Customer Reviews

Empress of Eternity

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

 

 

It's hard not to get excited whenever L.E. Modesitt Jr. releases a new standalone sci-fi novel. Despite being better known for his various fantasy series than his science fiction, some of his best work can be found in the latter genre. Novels like The Parafaith War, Archform: Beauty, Adiamante and Haze (just to name a few) are wonderful examples of this amazingly prolific author's talent when it comes to science fiction. The newest addition to this list, Empress of Eternity, is no exception. Despite being a bit dry and inaccessible, its scope and ambition are stunning.

The novel follows three separate story lines, set in far-future Earth societies that are separated by tens of thousands of years. In each of these, scientists are investigating a 2000 mile long artificial structure known as the Mid Continent Canal. The canal is indestructible: even a meteor hit in the far past seems to have made no impact. Researchers are especially interested in learning more because the canal doesn't seem to be affected by temperature changes in the same way as other materials -- and in each of the future societies described in the book, extreme climate change is causing untold havoc for human civilization, including (in the third one) a brewing rebellion that employs a doomsday device that could unravel the structure of the entire universe...

Empress of Eternity is, initially, a very hard novel to get into. The rapid introduction of three completely distinct far future societies, without much in the way of exposition, makes for a confusing set of opening chapters. This is exacerbated by the fact that each story line features a couple with, as is often the case with Modesitt, a highly cerebral male character and a strong female one, who are all examining the canal at different times in the future. This similarity makes it hard to get settled into the novel. In addition, the second story line is initially very confusing, mainly because its characters often communicate by "pulsing" jargon-heavy messages to each other: "Metstation sole unit structure inhabitable south side MCC west of desert research station. Interrogative estimated habitation/equipment viability duration."

Interestingly, they also often denote emphasis by adding exponents to their adjectives: "Dubious probabilities for serious and officious5 chief." (Note: the 5 should be smaller and superscript - like an exponent - but I can't figure out how to do this on Amazon so, um, use your imagination.)

Each far future society has a different flavor, e.g. the "Hu-Ruche" society in the second story line is totalitarian and emphasizes an almost hive-like adherence to the rulers' dictates, whereas the first society is more feudal. Each one is also affected by climate change in a different way, with an ice age on the way in the first one and the earth dangerously heating up in the second one. There's simply a lot of information to piece together and digest early on -- like me, you may end up going back to reread the first handful of chapters to get your bearings before moving on.

The experience of reading about three far-future societies that are this far removed from each other is strange and slightly uncomfortable. Separated by tens, if not hundreds of thousands of years, there's barely any knowledge of e.g. the Hu-Ruche society left by the time the third society is active, millennia later. (And that's not even counting other, earlier, societies that are referenced occasionally -- and that are apparently responsible for the extreme levels of climate change and the fact that there appears to be no moon in the sky anymore.) All of this gave me the same feeling as e.g. seeing everything before the year 2000 referred to as "pre-history" in Olaf Stapledon's Last and First Men, or watching the evolution of society in Brian Aldiss' Helliconia trilogy: there's a sense of helplessness that comes with such a frank description of the futility of human endeavor. It also means that, for the first half of the book, you'll be reading three seemingly unconnected stories, all set in the same location but separated by thousands of years. Fortunately L.E. Modesitt Jr. pulls everything together in the second half of the novel, in a truly dizzying spin that easily justifies the struggles early on.

In the end, Empress of Eternity is an impressive but somewhat impersonal novel. Especially in the first half of the book, the focus is more on societies than on the people that inhabit them, and more on ideas than on feelings. Mere human relationships simply pale in significance next to the climate issues and the sheer scale of the future history L.E. Modesitt Jr. displays here. As a result, Empress of Eternity is stunning in ambition and scope, but unfortunately a bit too dry to be as enjoyable as some of the author's past SF works. If I were alive in the Hu-Ruche society, I'd probably summarize my opinion as [respectful8 admiration] rather than [thrilled3 enjoyment]. (Again, the 8 and 3 are exponents, and yes, I realize my clever little ending to this review is ruined entirely by having to explain this!)

I had a hard time achieving immersion in the novel until around chapter ten, because Modesitt is really telling three separate stories, each with their own cast of characters, which intersect through the 'mystery Earth canal' later in the book. The reader is essentially reading three separate books, vaguely linked by a similar setting, and it may put some people off. Endure it, and you'll be rewarded later.

