Empire in Black and Gold by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Book 1 of Shadows of the Apt

Rating: 4 out of 5

Adrian Tchaikovsky’s real name is Adrian Czajkowski (pronounced the same way). It was thought that the Polish spelling of his name would confuse potential readers and so his surname was given its Latinized spelling. Whatever… this reviewer always thought that it is a good story that always attracts readers and not how an author spells his name, especially if the new pseudonym seems to borrow from a famous classical Russian composer. But if you have a story as good as Tchaikovsky’s first offering, Empire in Black and Gold, you can spell your name any way you want.

The Wasp Empire is on the march. They have just conquered the city of Myna and are now poised to invade the Lowlands. One man, Stenwold Maker, who just escaped the fall of the city, has decided to make the detriment of the plans of the Wasp Empire his life’s work. He becomes a member of the council of the city of Collegium where he tries to spread his warnings against the coming catastrophe. The problem? No one believes him. It has now been 20 years since the fall of Myna and the Wasps seem to have their attention elsewhere.

But Stenwold is sure they are coming. He has established a school which he can use as a vehicle to teach students of the dangers of the Wasps and find suitable recruits for a spy network he also planted within the Lowlands. But the enemy knows this and is now making plans to eliminate Stenwold lest someone starts to believe him, because the time has indeed come for them to make their move. This forces Stenwold to send four of his most cherished students into the jaws of danger, possibly never to see them alive again.

Looking at the plot, one wouldn’t be faulted for thinking this is another one of those “evil empire invades peaceful land threatening to engulf the place into a dark age” kind of story, and the thought would probably be right. But Tchaikovsky capably manages to bring a fresh look into this story and present something new. Tchaikovsky’s concept presents a world not of dwarves and elves and any of the usual fantasy creatures. In his world, humans (or human-like creatures) have developed in ways that they have acquired features and characteristics that are similar to insects. Hence, each community (or race) of these people seem to be classified according to their “totem” insects with their own unique characteristics.

There are the Beetle-kinden, who are tough as well as great artificiers (machine-makers). The Spider-kinden are known for their beauty and their deadly subtlety and decetifulness. The Dragonfly-kinden are graceful flyers and exceptional archers. The Ant-kinden are great fighters and are capable of linking minds which they use to perfectly coordinate their actions. The Mantis-kinden are the best individual fighters in the world. The Moth-kinden are night-fighters and the only remaining practitioners of the art of sorcery (if it ever was real). And, of course, the Wasp-kinden, the story’s antagonists, who are ferocious warriors of great number and posses a deadly “sting” in the form of some sort of plasma blasting from their hands. There are more of these kinden, and they are presented in the book.

The world is also not your usual medieval-flavored fantasy world of fairies, dragons and wizards. This is a world were early scientific technology has begun to appear and the kindens are subdivided into the “inapt” – who once ruled most of the lands but who can’t understand the concepts of technology which is the cause of their downfall; and the “apt” – former subjects who because of their proficiency in technology are able to break the bonds of subjection and rise as powerful city-states. It has elements of steampunk and more. There are gunpowder weapons, repeating bolt guns, airships, single-wing flyers, automotive “walkers” and electric-powered trains. And magic is practiced by a few and is disbelieved by the vast majority as nonexistent.

It is a world that is unique and fascinating, but that in itself isn’t just the reason why this book is good. Adrian Tchaikovsky creates a story that is well-thought, and quite interesting. The story has a good pace and easy to read; the action scenes are quite exciting. One can easily get immersed in the story and before one knows it, the reader is halfway through the book.

However, as good as the story is, the main strong point is the characters. Well-rounded and quite alive, they have well-defined strengths and weaknesses that readers will find themselves able to relate to all of them, including the main antagonist of the story, Captain Thalric, who is probably the most interesting and sympathetic persona, if one can say such things for story antagonists (but then again, George R.R. Martin made a living of doing just that).

The bad part? Sometimes the reader might wish there was more information and background on the world Tchaikovsky has created, because interestingly enough the author offers nothing in this book with regards to distant history, culture or society structure of each of the kindens (at least in this book, there are five more books coming up), making his world seem a little bit “shallow” without any soul. But the story isn’t finished yet, so we may get more data in later installments.

