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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
mysterious
"History was just that. A story. The truth was too much."
Undoubtedly the best collection of short stories thus far in the Sun Eater series. Nearly every story had some element that was compelling, and there was more of a central theme to each story along with the usual supplemental worldbuilding. The prose really felt fully up to par with the main series as well.
I loved getting a story from Otavia's perspective; she's dearly missed. The secrets of Echidna and the contact with a Monumental was fascinating, as was the story involving the Mericanii. And the last story was amazing, the final paragraph incredibly moving.
adventurous
dark
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
No
4/5
This is the best Sun Eater short-story collection yet! Really only one of the seven stories was a miss for me, and generally because I felt it was being a bit too cheeky.
Overall this a is a fun run through the crazy Sun Eater Universe, and a great appetizer for the penultimate book in the main sequence (though I must admit I've already started on Disquiet Gods...)
One more to go before I'm in the finale-waiting-room with the rest of the fandom!
This is the best Sun Eater short-story collection yet! Really only one of the seven stories was a miss for me, and generally because I felt it was being a bit too cheeky.
Overall this a is a fun run through the crazy Sun Eater Universe, and a great appetizer for the penultimate book in the main sequence (though I must admit I've already started on Disquiet Gods...)
One more to go before I'm in the finale-waiting-room with the rest of the fandom!
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
As was with the first two volumes, this review will be excerpts of my post thoughts live-tweet of every short story followed by an overall final thoughts afterwards.
Short Story 1: After The Feast
New best short story. This is what you call a last shout! RIP Otavia Corvo
Short Story 2: [RE]INCARNATION
This was a bold one by Ruocchio. While implementing 2nd person pov, he goes into Sci-fis’ most classical questions:
What does it means to be human?
Do robots have souls?
What is God?
While weaving everything well in this short tale. May be the best one yet.
Short Story 3: A Parable In Iron
“A Kingdom is nothing without its King”
“But a King is nothing without his Kingdom”
Another good short story. This is a well made fable. Ruocchio keeps impressing me with both the writing style and story types he writes.
Short Story 4: Mother Of Monsters
“It didn’t matter, he decided, as all went black. Whatever else was true, it had taken a god to kill him, and that was enough.”
The dimensional warps brought about by Sun Eater’s Eldritch elements never fail to entrance me even after Disquiet Gods. I heard reading this beforehand enhances your experience of Disquiet Gods, so it’s fitting that the other way around applies too. Another great short story.
Short Story 5: The Archaenaut
This one was set 3000 years after the inception of the Sollan empire. That’s more than 18000 years before the current timeline. It was interesting seeing the terms they called things then like Exonauts/Exos for the extrasollarians/extras. That's great worldbuilding right there.
Ruochhio implemented some phonic symbols which was a clever way to depict the evolution of language across different ages of history. This started off as a normal space mystery, then horror then back to mystery with the final mericanii reveal tying it up nicely as an unmistakable Sun Eater tale.
Short Story 6: Gutter Ballet
This one was a tale of a reluctant hero. He mightn't be a knight anymore by the sollan empire's standards but he's a true knight at heart withholding great human virtues in a world that rewards being bad & shuns not being bad much more being good.
Short Story 7, the final short Story: Daughter of swords
Seeing Cassandra's perspective for the first time did not disappoint. Seeing her psychology on who she is to her fellow colleagues, the jaddian world and her father added a lot more depth to her. Really a needed piece to her character in Disquiet Gods.
As it stands, Tales fo the Sun Eater Volume 3 is a 5⭐ for me.
Just like the books get better with every entry.. at least generally, so did the tales trilogy of volumes. A lot of interesting ideas with ingenoius executions. Christopher really flexed his range & experimented a lot and mostly succeeded. Was never a fan of short stories but alas Ruochhio with these Tales of The Sun Eater volumes trilogy has once again changed that mindset of mine like he did for Sci-Fi.
Now no more Sun Eater for me except orphan projects like Fangs of Oannos or Royal Games
Short Story 1: After The Feast
New best short story. This is what you call a last shout! RIP Otavia Corvo
Short Story 2: [RE]INCARNATION
This was a bold one by Ruocchio. While implementing 2nd person pov, he goes into Sci-fis’ most classical questions:
What does it means to be human?
Do robots have souls?
What is God?
While weaving everything well in this short tale. May be the best one yet.
Short Story 3: A Parable In Iron
“A Kingdom is nothing without its King”
“But a King is nothing without his Kingdom”
Another good short story. This is a well made fable. Ruocchio keeps impressing me with both the writing style and story types he writes.
Short Story 4: Mother Of Monsters
“It didn’t matter, he decided, as all went black. Whatever else was true, it had taken a god to kill him, and that was enough.”
The dimensional warps brought about by Sun Eater’s Eldritch elements never fail to entrance me even after Disquiet Gods. I heard reading this beforehand enhances your experience of Disquiet Gods, so it’s fitting that the other way around applies too. Another great short story.
