Customer Reviews

At Empire's Edge (Empire Duology)

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

 

 

I have been an avid reader of Mr. Dietz from the first read of one of his Legion of the Damned series. I was so impressed that I own all of them, with the exception of the last, and have searched out some of his books that are out of print. Sadly it seems like I've fallen out of his demographics. The last Legion book as well as At Empires Edge look like they're written for the pre-teen/early teen reader. The books are written with such simplicity I was almost insulted. His over, way over, use of italics and exclamation marks make me believe he feels the imagination is lacking in his readers.

I'm struggling with the decision to get the latest Legion book. I'll not be reading more of the Empire series since it doesn't appear to be aimed at the older audience.

If you like to have every minutia of a story explained for you with italics to make sure you understand that a fist hitting a desk (exclamation mark) makes a sound or the blades of a helicopter makes a sound then the latest Dietz books are for you. If you want a good military sci-fi look up his old books.

The Uman Empire has never been challenged by any of their conquests as they increasingly rule the stars; colonizing planets along the way. However, recently a planet has been found containing violent prone shape-shifters; to control the nasty Sagathis, the Uman scientists biologically reengineered a special forces unit the Xeno Corps who has the skill to see past the bodily changes into the essence of these aliens.

A battle with the Vord forced a Xeno Corps ship escorting a captured Sagathi to land on former prison planet Dantha for repairs. The crew including Jak Cato gets smashingly drunk. When Jak regains consciousness with a splitting headache, he learns to his horror that every other Xeno cop he served with was slaughtered during the night. Filled with survivor guilt and fueled by rage, Jak vows to hunt down and kill everyone involved with the slaughter especially the person who betrayed them.

This is an entertaining police procedural (loosely that is) space opera for fans who relish blood, gore and blood. The story line is fast-paced as Jak and the villains emote overly dramatic while bystanders are killed at an alarming rate. Fans who enjoy a blood-spattered science fiction thriller will want to read the first of a two part saga as William C. Dietz provides an exciting but out of control opening act.

Harriet Klausner

This book was tough to get through. The story line reads like a dime store detective novel. The aliens are very shallow and not well developed. Ive always wondered at the notion of star spanning empires that have planets where horse and cart are the way to get around.

I am a fan of William C. Dietz, and this book was definitely not a disappointment. Mr. Dietz deftly weaves concerns of our world into his otherworld stories: classic good vs. evil stuff in a very entertaining way. I look forward to reading more of his novels.

William C. Dietz is an established SF author, more than capable of producing fast moving action SF. Sadly, in the case of "At Empire's Edge" it is a weak and disappointing effort. Set in a future culture based on the Roman Empire a cop has his squad killed and a shape shifting alien captive vanishes. With the help of an Ewok and C3P0, oh no, sorry, wrong series. With the help of a short furry creature and a humanoid robot that are obviously nothing like an Ewok or C3P0 our very flawed cop hero tracks down his friends killers and discovers a plot that could impact the whole of the Empire! Wow. Or actually, not wow at all, this is underwhelming and average throughout. Packed full of logic gaps (why do the not-an-Ewok and the not-C3P0 suddenly join forces with him to track bad guys), (why does he keep getting drunk) that you have to choose to ignore just to finish the book.

But it's not a `bad' book, it just felt a little lazy and unsatisfying.

Although I would never pay full price for this book, it's more than a bargain at the discount prices being offered. It's sort of a mix between military & espionage sci-fi, and with a little bit of willingness, you can care about the protagonist and his plight. Overall, a fairly decent read.

At Empire's Edge (2009) is the first SF novel in a duology. It takes place far in the future, when the Uman Empire is clashing with the alien Vord Empire. Other aliens live within the Uman Empire and are policed by the Xeno Corps.

In this novel, Jak Cato is a Section Leader in the Xeno Corps. He has the usual modified DNA, but his genes seem to have flaws. He can read emotions as well as any other corpsmen, but he cannot completely shield his emotions. He also likes to get drunk.

Isulu Usurlus is an Imperial Legate in the Uman Empire. He reports directly to Emperor Emor.

Uma Nalomy is an Imperial Procurator, governing the planet Dantha. She belongs to an influential family. Her father wants to replace Emperor Emor.

CeCe Alamy is a seventeen year old uman. She works in a sandal factory, making a decim per pair. She lives with her stepmother.

Verafti is a Sagathi, a shapeshifting empathic alien species that can replicate the body of any animal with about the same mass. They absorb the fear of their victims and eat their bodies.

