Menu
shadow
SF CORE Best Lists
SF ERA Best Lists
SF GENRE Best Lists
OTHER Best Lists

The Risen Empire

The Risen Empire

Author: Scott Westerfeld

If you think space opera is just a subset or spin-off of military science fiction, and that every novel or series or saga is yet another John Carter, prepare for Scott Westerfield to blow your expectations away. And of course, in the positive way, not in the "not another crappy erotica post E.L James" fame sort of blowing your mind way. The Risen Empire is set in a galaxy in the distant future (don't worry, it's also not another Star Wars rehash), where the galactic empire comprises 80 worlds with many human civilizations. The Risen Emperor rules over the galactic empire, but he's not human, not entirely. He's an immortal through the help of a "symbiant" (a symbiotic creature). In turn, he gifts his favorite citizens with immortality after their death, though, this immortality seems more like becoming a zombified supplicant of the emperor. The still naturally living citizens are represented by the Imperial Senate and elected governments on each world. The Empire doesn't have FTL travel yet, so people who travel between the worlds lose the same time frames as their friends and family, an effect called "Time Thief". Aside from all of this strangeness, the Empire is at war with crazy cyborgs, the Rix, who worship artificial intelligence and take a hostile, yet evangelical approach to their worship. If that hasn't convinced you that this book has everything you need in space opera, you could go for the dolphin sex book instead.

Books in Succession Series (3)

Buy on Amazon

Similar Recommendations