The Collapsing Empire (Scalzi)

[cahn]

3/5. Read for "Best Series" Hugos.

...I got to this at exactly the right time; I would probably have bounced off its breezy shallowness a couple years ago -- no wait, ha, I did bounce off its breezy shallowness when I was supposed to read it for 2018 Hugo-reading -- and six months ago I wasn't reading much at all -- but I've started reading things again now, and I was in the mood for popcorn. Which this is. It hasn't got much in the way of substance, but it's fun light space opera. Well, the book deals with... a collapsing empire, and various people die, etc. so I guess in that way it's kind of dark? But the plot and characters are entertaining while also being shallow, so one doesn't have to care very hard about any of it.

The most hilarious part of it was what I think was supposed to be a major plot/thematic twist, but which really wasn't. Midway through, the emperox dramatically learns that -- horrors!! the foundation of the Empire was motivated not by idealistic goals and prophecies for humanity but by trade guilds wanting to secure their hegemonies and maximize their profits!! WHO COULD EVER HAVE GUESSED.

Like, okay, I know basically zero history (except, now, for gossipy sensationalism in 18th C Prussia, in what continues to be Total Awesomeness) but even before the last couple of years I knew that... empires don't get founded out of idealism. No matter what the propaganda says.

First of a trilogy (so the story is only a third done at the end of this book), and against my expectations I actually ended up placing a hold on the next book right away. I wouldn't rec it unless you were in the mood for something pretty shallow where you don't have to care about anything you're reading about, but if you are, this is fun!

Comments

[hamsterwoman]

I wouldn't rec it unless you were in the mood for something pretty shallow where you don't have to care about anything you're reading about, but if you are, this is fun!

This is pretty much my feelings as well. I've read this and the second book so far, and I felt like the second book was less enjoyable than the first one (though still fun). I might or might not get around to finishing out the trilogy for the series Hugo -- I kind of feel like I already know where it's going to rank on my list, and it's not going to be super high.

[seekingferret]

I got really angry at this book. I know John Scalzi can write better books than this, books with deeper characterization, books with more interesting plots, books that don't end with silly infodumped 'twists'. This one just felt lazy.

[sophia_sol]

Yeah this is approximately what I thought of the book too, and I even enjoyed it for what it is, but as I read further into the series I got more and more exasperated with what it is. There's only so much breezy shallowness I can take, it turns out!

[leaflemming]

"Breezy shallowness" is exactly right. I read this with way more pleasure than I'd expected, but finished the third volume with a sour taste in my mouth and a determination not to read Scalzi again. He's one of those writers who's good enough that I always end up wanting him to be better -- he so clearly could be, if he leaned away from easy cynicism and plot twists for plot twists' sake.