One setting uses Norse mythological names, shadow entanglement as science, as deals with true believers coming into a universe destroying doomsday weapon (The Hammer). One setting uses a human hive mind, focuses on two engineering techs studying the 'canal' during a coup in their repressive society, and has a weird truncated language accent for easier information dumping. One setting follows a lower technology civilization facing global climate change, where a military based cabal is subverting a democratic republic with hereditary Lords.

Multi-faceted with a high amount of detail to understand, the story comes together in the late book. Rather than spoiling, I'll simply write, 'A Unique Look At Time Travel.' Plenty of reflective observation on civilizations and empire that is typical of Modesitt's works. If you can get into this complex book, a great read, but I don't think I'd use it to introduce someone to Modesitt.

Much as he's done on the fantasy side, L. E. Modesitt has written some great scifi (Adiamante, The Parafaith War) and some pretty mediocre stuff (Flash, The Elysium Commission). "Empress of Eternity" falls roughly in the middle, with the biggest issue being that the main plot doesn't really commence until the last third of the book. Still, a decent enough read. A star off for the somewhat awkward plot progression leaves this at 4 stars.

The first two thirds of the book alternate between three separate but related short stories. Three sets of researchers hundreds of thousands of years apart are desperately seeking any information on an incredibly sophisticated alien artifact as their governments begin to collapse around them. To do so, they all end up in a lighthouse of sorts until they learn how to access the technology. This part isn't anything special, as Modesitt has written probably 25 versions of the one-hero-against-government/technology/religion story by now. While it's competently done, if you've read Modesitt before, you'll have a pretty good idea how the plot is going to progress (and how to grit your teeth at his attempts at romance writing) long before it happens.

Where it becomes a more interesting novel is the last third, as the three timelines become linked by the access of the technology and Modesitt expands upon his explanation of time (and time travel) in relation to physics. As such, the science part of the fiction will generally be over the head of the average reader, but while the end result of the conquering ethical hero may be predictable, the merging of the timelines does make for an interesting read. Not his best work, but the exploration of physics makes it worth reading. 4 stars.

Empress of Eternity (2010) is a standalone SF novel. It is set in four separate periods in the future. In the first period, the Old Ones built an eternal seamless stone structure. No force known to later periods was capable of heating or even scratching the surface.

This midcontinent canal stretches two thousand kilometers eastward from the western ocean. It is four kays wide and reaches more than four kays down from the surface. The walls are almost an ecological barrier between the northern and southern sides of the MCC. At each end of the structure is an integral station of the same blue-gray stone, but only the western station is accessible.

In this novel, Maertyn S'Eidolon is a lord and a Deputy Assistant Minister of Science of the Unity of Caelaarn. He has taken Maarlyn away from the capital to protect her from political infighting

Maarlyna is the wife of Maertyn. She was badly injured a few years before and was repaired using parts of a whole clone body. Such use of clones is forbidden within the Unity.

Ashauer S'Determer is a lord and a Deputy Assistant Minister of Transportation. He is also the director of lordly intelligence operations.

Hlaansk Ovisor is the Unity Minister of Science. He is a member of the Council of the Executive Administrator.

Eltyn is a senior tech within the Ruche government TechOversight. He is investigating the control mechanisms of the doors, windows, ducts and conduits of the western MCC station.

Faelyna is a senior tech within TechOversight. She is also studying the controls of the station.

Helkyria is a senior scient in the Hegemony. She is studying the MCC western station and trying to uncover its secrets.

Kavn Duhyle is a tech supporting Helkyria in her studies. He builds additional instruments and tools for her use and does the cooking.

In this story, the moon draws near the Earth during the period of the Old Ones. A rainbow generated by the MCC shatters it. Now fragments of the moon circle the Earth as the Selene Ring.

In the Unity of Caelaarn period, Maertyn and Maarlyna are living in the western MCC station. The world is turning colder and glaciers cover the north side of the canal. Maertyn is investigating the use of MCC power sources to melt the ice.

He has investigated everything within a hundred yards to the east of the station. The material forming the wall and station seems uniform as far as he can tell. It maintains the same temperature throughout the structure and any energy flows within the walls are undetectable.

The MCC appears to have a subatomic structure. The biologic sciences of the Unity cannot not provide the best tools for his work. But he does want additional equipment for his studies.

