The first question in my mind when I finished listening to Wil Wheaton’s excellent narration of The Collapsing Empire was “this had better be a god damned trilogy!”. Thankfully, it is, and I will get to spend many more hours listening to the plight of the young Emperox Grayland II as she navigates the untimely collapse of The Flow, the method by which humans of the future overcome the limitations of light speed travel.
The Collapsing Empire opens with a prologue that sets the scene for the issues that are coming by telling the story of the mutiny of the crew of Tell Me Another One. Mid-mutiny, the upheaval is rudely interrupted by a glitch in the Flow stream that is carrying the vessel as it journeys across space. The crew narrowly avoids a life lost drifting alone in the far reaches of space by re-entering the Flow before the entry point closes shut behind them. Thus, it is established early on that the Flow is like a interstellar highway, allowing humanity to spread across the cosmos wherever the Flow has established a path. To govern this unwieldy society, the Interdependency was established. Led by an Emperox from the House of Wu, powerful families convene the government and religion of the Interdependency which allows trade, capitalism, control, and survival.
Our story revolves around Hub (the literal center of the universe where the many Flow streams converge) and End, the furthest colony and only habitable planet in the Interdependency. The vast majority of humanity lives underground on inhospitable planets, or on space stations. Without the Interdependency operating effectively to ensure trade can occur, the empire would likely collapse.
Given the title of the book is The Collapsing Empire, I’m sure you can see where things are heading.
The story shifts back and forth between the political upheaval occurring at Hub under the new Emperox, and the civil war unfolding on End. And these dramas are in full flight before the collapse of the Flow is contemplated. Though the political happenings on Hub with the fledgling and reluctant new Emperox were engaging, I was much more invested in the story unfolding at End. In particular, the scheming of the nefarious Ghreni Nohamapetan and his 4D chess game with the foul-mouthed Lady Kiva Lagos, a noble merchant. Kiva and Ghreni butt heads beautifully, and Wheaton’s voice work here is *chefs kiss*.
If you’re in the mood for a Space Opera that is not too sprawling and opens with a bang, then this is the novel for you. I cannot wait to read the next instalment.
Overall 4 Doomed Dukes out of 5.