Tchaikovsky has made a quite commendable effort for Empire in Black and Gold as an initial work. With an easy-to-read style, fascinating concept and great characters, he gives readers something to look forward to in the coming months and years as the Shadows of the Apt series unfolds. Another good news? Book Two is out almost at the same time as Book One and it seems that readers do not have long to wait before the succeeding books hit the stands. Always a plus for any epic fantasy writer.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Rating: 4 out of 5

It is one of the most familiar stories of the 20th century. Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, visits the newly acquired territory of Bosnia. There, in the city of Sarajevo, he and his wife are tragically killed by assassins. Their deaths became the catalyst that sparks the events that lead to the eruption of the First World War between Great Britain, France, Russia and their allies, against Germany, Austria-Hungary and their allies, a pivotal event that would change the subsequent history of the world forever.

This is the event which starts off Scott Westerfeld’s novel, Leviathan. But any similarity with that monumental historical event of 1914 ends there. In the book, the countries at war are divided not just according to political divisions but also by scientific philosophy. On one side are Germany and Austria-Hungary, also known collectively as the “Clanker” nations. Their society is based on reliance in mechanical technology where in this world, they have created innovative war machines, including various forms of steampunk versions of those famous Star Wars Imperial Walkers.

On the other side are the “Darwinists”, relying on the advancements in biology or, more precisely, genetic engineering. In this world Charles Darwin, not only formulated the Theory of Evolution, but taken his studies a little further and deciphered the genetic codes of all organisms. Using this knowledge, various creatures’ genes were manipulated into the purpose of the development of new species of animals that are tailor-made for the use of human society. This includes monsters that were developed for the purposes of war like the kraken, a gigantic octopus or squid (or possibly a combination of both!) that could crush a galleon in its tentacles, or bats that would eat metal-piercing darts and ‘drop’ them on a certain target. And then, there is the showcase of all, a large whale that is capable of floating in the sky and serve as a massive airship capable of bringing destruction to the enemy, of which one is named the Leviathan.

In this story, Archduke Franz Ferdinand leaves behind a son and heir, Aleksandar, of whose future and very life is placed into jeopardy upon his death. In order to save the boy, some of the Archduke’s loyal retainers devise a plan of escaping inside a Stormwalker and make a mad rush towards Switzerland before anybody is wiser.

Meanwhile in Britain, a young girl, Deryn Sharp, pretends to be a boy in hopes of being accepted into the British Air Service where she wishes to follow in the footsteps of her late father. She joins just in time as Great Britain finds herself embroiled in a coming war. And soon enough the stories of Alek and Deryn follow the same path where it seems that, for the moment, their futures are intertwined.

Scott Westerfeld created a story aimed at a young audience, but it is still an enjoyable story for readers of every age. The writing is simple and clear. And the two main characters are well fleshed out and interesting.

Westerfeld also plays with various themes. Firstly, while the story is based on his vision of an alternate past, he presents possible visions for the future, with mechanical wonders and genetically engineered creatures. He also gives readers a look at the present through the ideologies of the two warring sides. Through them, Westerfeld depicts the outlooks of two social philosophies: the conservative Clankers and the liberal Darwinists. It is particularly interesting to read the way each side views the other: the Darwinists sees the Clankers as somewhat backward, afraid of innovation and too much tied to tradition. While the Clankers see the Darwinists as irreverent, godless and playing at being God.

All in all, it is a wonderful story with very fine two main characters, and is very enjoyable to read. It doesn’t hurt that elements of steampunk are effortlessly integrated into the tale. In fact, it is probably one of the best stories which incorporates the said sub-genre of speculative fiction. If there is a downside to this, it is the fact that the reader can easily be immersed in the story, that it may seemingly end too quickly. It is the first book of a series, and Leviathan only sets things up. Leaving the reader fussing over when the next installment would arrive.

Midnight Tides by Steven Erikson

Book 5 of the Malazan Book of the Fallen

Rating: 4 out of 5

The world where the Malazan Empire exists is a vast world and includes continents where the Malazan name has never been heard. Here in this fifth novel of the epic Malazan Book of the Fallen, Steven Erikson takes us to those other places and displays more of his breath-taking and vivid imagination through world-building and myth-making. Erikson takes epic fantasy to the limits and beyond.

