Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Very intriguing premise and a good, solid read. I'm just going to shorten my review by saying that I agree with the previous reviewers. I looked all over here in California for this book, but no luck. I'm not sure, but it may only be available overseas; as the one I ordered on Amazon came from the UK (The Book Depository, in Gloucester). Ironically enough, the day it arrived at my house in CA, I was in London Heathrow airport and browsing the airport bookstore where I saw a copy staring at me from the shelf. Too bad this book is so hard to find, I think fans over here in the US of Jim Butcher (his Calderon series), China Miéville, and other pioneers of edgy fiction would like this book.

This novel, "Empire in Black and Gold" is one of those rare experiences I have as a reader where I really don't want to put a book down. I don't want to stop reading it. That is an unusual thing for me, especially in a book with 612 pages, because there are almost always high spots and low spots so my attention wanders and I begin to anticipate the end. That never happened in this book. Never once was I even tempted to skip over sections because I had come to a dull spot. Adrian Tchaikovsky crafted a fantasy world that was so extremely different from most others that it kept me enthralled. The story remained fresh and exciting throughout.

When I realized that the characters in this book would all have both human and insect traits, I was very surprised. I had no idea how that concept could be carried out without making me, a person who is definitely not a fan of the creepy-crawly, decidedly uncomfortable. These characters are so finely honed that you cease to even think of them as part insect. Instead I thought of them as humans with highly unusual genetic adaptations. Master Stenwold Maker is a Beetle-kinden who has been trying for his entire adult life to convince others that the Wasp-kinden are determined to rule the world. It has been seventeen years since Stenwold has been engaged in actual guerrilla warfare type battles with the Empire, instead he has been teaching in the Great University of Collegium and trying to train his students to go into the surrounding lands to spy on the Wasp soldiers and bring back information he can use to convince others that the Wasp Empire wants nothing except slaves and conquest. The word he is receiving now says that the Empire of the Wasp is about to make a strategic move and Stenwold, his ward Tynisa (Mantis-kinden), his niece Cheerwell Maker (Beetle-kinden), Prince Salma Dien (Dragonfly-kinden) and the apprentice artificer Totho (a mixed breed kinden) must go to the city of Helleron to marshal their forces to fight.

This author was able to keep something interesting happening throughout this entire book. Just meeting all the different types of kinden and learning what their Art was, their special ability which went with their insect heritage, was fascinating by itself. And yet Tchaikovsky kept the story moving, never stagnating, never bogging down simply by introducing new characters and moving favorite characters from one portion of this fantasy world to another. It was all extremely interesting. I am simply amazed at the thought which had to go into devising the world populated by Ant-kinden, Butterfly-kinden, Moth-kinden, Fly-kinden, Scorpion-kinden, and the list goes on. There is magic in the book, there is romance which is very well done, there is espionage, there is military strategy, there are battles fought with all the unusual implements invented by this author's fertile imagination. I absolutely loved it. Now, on to book two, Dragonfly Falling (Shadows of the Apt). I know that there are definitely four books in the series and I've seen information that there may eventually be ten or more. All I know is that I'm ready to pick the adventure up again because Salma and Totho are just arriving in Tark and the Wasp-kinden are ready to attack. I must find out what happens next.

An interesting fantasy/adventure from Adrian Tchaikovsky; the first book of the 'Shadows of the Apt' series.

The author has written an intriguing story of invasion and conquest by an evil regime and then peppered it with an assortment of interesting and personable characters; characters that are all different, each with their own unique skills and attributes, giving the plot an ongoing sense of fresh ideas and new developments.

There is fairly detailed map (for those that care about such things) which help to keep the arenas of action and traveling distances in perspective.

And although the book was generally well written, I had a concern with the technique used to describe some of the fight scenes between individuals (this concern did not seem to arise with the few group skirmishes found within this story). While the author continually provided the reader with positive attack-minded comments about the battle, they were invariably 'balanced' by some negative comments as to why the attacks didn't come succeed...(the examples that follow are not actual quotes; just my attempt to give you a feeling of my concerns with the fight scenes) i.e. he thrust his rapier at the opponent's open flank...but he was too slow...or, he thrust his rapier at the opponent's open flank...but sunlight blinded him, and so on. I found nearly all fighting scenes involving individuals, were described using this same positive/negative technique and its started to wear thin after a while.

