Empire

By Orson Scott Card

Empire - Orson Scott Card
  • Release Date: 2009-11-30
  • Genre: Adventure Sci-Fi
Score: 4
4
From 91 Ratings

Description

The American Empire has grown too fast, and the fault lines at home are stressed to the breaking point. The war of words between Right and Left has collapsed into a shooting war, though most people just want to be left alone.

The battle rages between the high-technology weapons on one side, and militia foot-soldiers on the other, devastating the cities, and overrunning the countryside. But the vast majority, who only want the killing to stop and the nation to return to more peaceful days, have technology, weapons and strategic geniuses of their own.

When the American dream shatters into violence, who can hold the people and the government together? And which side will you be on?

Orson Scott Card is a master storyteller, who has earned millions of fans and reams of praise for his previous science fiction and fantasy novels. Now he steps a little closer to the present day with this chilling look at a near future scenario of a new American Civil War.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Reviews

  • Thriller turned into Comedy

    1
    By Kensan Oni
    Until this book, I had never thrown a book in anger. I admit, I got about 5...6 chapters into the book? I was open to a lot of possible outcomes for the book. I was willing to give the fantasy room to grow. When the Grass Roots Rebellion got Battlesuits.... that's when I drew the line. It's trash fiction based that was designed to sell during a time where relationships in America seemed and maybe were strained. I am sure that someone out there will find it enjoyable. I can't. It's not Heinland. It's not even bad Card, and I've read Bad Card. This is the worst book he had wrote up to that date, and unless you really like corny, stupid stories, I suggest you skip this one and go back to his stronger Ender and Bean series.
  • 0 Stars

    1
    By sailordoom
    Unlike wine, OSC has not gotten better with age. This is awful. I’m done with Card, especially when I consider his politics.
  • Good writer, poor plot

    2
    By Mad_Mooly
    I enjoy Card's work (such as the Enders books) for his believable and intimately written characters, his compassion, his powerful plot lines, and his strong sense of justice. At times I had a very hard time believing that Orson Scott Card wrote this book. The premise was fine, the characters were believable, and the book was suspenseful enough at times to keep me reading. Unfortunately, I felt as if Card was...showing off, being too self-righteous as he wrote, as if the half respected, half hated character of Torrent was actually Card himself. It is difficult to describe accurately, so I will sum up by saying that once I finished the story, I felt disgusted, and even a little cheated. Definitely not a must-read from the creator of Andrew Wiggin.
  • ?

    4
    By DarkYoda66
    ''A disturbing look at a possible future" (from the book cover) This book has a few good points and a good plot. I wouldnt advise reading if you dont have an open mind. If you do you are probably going to like this book.
  • Nope

    1
    By Scaramouche342
    I didn't like this when I read it initially - too concept driven and very one dimensional- and I like it less given Card's politics.
  • Good story

    5
    By Herr Herr1
    Good story
  • Transparent Propaganda

    1
    By landonf
    This book wears its half-baked politics on its sleeve, serving up naive oversimplifications and archetypes as truth. I couldn't wade through this mess to find the story, and didn't make it past the first few chapters. I've read Card since I was a teenager, but this embarrassing disaster of a book has put me off for good.
  • Down right good book.

    5
    By Dman5156
    Political fan or not (I'm not) it still was a very good read.
  • Masterful

    5
    By iYaiYai
    This book is a fine example of Card's humble mastery. It is an entirely believable thought-provoking page-turner of a story. Don't miss the epilogue, too.
  • Excellent

    5
    By rcmustain
    Well written fast paced. Empire covers a "what if" scenario that, with the exception of the (limited) sci-fi element, is a plausible outcome of turbulent times.