Empire in Black & Gold: Shadows of the Apt. Book One [Paperback]

Adrian Tchaikovsky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2008 | Series: Shadows of the Apt

Seventeen years ago Stenwold witnessed the Wasp Empire storming the city of Myna in a brutal war of conquest. Since then he has preached vainly against this threat in his home city of Collegium, but now the Empire is on the march, with its spies and its armies everywhere, and the Lowlands lie directly in its path. All the while, Stenwold has been training youthful agents to fight the Wasp advance, and the latest recruits include his niece, Che, and his mysterious ward, Tynisa. When his home is violently attacked, he is forced to send them ahead of him and, hotly pursued, they fly by airship to Helleron, the first city in line for the latest Wasp invasion.Stenwold and Che are Beetle-kinden, one of many human races that take their powers and inspiration each from a totem insect, but he also has allies of many breeds: Mantis, Spider, Ant, with their own particular skills. Foremost is the deadly Mantis-kinden warrior, Tisamon, but other very unlikely allies also join the cause. As things go from bad to worse amid escalating dangers, Stenwold learns that the Wasps intend to use the newly completed railroad between Helleron and Collegium to launch a lightning strike into the heart of the Lowlands. Then he gathers all of his agents to force a final showdown in the engine yard ...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Longtime epic fantasy readers will find many familiar elements in this intriguing debut. There's the peaceful, vulnerable land, in this case the Lowlands, threatened by the Mongol-like Wasp Empire. The lone man who sees the danger is unwilling Lowlands spymaster Stenwald Maker. A charmingly diverse group of agents and allies draws from most of the strictly delineated insect-themed clans (which rather resemble the character classes of role-playing games) and runs the gamut from naïve student to embittered mercenary. Patriotic but conflicted Wasp Thalric puts a sympathetic face on evil. Tchaikovsky exercises considerable talent in assembling these well-worn pieces into a new puzzle, developing an interesting story and world with humor and skillful prose. Readers may be pleasantly surprised to find themselves looking forward to future installments. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From Booklist

On a world populated by human-insect and human-arachnid creatures, each type of kinden has special powers and aptitudes. The otherwise average Stenwold Maker, a Beetle kinden, is caught up in extraordinary times, full of violence and impending war with the Wasps. He takes it upon himself to create a small cadre of resistance fighters before it is too late. Unfortunately, he’s considered a crackpot, those in power ignore. But he spins his web and becomes a spymaster, doing his best to prepare for the onslaught he anticipates. Each person selected for his group has a tale, and Tchaikovsky develops each slowly, drawing the reader into the lives of each and hinting that there is more to discover. There is a continual sense of urgency and danger, yet there is also time for love and friendship. The story is quickly paced, more than keeps one’s interest, and leaves one looking forward to the next book of Shadows of the Apt to learn more about the characters and how the conflict develops. --Rebecca Gerber --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 612 pages
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan; 1st Printing edition (November 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0230704131
• ISBN-13: 978-0230704138
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,126,128 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Adrian Tchaikovsky was born in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire before heading off to Reading to study psychology and zoology. For reasons unclear even to himself he subsequently ended up in law and has worked as a legal executive in both Reading and Leeds, where he now lives. Married, he is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor, has trained in stage-fighting, and keeps no exotic or dangerous pets of any kind, possibly excepting his son. Catch up with Adrian at www.shadowsoftheapt.com for further information about both himself and the insect-kinden, together with bonus material including short stories and artwork. Author Website: http://shadowsoftheapt.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!, September 10, 2008

By 

Scott Masterton (Blaine, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Empire in Black & Gold: Shadows of the Apt. Book One (Paperback)

I must admit that I was originally ambivalent about giving Empire of Black and Gold a read. The back cover outlines a world where tribes of humans have taken on certain aspects of insects; with such a premise, the potential for a REALLY stupid, unbelievable story is definitely there. Finally I picked up the book and was glad that I did. Far from being silly, Tchaikivsky takes the world he creates and makes it completely believable; suspension of disbelief is no problem. Tribes of humans have developed certain aspects of insects; ant kinden are warriors with the ability to think collectively, beetle kinden are intellectuals and master builders, Mantis Kinden are great martial artists and individual warriors (different from the ants who tend to fight collectively). Spider-kinden are spies etc.

The world is being threatened by the Wasp Kinden, a flying, war-like people that one cannot help comparing to the Roman Empire. It is up to a diverse group of college students representing different kinden to convince the world that the Wasps are a real threat. There's the rub. Adrian Tchaikovsky's insect world is one that has just left it's own dark ages, an age ruled by religious/mystical fanatics and their killer enforcers the Mantis Kinden. The world has moved into an age of "reason" and the new god is one of profit. And just like in our world its' many peoples are more than willing to bury their collective heads in the sand and pretend that the conquering of their neighbors by the Wasps is justified. All of this in order to maintain there lifestyles...even if that denial could potentially mean slavery and death. In the words of Pastor Martin Niemöller:

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

Although this is a fantasy novel, the themes are human and are happening today in different disguises. Tchaikovsky tackles fear of the "other", racism and classism. I was thoroughly entertained and can't wait for the next two novels in the trilogy to be released.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I didn't think I would like this, but . . . very good!, October 1, 2008

By 

Autodidact - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Empire in Black & Gold: Shadows of the Apt. Book One (Paperback)

The premise that different groups of people resemble different insects sounded ridiculous, but I bought this book on the strength of the first review -- and the first review was right. By writing about a world in which peoples' ethnic identities or clans are identified with different species of insect, the author breaks free, at least somewhat of the dwarves, elves and wizards that we have been saddled with ever since Tolkien (bless him). Honestly, I simply can't pick up another book that involves dwarves, elves, and wizards (although arguably they make their appearance here as Beetle, Dragonfly and Moth-kinden, but at least there are other races as well). I really enjoyed both the story-telling and the thoughtfulness of this world's creation (if people were like beetles, what would they be like?) and it is both consistent and believable -- so well imagined that it pulls you right in.

Four stars instead of five because the writing sags in a few places, which for me has the impact of a car coming to a screeching halt and throwing me against the windshield.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, March 22, 2010

By 

E. Kervina - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Empire in Black and Gold (Shadows of the Apt 1) (Paperback)

Like several other reviewers, the premise of the book struck me as kind of silly, and rife with opportunity for literary disaster. I decided to read it anyway, and was completely blown away.

As with all fantasy, some suspension of disbelief is necessary, but the characters are compelling and the story is engaging and skillfully told. Compared to this, much of the current fantasy market is absolute swill.

I haven't read the later books, but if they are near this good, I will buy multiple copies of this book to give friends in hopes they will also be drawn in and support the author.