Publishers Weekly
05/28/2018
Space opera fans will savor the rich details of Ruocchio’s far-future debut, which sets the scene for a complicated series. The Earth is long dead, but humans have spread to many other planets, where they now practice a heavy-handed, dangerous religion. Humans are also at war with vicious aliens. In the frame story, protagonist Hadrian Marlowe, onetime presumed heir to an empire, explains why he is now waiting to be hanged in front of all the worlds. His is a gritty, bloody, mostly sad journey: he starts out wealthy and powerful, wakes up one day on a planet he’s never heard of, is reduced to living in the streets, and eventually becomes a lord again. At times the heavy description and flashbacks reduce the momentum, and there’s very little action—a bit surprising given the backdrop of interstellar war and religion-mandated torture—but readers who like a slow-building story with a strong character focus will find everything they’re looking for in this series opener. Agent: Shawna McCarthy, McCarthy Agency. (July)
From the Publisher
Praise for Empire of Silence:
"Empire of Silence is epic science fiction at its most genuinely epic. Ruocchio has made something fascinating here, and I can't wait to see what he does next." —James S.A. Corey, New York Times-bestselling author of The Expanse novels
"Christopher Ruocchio's Empire of Silence is epic-scale space opera in the tradition of Iain M. Banks and Frank Herbert's Dune, without being a clone of either of them. His is a welcome new voice in science fiction." —Eric Flint, author of the bestselling 1632 series
“Empire of Silence has the sweep and political complexity of Dune (though no sandworms). It builds to a blazing climax, followed by a satisfying conclusion. I recommend the book.” —David Drake, bestselling author of the RCN Series
“Empire of Silence is a rich tapestry of future history and worldbuilding, a galactic-sized story of a hero, a tyrant, but portrayed as a man.” —Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times-bestselling author of The Dark Between the Stars
“Empire of Silence packs in action and erudition in equal measure. This is a gripping first installment in a space opera that delivers both high-adrenaline thrills and hard-earned wisdom about the human spirit.” —D.J. Butler, author of Witchy Eye
“A richly imagined epic, briskly and vividly told.” —R.M. Meluch, author of the Tour of the Merrimack series
“A craftsman of rare ability, Christopher Ruocchio lures you into a future filled with danger, action, irony, vaulting prose, and a few, precious dollops of hope.” —David Brin, author of Earth and The Postman
"Space opera fans will savor the rich details of Ruocchio’s far-future debut, which sets the scene for a complicated series.... Readers who like a slow-building story with a strong character focus will find everything they’re looking for in this series opener." —Publishers Weekly
"Although stretched across a vast array of planets, the story line is often more focused on the intimate than on the expanse, giving it a wonderful emotional punch. This wow book is a must for fans of Pierce Brown and Patrick Rothfuss." —Library Journal (starred review)