In this story, Usurlus mentions his suspicions of Procurator Nalomy to the Emperor. He is told to investigate in person. But the Emperor cannot offer him any troops, so Usurlus will only have his person guard of about sixty men.

On Dantha, CeCe comes home one day and learns that she has been sold as a slave by her stepmother. She tries to get away, but the handlers are ready for her. They snap a slave collar on her and pull her away by the chain.

At the slave market, Alamy is sold to the Majordomo of the palace. The Procurator needs extra help to prepare for Founder's Day celebrations. Alamy becomes part of the kitchen staff.

Elsewhere, Verafti has been captured by the Xeno Corps and is being transported to a prison planet onboard the Pax Umana. Jak is being chewed out by his centurion for needlessly shocking Verafti. Then a Vord destroyer attacks the prison ship.

The captain closes with the enemy ship and gets a boarding party aboard the destroyer. The policemen learn a new skill as they board the enemy ship, but it not too different from urban fighting. The umans take the enemy ship and stow the captives in their spare cells. But the Pax Umana is severely damaged and cannot travel faster-than-light.

The Pax Umana heads toward the only planet in the system with a Class III spaceyard. Unfortunately, their data is out of date and the Dantha spaceyard is really about Class V. They will have to wait for parts.

According to regulations, the Xeno Corps unit takes Verafti in his cage to a remote site to protect the planetary population. Station 3 is a weather beaten compound that needs many repairs, but is far from any populated area. The cage is maneuvered inside and the policemen start repairing the station.

The Centurion sends Jak into Solace -- the capital -- for necessary materiel. Jak makes contact with several vendors and arranges for the supplies. Then he goes out with the last vendor of the day and drinks a little beer.

Soon he is buying drinks for the house. Then a con artist and thief accuses him of being a spy for Procurator Nalomy and the local crowd turns on Jak. During the brawl, the thief steals Cato's money belt.

Meanwhile, Station 3 is attacked by Lir bandits. These flyers attack the sentry on the roof and kill the Centurion. Then they shoot all the other Xeno Corps police within the compound.

Back in Solace, Usurlus lands at the spaceport and disembarks with his bodyguard. The ship has other errands and soon leaves the planet. The Legate meets with his local agent, but the man is killed shortly after the meeting. Then his security finds the hidden spying devices.

Despite this setback, Usurlus meets with the widow of his former agent. Through her, he soon talks to the leaders of the local resistance. They become allies against Procurator Nalomy.

This tale leaves Jak as the only survivor of his unit. Local militia will not help him, so he has to acquire transportation to reach the station. After burying his comrades, Jak finds himself stranded in the desert with a sabotaged skimmer and radio.

The story is fairly typical of the author and certainly doesn't contain any new concepts. However, he weaves these fairly common themes into an interesting story. Maybe this duology will be expanded into a full-blown series.

Eventually Jak and Usurlus meet and join forces. The second half of this duology is Bones of Empire. Read and enjoy!

Recommended for Dietz fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of imperial politics, alien killers, and a bit of romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

AT EMPIRE'S EDGE is set in the far future and tells of the Uman Empire, which has spread to the stars conquering and colonizing worlds. All seems at peace despite their stranglehold - until a cop returning a fugitive finds his captive escapes and requires him to act in an extraordinary manner. Military tension rises in this winner.

I have three words for this one: Dull, Duller, & Dullest. I'm not sure how it'd be reading it, but listening to this dreary reader read this dreary book was a torture. I kept having to go back & replay big sections because my attention wandered, & then I'd rapidly lose attention again. I just now had to read the description of the book to remind myself what it was about; I finished it yesterday but already couldn't remember anything about it. The characters wooden, the plot unimpressive, I found myself wishing they'd all get slaughtered just to end it. The shapeshifter was the only interesting thing, but even he didn't rescue it. The love story between Cato & Alomie (sp?) ridiculous. btw, the 2 female main characters are named "Alomie" & "Nalomie." I don't know how they're spelled in the book, but they sound so much the same that 1/2 the time I didn't know whether to root for the woman or hope she got killed right away. I kept waiting for a plot device wherein the similarity would be important: i.e. a reason for it. Nope. Just lack of inventiveness, apparently!

Waste. Of. Cash.

Edit: Interesting how tastes can differ....it's got 2 positive reviews on Audible.

I want to add that I've read --& loved-- Sci Fi for decades. & I love SF action stories (RM Meluch's "Merrimack" series springs to mind as a sterling recent example). But I still hated "At Empire's Edge," & say it should be dropped off the edge of the Universe.