Conclusion:
An excellent first book in the 'Apt' series. The story is captivating and intriguing enough to definitely give you the desire to read-on. I feel my concern regarding the fight scene descriptions was, albeit minor, a valid one. Yet this novel did have an overall high quality and I look forward to the next books in the series. Easily 4 1/2 Stars

R. Nicholson

Adrian Tchaikovsky shows real talent with this debut novel. Highly innovative concepts, like the insect-kinden (races of people who have evolved to incorporate insect abilities), mesh with good characterization, a wonderful and unique setting, and great writing to make this book a real success. This is easily one of the best speculative fictions novels of the year, and one of the best debuts of the last several years.

At first I was wondering if this was going to be any good. The idea of insect totems, which is what I was thinking, never appealed to me in fantasy fiction. I picked up the book because the cover art was amazing. Even though the cover is in fact amazing, the book is more so. The author has taken the fantasy genre by storm. The character development is amazing and the plot is intriguing. The incorporation of the different races or Kinden used throughout makes for a very diverse setting. Adrian Tchaikovsky has put a spell on me with his words and drives me to read the rest of this series. As of now I have finished the 3rd book and will be reading the 4th shortly. More people need to pick this one up. I personally put this right up there with books that win awards. Dragonfly Falling which is the next book in the series was better yet. This series is the sleeper fantasy gem that outshines some of the other well known ones out there. Do yourself a favor and pick this up if you love a good story.

Thousands of years ago, the tribes of humanity were menaced by the giant insects that inhabited their world. Through means long forgotten, humanity bonded itself to the insects, taking on some of their attributes and abilities, becoming the kinden. They mastered the insects and then came to dominate the world.

Now it is a time of invention and progress. The industrious Beetle-kinden have forged impressive vehicles and tools to drive their world into the industrial age, but they have no fear of war, for the city-states of the Lowlands thrive on their peaceful competition with one another. But, unknown to the Beetle-kinden, another people outside the Lowlands have no such restriction. The Wasp Empire, an empire painted in black-and-gold, is beginning its expansion into the Lowlands and only one Lowlander of influence, Stenwold Maker, artificer-turned-agent, is ready to stand against them. With only a small band of followers to assist him, Stenwold sets out to prevent the Wasps' latest conquest from proceeding.

Empire in Black and Gold is the first volume in Adrian Tchaikovsky's epic Shadows of the Apt sequence, a series currently projected to run to ten volumes (Book 6 is out in February 2011, followed by the seventh later in 2011). However, the series is divided into distinct acts which provide some sense of closure, with four volumes in the first act. I must admit that I was cautious over beginning another huge series, but I'm glad I took the plunge with this one. Empire in Black and Gold is a winner.

Tchaikovsky succeeds here in creating a world unlike most in secondary world fantasy. The mix of steampunk, traditional epic fantasy tropes, the echoes of real history (particularly the Lowlands resembling the Greek city-states of antiquity) and the use of the insect-kinden idea to make the races unique is very effective. These elements raise some interesting questions about slavery and racism (since in this world the different races, although all human, are differentiated from one another by their insect totems and have notably different traits). Tchaikovsky can't be faulted here on his worldbuilding, which is impressive, convincing and original.

On the character front, Tchaikovsky is also successful. Although the Wasp Empire is presented as the antagonists, individual Wasps are characterised as anything from indolent and corrupt rulers to efficient and loyal servants of their cause and ideology. Extremely well-realised is Thalric, an agent of the Empire's secret service, who is presented as 'the villain' but has his own, understandable motivation and driving force. His opposite number, Stenwold, also comes across well. Tchaikovsky captures the frustration of an old man past his prime who has been waiting for a long time for this conflict and now finds himself unable to fully confront it without the use of allies.

The primary POV characters are Stenwold's students, whom he has recruited into the fight: the engineer Totho, the industrious-but-unfortunately-named Cheerwell, the aristocratic swordsman Salma and the Spider-kinden swordswoman Tynisa. These are reasonably familiar character archetypes, but Tchaikovsky brings them to life convincingly, although Totho perhaps could have been developed a little more.

Prose-wise, Tchaikovsky goes for accessibility here, with an approachable and easy-to-read prose style reminiscent of say Brandon Sanderson. Despite the book's length (about 600 pages in paperback) it is a fast read.

On the negative side of things, some elements could have been explored in greater depth, such as the role of women within the Wasp Empire and more about the intriguing 'lightning engines', but then this is but the first volume in a long series and there's plenty of time for such elements to be brought into play later on.

Empire in Black and Gold (****) is a fast-paced, page-turning read set in a vivid, interesting and different type of fantasy world.

I'm not gonna write a lengthy review as many others praising this book have already been written. I just wanted to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the nonstop action pace of this first installment of 5(?) books and think that the originality of the characters deriving from insects was great. Now I'm gonna go order the next book!

Definite must read for any fans of this genre.