He has been called back to Caelaarn by the Minister to discuss his findings with an internal ministry council. He has confirmed some prior observations, but has not learned anything hew. He is not looking forward to the meeting.

Maertyn takes a canal runner to Daelmar and then the tube-train to Caelaarn. In the world capital he is met by Ashauer, who offers him a ride to his town home. On the way, they discuss his findings and the Gaerda.

The next day, Maertyn meets with Hlaansk and discusses the Ministry concerns about his research. Maertyn learns that the Ministry of Protective Services wishes to use a nucleonic weapon on the ice. He points out the loss of knowledge that could result.

After the presentation and a question period, Hlaansk has a private session with Maertyn. He is appointing Maertyn as acting Assistant Minister for a few weeks. A week later, he is asked for his opinions on the redirection of unused funds. He is told by an associate that the Minister wants to avoid sending these funds to Military Research.

During this time, assassins try to kill Maertyn several times. The Gaerda seem to be impatient with him. Luckily, he survives these attempts through his wits and weapons.

In the Ruche Empire period, Eltyn and Faelyna are living in the MCC station studying the control systems. The station is sealed against a sandstorm. All doors, windows, ducts and conduits are closed off from the outside conditions. The sampling sensors are shuttered against the fierce winds and blasting sands.

Eltyn is monitoring the sandstorm when a message is received from the geostat continent monitor chief about the viability duration of the structure. The chief is a micromanager, but doesn't bother reading reports. Eltyn sends a sarcastic response and the chief is not amused.

Eltyn is also helping Faelyna by constructing and modifying instruments to imitate human touches on the surfaces of the various openings. They try various pressures and timings. Faelyna has borrowed a polariton generator/imager from the Institute for their experiments. They are planning new approaches with the new equipment.

Eltyn is interrupted by a massage from the chief about missing data and increasing interference on the net. Messages from Metcom start showing a reactive stance. Then a coup overturns the government and the new authorities clamp down on free thinking.

In the Vaniran Hegemony, Helkyria and Kavn are living in the MCC station. She is studying the material from which the canal and station are constructed. Today they are both outside looking at the terrain.

North of the canal, ice and snow have reached within twenty kays of the MCC station. Swampy ground and scattered trees cover the ground between the ice and the canal. Icy runoff from the too brief summer has been reduced to three narrow waterfalls over the canal wall.

The Earth is freezing again. Core radioactivity has subsided to the point that geothermal energy sources are weak. The sun had been tampered with in the past and will not provide sufficient solar heating for millennia.

The Vanir government is looking for alternatives sources of energy. The Aesyr fanatics are pushing for the release of greenhouse gases to warn the planet. This will probably cause runaway heating that will produce a seared Earth.

The Aesyr are alleging that the Vanir are developing new weapons at the station. They are sending a submersible to attack the station. Helkyria has requested protection from planetary government. A spec-ops team and weapons are dispatched to the station.

The team soon arrives, but the submersible is also nearby. Helkyria has the transport move closer to the south side. Then a missile hits where the transport had been.

This tale consists of four tangled tales. The Old Ones thread is initially presented in the short prologue, but pieces are revealed throughout the novel. The other time periods are separated by large gaps of time, possibly millions of years.

This novel is another story about an ancient artifact (see The Eternity Artifact. Presumably the canal within this story is human in origin. Yet the canal is obviously an enigma to the later inhabitants of the planet.

The novel alternates time periods. This is a bit confusing, but the stories intersect at the end. Keep reading.

Highly recommended for Modesitt fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of ancient enigmas, armed conflict, and dedicated researchers. Read and enjoy!

-Arthur W. Jordin

This is an excellent book. Good character development. There are three seperate stories that are woven together throughout the book. Two of them are a bit confusing to follow at first, but as the stories unfold they start to make more sense. Worth the read, but not as good as most of his other books.

This story had a promising premise and plot. 3 different Earths joined in both space and time but a canal that wraps around the one main continent much like the legendary Midgard Serpent circles the Earth in Norse Myths.

Soem of the characters are engaging and the joint crises of global cooling and political unrest on each Earth provide a bit of a link between the three stories.

Unfortunately, its an ambutious story that falls to its own ambition.

Each chapter switches to a different Earth, and one of the 3 Earth's has a rather peculiar syntax and grammar that offers a rahter jarring contrast. It's nice that L.E. tried to make each Earth distinctive, but in this case its painful to try to read.

