Reviews

The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi

asdvj's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

mattp3's review against another edition

4.0

So this is John Scalzi's go at a Dune-like, and I must admit it's pretty fun. The Macguffin is pretty well thought out and at least partly original. Scalzi pulls off the vibrant, bold and sarcastic characters with aplomb, though his prose is typically casual. His science fiction could be improved, especially since technology only seems to have improved from current where the plot demands, which is a bit jarring. However he does buck the trend of sci-fi authors being useless at people, so for that I am thankful. I'll be ploughing straight into the next one in the series.

kizalia's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

logistical's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

bulwark's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

timinbc's review against another edition

3.0

First off, why can't the industry agree that when a book is #1 of a set IT SAYS SO ON THE COVER?

So ... you have to like Scalzi's breezy style to like this. And you REALLY have to not mind profanity. There's so much that it becomes funny after a while. And most of it is Kiva, who is a rather good character.

First off, I thought, "Oh noes, not ANOTHER book about a smart young woman who no one dreamed would become emperor. This is just Wagers' Behind The Throne again!" But then Scalzi changed direction. Could this be a tribute to Wagers? Later there's a minor character named Jemisin. And Cardenia? Is that Cordelia Naismith/Vorkosigan?

And don't tell me that Every Single Time you saw "Nohamapetan" you didn't think "Nahasapeemapetilon." There's no way that isn't intentional.

The plot's decent. The action's good. The characters are a good mix. OK, the dialogue is totally 2016, but I am not sure I want my authors speculating on future talk styles (although I do wonder whether teenagers will still "be all like, you know, he goes Eww and I'm all like lol" in 2150.)

This book is the potato chips of science fiction, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Old Man's War was more substantial, but I see no reason why this one needs to be compared to it beyond that.

r2bone's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

testaroscia's review against another edition

5.0

Looking back it would appear I like my SF fairly serious, Stephenson, Banks etc. However this one was a hoot of a trip and I could not wait for lunch breaks to jump back in. I went the audible route and I think Will Wheaton did an excellent job in bringing what I think is Scalzi's primary strength, dialogue, to life. Kiva is my new favorite character.

jennkei's review against another edition

4.0

I feel like I've read this before. Still good.

jopopipo's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75