Empire State (Empire State, #1)

Feb 16, 2012 Dan Schwent rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sf, 2012, pulp, angry-robot

Two battling superheroes open a rift into a parallel dimension. On the other side of the rift is The Empire State, an imperfect copy of New York. Empire State detective Rad Bradley's search for a missing woman brings him into conflict with forces from New York. But do they mean to save the Empire State or destroy it?

Why I liked this book:
Parallel universes are awesome, aren't they? One out of ever five Star Trek episodes uses them in some way. The Empire State is a copy of New York that reminds...more Two battling superheroes open a rift into a parallel dimension. On the other side of the rift is The Empire State, an imperfect copy of New York. Empire State detective Rad Bradley's search for a missing woman brings him into conflict with forces from New York. But do they mean to save the Empire State or destroy it?

Why I liked this book:
Parallel universes are awesome, aren't they? One out of ever five Star Trek episodes uses them in some way. The Empire State is a copy of New York that reminds me of the movie Dark City. Many New Yorkers have analogues in the Empire State. In the course of this story, many of them meet their doppelgangers. Some people's doppelgangers were not very dissimilar from the originals.

The setting is a pseudo-New York of the 1930's, with robots, detectives, prohibition, and a war against an Unseen enemy. Ray Bradley is just a gumshoe that isn't all that bright and keeps finding himself in the thick of trouble. The two superheroes, Skyguard and Science Pirate, after pretty interesting. Nimrod and Carson were both characters I'd like to see more from. I had no idea where the central mystery was going.

Why I did not think this book was amazing:
Let me take a deep breath and... for a book that's promoted as a superhero book, there isn't nearly enough super hero action. The logic of how New York and the Empire State are connected was inconsistent from chapter to chapter. None of the characters were particularly well developed. I know I was supposed to care when the Skyguard's identity was revealed but I didn't. I felt like a lot was going on and it never really came together into one cohesive story. In that way, it kind of reminded me of Stephen Hunt's Court of the Air.

I think if the book had been more focused and about a hundred pages shorter, I would have liked it a whole lot more. It had it's moments but felt plodding and bloated in places. It's not a bad book, though. It's pretty entertaining if you can stomach the slow parts. I've giving this one a 3-.

The thing I meant to mention but forgot until I was driving home from work: For a similar but better story, give Doc Sidhe a try. (less)

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Mar 13, 2013 Brandon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, fiction, ebook, sci-fi

The Empire State is an alternate reality to what we know as 1930s New York City. Under oppressive rule, the inhabitants of the city are forced to ration all commodities to fund the war effort against an unknown force simply identified as “The Enemy”. When detective Rad Bradley is hired to investigate the disappearance of a young woman, he encounters visitors from New York. As Rad’s investigation continues, the truth behind the existence of The Empire State begins to unravel causing the detective...more The Empire State is an alternate reality to what we know as 1930s New York City. Under oppressive rule, the inhabitants of the city are forced to ration all commodities to fund the war effort against an unknown force simply identified as “The Enemy”. When detective Rad Bradley is hired to investigate the disappearance of a young woman, he encounters visitors from New York. As Rad’s investigation continues, the truth behind the existence of The Empire State begins to unravel causing the detective to question everything he’s ever known.

I had a hard time writing that introduction. The truth is, a lot happens in this book and the less you know, the better. It should be noted that writing a book is most likely not an easy feat. When you’re writing a book that features time travel, multiple versions of any one character and more twists and turns than a race track in Mario Kart, it has to be that much more difficult.

Adam Christopher takes up the daunting task of presenting us with a Sci-Fi novel constructed with the pillars of many different influences. You have his love of superheroes with the appearance of original characters The Skyguard and his partner turned rival, The Science Pirate. You have his love of pulp-era detective novels with private dick, Rad Bradley as well his appreciation for weird alternate dimension travel through Doctor Who. You would imagine that approaching a novel incorporating all of these elements would create a bit of a jumbled, unfocused mess but Christopher manages to take those ingredients and create a pretty decent meal out of it.

Despite the fact that I’ve been known to have a hard time in the past keeping track of who’s playing for what side when several back-stabbings and twists occur, Christopher never left me feeling lost. Given the nature of a lot of these selfish characters, it’s only natural that each would align with the side that gave them the biggest advantage; even if at times only temporarily.

On a side note, I should mention that Angry Robot included a great interview after the novel’s conclusion that is definitely worth a read. Adam also included what he felt was a soundtrack to the novel itself featuring songs and artists that he listened to while working on the book as well as ones that influenced the story on a whole. There are links on Adam’s website to the iTunes as well as Spotify playlists if you wish to download them.

When I finished the book, I was glad to know that a sequel is being written (and even happier knowing that I already have an advanced reader copy ready to go). I’d give it a good hearty recommendation.

Cross-posted @ Every Read Thing

Check out my interview with Adam.(less)

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Feb 18, 2012 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

The art-deco style cover gives you a clue about this one. Here is a tale set initially in a 1920/30’s style New York, though not the New York City, but a place called Empire State. (Although the real New York City does appear, later.)

We have murder and gunshots in dark city streets, where it is always raining, detectives under streetlamps wrestling silently with their broody thoughts and dubious morals. We have Superheroes entwined with Gangsters. And with illicit booze, gang fights, car chases,...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Lynn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Rad is a private detective in a city named Empire State which sounds similar to New York City but is different in some ways. The weather often seems to be dark and rainy and the Empire State building is the center of the city. Crime is rampant and prohibition is a major government policy. The authorities seem to often travel in dirigibles as do their super villains, people with strange powers who commit crimes. Of course there are superheroes too. Rad while detecting on a murder case stumbles up...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Kate O'Hanlon rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, mystery

Take this with a pinch of salt, because though I'm immersed in geek culture enough to be passing familiar with superheroes, parallel universes, etc I don't have much contact with the primary sources, so maybe I just don't get it.

