It was not his war.
On the wrong planet, at the right time, for the best reasons, Hadrian Marlowe started down a path that could only end in fire. The galaxy remembers him as a hero: the man who burned every last alien Cielcin from the sky. They remember him as a monster: the devil who destroyed a sun, casually annihilating four billion human lives–even the Emperor himself–against Imperial orders.
But Hadrian was not a hero. He was not a monster. He was not even a soldier.
Fleeing his father and a future as a torturer, Hadrian finds himself stranded on a strange, backwater world. Forced to fight as a gladiator and navigate the intrigues of a foreign planetary court, he will find himself fighting a war he did not start, for an Empire he does not love
Hadrian Marlowe is bound by tradition. He is the first son of a noble family and is expected to follow his father’s orders. The only problem is that Hadrian is his own man. He wants a different life. He wants to explore the cosmos, following in the footsteps of his heroes then forging his own path.
During the early chapters of the novel we gain some insight into the rest of the Marlowe clan. It quickly becomes obvious there is little love there. His father, Lord Alistair Marlowe of Delos, is first and foremost concerned with the complex political machinations of his vast business empire. He has sired his heirs, and as far as he is concerned his job as a parent is done. Hadrian’s mother, Lady Liliana, remains a bit of an enigma. She spends much of her time as far away from her husband as she can. Finally, there is Hadrian’s brother, Crispin. Self-absorbed, petty and callow, Crispin just wants to be the family heir. Killing aliens and craving his father’s attention is all Crispin is interested in. With such a dysfunctional family it is hardly a surprise when Hadrian makes good his escape from Delos.
After leaving home, Hadrian’s life starts taking some unexpected twists and turns. Away from a life of privilege, he learns more about himself than he ever could staying with rest of the Marlowes. I was particularly fond of his initial arrival on the planet Emesh. The chapters dealing with Hadrian’s time as a beggar and then thief go a long way to humanising his character. His time as a gladiator is also entertaining, his compatriots in the colosseum are a suitably earthy bunch.
Dotted throughout the narrative, there are also chapters written from Hadrian’s perspective as an old man. Set many years after the events in the rest of the novel, you get further insight into our protagonist. Experience and guilt weigh heavy on the shoulders of the older man. This proves to be a very effective device in the writing. These little vignettes made me that much more curious to learn how events will shape Hadrian. How will his decisions, actions and regrets change the course of his life? You can’t beat a hero prone to bouts of introspection can you? Decisions have consequences and Hadrian doesn’t always do what is right. Having to live the rest of his life knowing he has made mistakes is going to change a person.
The first book of the Sun Eater series is a vast meaty science fiction. At first glance it might appear that the life of a single person would not matter a great deal, especially when we are talking about the fate of galaxies, but Hadrian is different. He is like a nexus point for the universe. Watching the devolution and rebirth of Hadrian Marlowe is a fascinating sight to behold. From a spoiled minor noble to destitute beggar, from thief to gladiator, then tutor and beyond; it is quite the ride. Hadrian’s deepest wish is to see the universe, and based on the choices, this wish most definitely comes true. Perhaps not in quite the way he envisaged, but true nonetheless.
There is little disputing that Empire of Silence falls squarely into the category of ‘reading commitment’. The book is huge, and once you are hooked it is going to demand a significantly large portion of your time. The edition of the novel I read is close to eight hundred pages long. I can confirm the physical book is a mighty tome indeed. Those who wish to avoid potential wrist injuries may wish to go invest in the ebook edition, or possibly a sturdy book stand.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Empire of Silence. I am firmly of the opinion that successful science fiction needs to be genuinely evocative. Christopher Ruocchio’s debut does a first-rate job of exactly that. The locations, the characters and the plot are all so well-rounded it is easy to get utterly engrossed. Now I can guarantee that there will be inevitable comparisons to other vast family-centric space operas but don’t be fooled, Empire of Silence is a unique beast. It veers off on its own tangents that I am sure sci-fi fans are going to love. I look forward to finding out where Hadrian’s journey will lead him next.
Somewhat predictably perhaps, I’ve gone for the Dune soundtrack as this week’s review accompaniment, but I’ve added a slight wrinkle. Rather than the absurd lunacy of Toto’s 1980s David Lynch flavoured masterpiece (you know you love it), I have been listening to the significantly subtler soundtrack for the television adaption by Graeme Revell. It is well worth seeking out if you can, as it fits with Empire of Silence perfectly.
Empire of Silence is published by Gollancz and is available now.
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