Short Story 5: The Archaenaut
This one was set 3000 years after the inception of the Sollan empire. That’s more than 18000 years before the current timeline. It was interesting seeing the terms they called things then like Exonauts/Exos for the extrasollarians/extras. That's great worldbuilding right there.
Ruochhio implemented some phonic symbols which was a clever way to depict the evolution of language across different ages of history. This started off as a normal space mystery, then horror then back to mystery with the final mericanii reveal tying it up nicely as an unmistakable Sun Eater tale.
Short Story 6: Gutter Ballet
This one was a tale of a reluctant hero. He mightn't be a knight anymore by the sollan empire's standards but he's a true knight at heart withholding great human virtues in a world that rewards being bad & shuns not being bad much more being good.
Short Story 7, the final short Story: Daughter of swords
Seeing Cassandra's perspective for the first time did not disappoint. Seeing her psychology on who she is to her fellow colleagues, the jaddian world and her father added a lot more depth to her. Really a needed piece to her character in Disquiet Gods.
As it stands, Tales fo the Sun Eater Volume 3 is a 5⭐ for me.
Just like the books get better with every entry.. at least generally, so did the tales trilogy of volumes. A lot of interesting ideas with ingenoius executions. Christopher really flexed his range & experimented a lot and mostly succeeded. Was never a fan of short stories but alas Ruochhio with these Tales of The Sun Eater volumes trilogy has once again changed that mindset of mine like he did for Sci-Fi.
Now no more Sun Eater for me except orphan projects like Fangs of Oannos or Royal Games
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
By FAR the best of the Tales of the Sun Eater collections, I loved every story in this.
There were characters in this, such as Simon, that I sincerely hope are incorporated into the main cast of the next main book!
There were characters in this, such as Simon, that I sincerely hope are incorporated into the main cast of the next main book!
4,5 ⭐
Attention à lire après le tome 5. Spoil les évents des tomes 4 et 5.
Le meilleur des trois recueils de Ruocchio !!
Attention à lire après le tome 5. Spoil les évents des tomes 4 et 5.
Le meilleur des trois recueils de Ruocchio !!
How does choice factor in to existence or death? Ruocchio explores that here within the backdrop of Sun Eater across another incredible set of stories. A mixture of old lore through fresh eyes and new pivotal characters makes this a great pit stop before Disquiet Gods.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"Tales of the Sun Eater, Volume 3" by Christopher Ruocchio is the latest entry in the collection of short stories set in the expansive universe of the Sun Eater series. This volume continues the tradition of enriching the main narrative with additional depth and context through a variety of compelling stories.
The collection features a diverse range of tales that explore different facets of Ruocchio's universe. Each story is crafted with the same care and detail as the main novels, offering readers insights into lesser-known characters, events, and locations that enhance the overall lore of the series. The narratives vary in tone and scope, from intense action sequences to more introspective and character-driven stories.
Ruocchio's world-building remains exceptional, with each story adding layers to the intricate universe of the Sun Eater series. The settings are vividly described, and the plots are engaging, maintaining the high standard of storytelling seen in the main series.
Character development is a key strength of this volume. The stories delve into the backgrounds and motivations of both familiar and new characters, providing a richer understanding of their roles in the larger narrative. This adds depth to the main series and gives fans a chance to explore different perspectives within the universe.
Ruocchio's prose continues to impress with its lyrical quality and evocative descriptions. The pacing of the stories is well-managed, ensuring that each one is satisfying and contributes meaningfully to the broader narrative.
"Tales of the Sun Eater, Volume 3" is a valuable addition to the Sun Eater series, offering fans more of the richly imagined world they’ve come to love. It provides an engaging mix of stories that expand on the main narrative and deepen the reader's connection to the universe Ruocchio has created. For both long-time fans and newcomers, this collection is a rewarding and enjoyable read.
The collection features a diverse range of tales that explore different facets of Ruocchio's universe. Each story is crafted with the same care and detail as the main novels, offering readers insights into lesser-known characters, events, and locations that enhance the overall lore of the series. The narratives vary in tone and scope, from intense action sequences to more introspective and character-driven stories.
Ruocchio's world-building remains exceptional, with each story adding layers to the intricate universe of the Sun Eater series. The settings are vividly described, and the plots are engaging, maintaining the high standard of storytelling seen in the main series.
Character development is a key strength of this volume. The stories delve into the backgrounds and motivations of both familiar and new characters, providing a richer understanding of their roles in the larger narrative. This adds depth to the main series and gives fans a chance to explore different perspectives within the universe.
Ruocchio's prose continues to impress with its lyrical quality and evocative descriptions. The pacing of the stories is well-managed, ensuring that each one is satisfying and contributes meaningfully to the broader narrative.
"Tales of the Sun Eater, Volume 3" is a valuable addition to the Sun Eater series, offering fans more of the richly imagined world they’ve come to love. It provides an engaging mix of stories that expand on the main narrative and deepen the reader's connection to the universe Ruocchio has created. For both long-time fans and newcomers, this collection is a rewarding and enjoyable read.
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A