And the constant switching disrupts the flow of the story. It took me far longer than normal to start to care for any charaacter because they'd be around for 3-5 pages and then gone for 8-10 or so. The writing ends up making the characters very impersonal. I couldn't feel close to the, and eventually ended up not caring.

L.E. is a talented author who has written several excellent worlds with his 3 major sagas, (Imager, Recluse, Corean Chronicles), but over time I've learned to be very wary of his single book offerings. The same complexity that spins out wonderful tales over multiple books is a major impediment to a single book and that is very evident here.

I only recommend this story to people who can be patient with multiple perspectives and a story that will jump sub-plots with every chapter. In a way this story had 3 seperate plots tied together by a theme, if a reader is not ready for that, they will be disappointed.

In three different ages, pairs of scientists examine a mysterious artifact. Although human civilizations have risen and fallen, the mysterious "canal" remains. Stretching across an entire continent, the canal seems almost independent of the environment around it. Millions of years of sandstorm haven't touched the surface of its white walls. Even laser and asteroid impact cannot phase it. Yet it seems to have no gravitational anomolies. Stranger still, portions of the canal wall respond... but only to human touch.

As the three pair of scientists investigate, their worlds are collapsing around them. In every case, extremists, looking for easy answers rather than the truth, are on the verge of overthrowing the governments. Environmental destruction (in one case, global warming, in another a new ice age) weaken the legitimacy of the existing government at at time when they can least afford it. In every case, the extremists see the canal as a source of power and are intent on claiming it for their own. In every case, only the scientists can stand against them, but what can they do when the "stone" of the canal responds to the attackers as easily as it does the defenders?

Only by unlocking the secrets of the canal can any of the scientists hope to avert disaster, save their own lives, or even avert the early destruction of the entire universe. But the canal has guarded its secrets for tens of thousands of years and time is running out.

Author L. E. Modesitt, Jr. has bitten off a lot in this story. Three pair of characters living in worlds that hold many parallels but are centuries (perhaps many centuries) apart are forced to confront not only the mysteries of the canal, but those of time itself. In each case, only a violent solution is possible, but in each case, successful resistance, let alone a strong counter-attack seems impossible.

I found the story to be slow-going at first. The frequent flips among the three eras kept me from identifying with individual characters, the parallels between the worlds adding to my confusion about who was doing what to whom. In the final third of the book, Modesitt brought the stories together, continuing the parallels but also introducing interaction between the three worlds. There was some good action here, as well as some relevant food for thought that can be taken away in the 21st century. Despite its flaws and my occasional inability to keep straight which world I was in at the moment, I found EMPRESS OF ETERNITY well worth the read.

Three Stars

This novel was very impressive. Like other reviewers, it took me a while to get caught up in the sweep of the story and get familiar with the characters and society of each of the three storylines. Once past the first few chapters where the reader is still figuring out the characters and issues, this is a gripping and entertaining read. The author's Imager and Recluc series were easier reads -- but Empress of Eternity (to me) was far more rewarding. I'm glad I took the time to read this great novel all the way through!

I did find some of the minor editing problems with the Kindle edition were annoying enough to interrupt the flow of reading the story. Certain common words were split into multiple different words that just didn't make sense; for example when Maertyn is working on the politically hot issue of budget allocations, the subject is split into the two words "bud" and "get"; similarly "independent" became "in" "de" "pen" "dent" later in the story.

My 5 star review is based on the story content, not on the minor editing flaws (I guess they're not so minor when they distract me from reading the story!)

Its a pretty engrossing book about investigation of an artifact by different civilizations that are separated by eons. The three stories echo each-other as they all occur in the same spatial location on Earth, and each successive civilization appear to be just a tiny bit closer then the previous one to unlocking the mysteries.

I liked this book more then Haze, it kind of has "Rendezvous with Rama" feel to it of trying to figure out the functioning of an million years old artifact beyond anyone understanding.

The politics part of the book is written in typical Modesit's style of the protagonists trying to fight their way though organizations where dirty tricks, waste and corruption are taking hold, although this part of the book is mostly confined to the Unity of Caelaar storyline, while the in-politics of the other two civilizations is less fleshed out.

I have been a hardcore fan of the author for years. I have read and enjoyed everything he has written (in and out of print). I find myself at the beginning of chapter eleven, unsure if I can go on. This is one of the most boring and incomprehensible books I have ever attempted to read.Empress of Eternity