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stvmln's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I accidentally started book series at wrong book (this is #7), but now that I have all six prior books worth of context, I can say that this book is truly staggering in scope. An amazing sci-fi spy novel from start to finish.
quietdomino's review against another edition
3.0
definitely the best multi-timeline alternate universe series blurbed by a nobel-prize winning economist out there.
jaipal's review against another edition
4.0
I read the Laundry files first before starting on Empire Games. Boy, was that a mistake. No, no, it is not bad, on the contrary, I found this book to be good. However, Empire Games is book 7 of the Merchant Princes series. There is a lot of background information in the book which gives the reader an idea of what happened in the past but a lot of contextual elements are lost.
That being said, I still found the book to be enjoyable. This series is very different from the Laundry Files, it is a lot darker and everyone takes themselves a bit too seriously. However, considering the tone of this book, this works well.
The premise is about people who can walk between parallel worlds which are slightly different to each other. It is simple but the author makes it work well. Most of the main characters are from the previous series so I lost a lot of the personal history as I did not read the previously novels. However, the author does a good job to ensure that the first time reader will not be lost. This makes the story and writing enjoyable as we follow the adventures of Rita, who lives in a security state USA and then recruited to spy on the world walkers on other Earths. There is a cold war between the different Earths and as we progress through the book, we can see what are the possible outcomes if history was altered slightly.
The main things I enjoy about this book: different revolutionary paths due to certain events that played out differently, the main characters are mostly likeable, the characters are written as smart people and it is written as a thriller. It reminds me of old 1960s spy thrillers.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and look forward to book 2.
That being said, I still found the book to be enjoyable. This series is very different from the Laundry Files, it is a lot darker and everyone takes themselves a bit too seriously. However, considering the tone of this book, this works well.
The premise is about people who can walk between parallel worlds which are slightly different to each other. It is simple but the author makes it work well. Most of the main characters are from the previous series so I lost a lot of the personal history as I did not read the previously novels. However, the author does a good job to ensure that the first time reader will not be lost. This makes the story and writing enjoyable as we follow the adventures of Rita, who lives in a security state USA and then recruited to spy on the world walkers on other Earths. There is a cold war between the different Earths and as we progress through the book, we can see what are the possible outcomes if history was altered slightly.
The main things I enjoy about this book: different revolutionary paths due to certain events that played out differently, the main characters are mostly likeable, the characters are written as smart people and it is written as a thriller. It reminds me of old 1960s spy thrillers.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and look forward to book 2.
eastofthesunwestofthemoon's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars. This book starts part 2 of the whole series. While there are some new characters introduced, it's not a cast of thousands and they're mostly easy to remember and keep separate in my mind. Rita is an engaging protagonist; I'd like to see more of her partner Angie. Yes the book ends on something of a cliff hanger, which annoys me, but at least I know the next installment is out and available.
_b_a_l_'s review against another edition
2.0
Some cool bits, but the weird pacing through me off multiple times.
Not interesting enough for me to want to pursue the rest of the series.
Not interesting enough for me to want to pursue the rest of the series.
zookoo's review against another edition
3.5
Just ok,not as good as Singularity Sky or Halting State. World walker /time line setting is interesting,some ok political intrigue,not enough to really excite me to read the sequels
danielwestheide's review against another edition
5.0
As a big fan of the Merchant Princes series, I was really looking forward to this first book in a new trilogy that continues the story, in a near-future alternate history. I wasn't disappointed. I loved learning more about how Miriam Beckstein and the other world walkers have been faring since the grand finale of the previous book, and the newly introduced main character, Rita, as well as her East-German grandpa are really likeable characters.
I don't know if I would have been able to enjoy this book without knowing about the context, all the world-building and plot of the previous books. Even though this is marked as book #1 in a new series, it really is a continuation of an existing series, and I have the feeling you will only fully appreciate this book if you have read all of the old Merchant princes books before.
Closing side note: Stross paints a pretty dark picture of an authoritarian US regime in the near future of the book's alternate history. It's sad to see that what was meant to be a dystopia is not that much worse than what we are seeing now, in our very own reality.
I don't know if I would have been able to enjoy this book without knowing about the context, all the world-building and plot of the previous books. Even though this is marked as book #1 in a new series, it really is a continuation of an existing series, and I have the feeling you will only fully appreciate this book if you have read all of the old Merchant princes books before.
Closing side note: Stross paints a pretty dark picture of an authoritarian US regime in the near future of the book's alternate history. It's sad to see that what was meant to be a dystopia is not that much worse than what we are seeing now, in our very own reality.
glimnore's review against another edition
4.0
Back in my undergrad, I had tried getting into Stross' work by means if Halting State, which, at the time, was unfortunately lost on me due to its complex narrative structure and second person pov.
Sometime during my graduate school I picked up Hannu Rajaniemi's high scifi attempt at cold War fiction (Summerland) , with multiple dimensions and spirits and what not. Unfortunately, I couldn't maintain my interest in the subject matter and I ended up never properly finishing the novel.
But Empire Games is different. Empire games is, at its best moments, downright brilliant. Hauntingly self aware of the Era it is published in and increasingly relevant as time goes by, Stross nails down the cryptic Cold War Vibe and the uncomfortable high fluting nature of parallel timelines/alternative dimensions. He does this all with tact, a loveable main character, and a distant ever present undercurrent of something greater being at play.
Empire Games feels like someone combined Hannu Rajaniemi's Summerland with Cory Doctorow's Halting State. It is an intelligent piece of work that can stand on its own, even though it is technically book 6/7 of Stross' Merchant Prince Series.
Ultimately, pacing issues are the only thing keeping this book from reviewing the highest possible praise, but the thrilling story, well-developed MC, and eerie atmosphere make it an absolutely great read. Stross has got me hooked on the story, wanting to desperately know what happens next.
Anyone interested in picking this up, please keep reading past the 100 page mark. You'll most surely be happy you do.
Sometime during my graduate school I picked up Hannu Rajaniemi's high scifi attempt at cold War fiction (Summerland) , with multiple dimensions and spirits and what not. Unfortunately, I couldn't maintain my interest in the subject matter and I ended up never properly finishing the novel.
But Empire Games is different. Empire games is, at its best moments, downright brilliant. Hauntingly self aware of the Era it is published in and increasingly relevant as time goes by, Stross nails down the cryptic Cold War Vibe and the uncomfortable high fluting nature of parallel timelines/alternative dimensions. He does this all with tact, a loveable main character, and a distant ever present undercurrent of something greater being at play.
Empire Games feels like someone combined Hannu Rajaniemi's Summerland with Cory Doctorow's Halting State. It is an intelligent piece of work that can stand on its own, even though it is technically book 6/7 of Stross' Merchant Prince Series.
Ultimately, pacing issues are the only thing keeping this book from reviewing the highest possible praise, but the thrilling story, well-developed MC, and eerie atmosphere make it an absolutely great read. Stross has got me hooked on the story, wanting to desperately know what happens next.
Anyone interested in picking this up, please keep reading past the 100 page mark. You'll most surely be happy you do.
clacksee's review against another edition
5.0
The Merchant Princes series opens as what appears to be a straightforward portal fantasy … and then takes a sideways turn. By this point in the series, Stross has given up all pretence of fantasy. Part socio-political sci-fi, part Cold War spy thriller, part alternative history – this is Stross at his finest.
Just a word of warning: Do not try to read this while you've got Covid. Covid-brain is real and it cannot keep up with the many layers of this expertly woven novel.
Just a word of warning: Do not try to read this while you've got Covid. Covid-brain is real and it cannot keep up with the many layers of this expertly woven novel.
puzzlekatie's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25