, gotten in his own way. He doesn't give up though, and that I can respect.
Thanks so much friends for reading all of this, I hope you enjoyed this review. See you on the next one!!
My Rating: 5/5
Check out my Youtube to participate in a poll and pick my next read!
Welcome back friends to another QuestBound Review! I'm happy to have all of you here yet again. This is my first Sci-fi book in what feels like a century and I can't wait to dive right in with y'all. As always if you want to help the community grow please follow my page on Youtube.
Story: 5/5
Arguably one of the best stories and introduction to a series I've ever experienced. This was on par with me to the Wandering Inn (which is my all time favorite fantasy series). Empire of silence is an amazing experience which tells the tale of Hadrian Marlowe, narrated by a future Hadrian roughly 1500 in the future. Here, Hadrian shares with us the details on how he became the Suneater, how he destroyed a race, how he went from being "Just a man" to the person he is now. Although this book only covers the start of this tale, It was a sensational start.
Characters: 5/5
I think I liked 90% of the characters in this book and the remaining 10% I wanted to punch in the face so bad that It made me want to read even faster to see if they got what they deserved. It's a great feeling when an author can both develop characters in a glorious way and also keep readers hooked with just enough action; reading this book really was refreshing. My favorite characters to date were Hadrian and Valka, and also oddly enough, the Cielcin.
World Building: 5/5
The sky is the limit....get it... because it's in space..... ok enough of that. This is an intergalactic, interplanetary experience unlike I have ever experienced. The world or worlds never felt small. We were shown not only many worlds but also the creatures that inhabit them. We are shown the power of the Chantry (religious power), and how they try to govern and destroy others who are not as pious as them.
Favorite parts:
I adored how Hadrian tries to escape his fate a multitude of times only to realize that he has, yet again, gotten in his own way. He doesn't give up though, and that I can respect.
Thanks so much friends for reading all of this, I hope you enjoyed this review. See you on the next one!!
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