By doing so, Midnight Tides, seemingly represents a break from the continuity of the previous four novels. It is a different place, the story seems to have occurred in an earlier time period than that of its predecessors, and only one persona is familiar to the readers – an earlier, younger version of a Tiste Edur character named Trull Sengar, who only had a relatively small role in the fourth novel. Midnight Tides is the story of two empires, a kingdom based on total control of the resources of the continent – the Letherii Empire; and the newly-formed conglomeration of tribes previously warring against each other – the Tiste Edur (a group of people also fleetingly glimpsed in the preceding books). Lether, who has succeeded in campaigns of subjugating its neighbors in order to control their natural resources has only one great obstacle left before the total domination of the continent, the tribes of the Tiste Edur. However, the Edur have finally realized the only way stop the coming inevitable onslaught is to stop their in-fighting and unite against the larger enemy.

The tale unfolds mainly through the stories surrounding two families. The Sengars of the Tiste Edur – the warrior brothers Fear, Trull, and Rhulad, who become pivotal in the realization of the formalization of the Tiste Edur empire through their trials and most of all, disappointments; and the Beddicts of Lether, brothers also – Hull, who plans to betray Lether to the enemy; Tehol – making his way through Lether society as a seemingly-failed businessman, and Brys – the Emperor’s Champion. However, as it turns out in the other novels, the unfolding war is just a part in the bigger conflict among the gods who seem to manipulate the destiny of mortals. And it is through these immortals that Erikson reveals the background behind the history and myths of the peoples of this world, and connects the fifth novel to the vast unfolding story of the Malazan Empire.

Midnight Tides also is a novel where Erikson presents a society that is so overtly familiar to the contemporary world. He presents a society eerily and uncomfortably familiar to some readers, more particularly American society and the various mother nations of Britain and Western Europe that contributed to its culture and people. In explaining Letherii society, he presents the forces that molded today’s Western-driven culture. He presents a people relying not only in a monetary system, but on a systematic system of managing debts and credits; a society believing in the supposedly inherent greatness of its culture and its “manifest destiny” to impose that culture throughout their world; he presents a government that aims to protect the “interests” of its society by assuring that other cultures become subordinated and taken advantage of; a military that increasingly relies on impersonal destructive weaponry, taking away what little was left of humanity in what was already the most inhumane acts of society. Erikson gives a scathing rebuke of today’s ultra-competitive society bred in today’s media:

…You take your natural vices and call them virtues. Of which greed is the most despicable. That and betrayal of commonality. After all, whoever decided that competition is always and without exception a healthy attribute? Why that particular path to self-esteem? Your heel on the hand of the one below. This is worth something? Let me tell you, it’s worth nothing. Nothing lasting. Every monument that exists beyond the moment – no matter which king, emperor or warrior lays claim to it – is actually a testament to the common, to co-operation, to the plural rather than the singular.

Steven Erikson, by the way, is an archeologist by profession before he became a writer and has studied past cultures and histories. He probably knows what he is talking about. This background in archeology also shows in his writing in this novel and all the rest. His places are dotted with ruins here and there and helps define the culture of one of the people of his books and help tell their history. His writing has also shown a vast improvement from the first novel, and considering the story of Midnight Tides is, in the surface, just barely connected to the past four books, it’s almost seems like this is the way Erikson would like to start a series had he had the chance. His writing becomes crisper and clearer. And humor (albeit dark and sarcastic) has now become fully integrated.

On the other hand, some of the chinks in his writing still remain. Particularly the problem of giving ample time to develop a vast number of characters – nine hundred pages of fine print still isn’t enough. He still leaves explanation to things and events up in the air leaving this for further novels, or for the reader to research back.

Fortunately enough, Erikson’s story is so entertaining and so engrossing that the reader just moves on and enjoy the remarkable tale conjured from the creative imagination of a great writer and discovers a world so vast and dynamic, it rivals and probably surpasses any other fantasy world created before it. And the journey is only halfway over, which is great news for fantasy fans.

This review ends with Erikson's astute observation of man's progress through history:

We have a talent for disguising greed under the cloak of freedom. As for past acts of depravity, we prefer to ignore those. Progress, after all, means to look ever forward, and whatever we have trampled in our wake is best forgotten.