The plot moves along briskly but is complicated to the point of convolution and the writing style is often unclear. The main characters are cardboard cut outs and the supporting characters are tissue paper thin. The ideas were so interesting but they're mostly just waste...more

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Jun 18, 2012 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, 2012, neo-noir, adventure, alternate-history, crime, organized-crime

During the last great superhero fight a blast of energy rips a hole in reality, the result Empire State; a twisted parallel prohibition-era New York City. But now the rift is starting to close and both parallel worlds have to fight for the right to exist. Adam Christopher’s Empire State tells the story of Rad Bradley a private detective investigating the disappearance for Sam Saturn which leads him to uncover something a whole lot bigger. This book is everything you expect in a pulp style superh...more During the last great superhero fight a blast of energy rips a hole in reality, the result Empire State; a twisted parallel prohibition-era New York City. But now the rift is starting to close and both parallel worlds have to fight for the right to exist. Adam Christopher’s Empire State tells the story of Rad Bradley a private detective investigating the disappearance for Sam Saturn which leads him to uncover something a whole lot bigger. This book is everything you expect in a pulp style superhero novel; you have the super villains, airships, robots, organised crime and prohibition (to make it feel more like a pulp novel). This is all a brilliant back drop for the main plot; the case the gets Rad Bradley tangled in a complex web of robotic killers, inter-dimensional doppelgangers and science.

The whole tone of this book feels very much like a superhero novel but never loses sight of the noir style narrative. The whole story cast of wonderfully unique and mystery that will keep the read on the edge of their seats while reading this book. There are some things that didn’t quite work within the story and the constant world shifting can get the reader lost. I think in the end there turns out to be at least three different worlds; Prohibition New York, Empire State and New York 1950’s. The world, the crime and the characters show potential for a lot of great stories to follow.

Adam Christopher and publisher Angry Robot Books have invited others to create works based in the world of Empire State. Writer, artist, musician, sculptor, puppeteer, interpretive dance major, or poet, are invited to create their own stories with what they are calling WorldBuilder as long as you stick to their Guidelines and Instructions. They are authorising fan-created content to be created under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License which means content can be posted on the internet or beyond as long as it’s in a non-commercial way; publication rights of the stories are still in the hands of the publisher. There are plans for an eBook or Print-on-Demand anthology of the best stories which is pretty exciting; I’ve never seen a novel do anything like this, making for some interesting stories to follow. I think this world is capable of millions of other great stories whether superhero, science fiction, alternate history, organised crime or even pulp stories.

I’m curious to see what the results of this creative common might lead to but as for this book, if you want a fun, exciting novel with twists and mystery, then you really should give Empire State ago. There’s a certain uniqueness within this book while remaining familiar with the writing style. I feel nostalgia towards a good pulp novel and this blends that with science fiction elements with such ease. This genre is often called Neo-Noir (a genre that blends pulp with updated themes, content, or style, often blended with Science Fiction) and there have been some great books that have come out in this style, but Empire State is definitely one of the better ones.(less)

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May 17, 2013 Aaron Sikes rated it 1 of 5 stars

Confusing, rambling, and poorly edited. Angry Robot lost me as a customer when they put this book out.

Adam Christopher has a great imagination, and a good sense of where to focus when writing action sequences or descriptive passages. But this book is loaded with passages that needed a careful editor's eye, and Angry Robot apparently does not employ any careful editors. Typos, grammar errors, redundant phrases. This book read like a first draft that got quickly skimmed by an editor and put to pr...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Erik Carl son rated it 3 of 5 stars

Everything about Adam Christopher’s debut novel Empire State smacks of the things I love: Superheroes, noir, cussing, robots, and science. I’m hard pressed to understand why, then, it took three attempts for me to get into the book. Why couldn’t I just breeze through it enjoying the fight between Science Pirate and Skyguard, or the tommy-gun car chase, or the parallel universe noir fantasy?

Perhaps I was put off by the great bootlegging anti-hero, Rex Braybury, who Christopher almost immediately...more Everything about Adam Christopher’s debut novel Empire State smacks of the things I love: Superheroes, noir, cussing, robots, and science. I’m hard pressed to understand why, then, it took three attempts for me to get into the book. Why couldn’t I just breeze through it enjoying the fight between Science Pirate and Skyguard, or the tommy-gun car chase, or the parallel universe noir fantasy?

Perhaps I was put off by the great bootlegging anti-hero, Rex Braybury, who Christopher almost immediately dispenses with for the lackluster Rad Bradley (I imagine sequels playing on the Bradbury anagram). Maybe I found the anachronistic language, with its contemporary narration, too distracting for a stylized period piece. Mostly it was just too many good things – as if the story had been a personal challenge to make so many various genres fit into a single narrative. I give Empire State credit for being so bold in its effort and despite all of this, creating a unique tale.

The best part of this book is that Adam Christopher and Angry Robot have created a World Builder for those wishing to dabble in this “Alternative Prohibition”. Essentially, Christopher is opening his universe up and welcoming artists and authors to build on his foundation. This is brilliant. I’m hard pressed to think of any other authors who welcome people to play so openly with their creations. If people fall in love with a world, they want to be a part of it. Give them the tools and you only enhance the experience.

EmpireStateis a book that tries too hard to be too much for too many. As a single entity it is a quick read with notable flaws, however, as a spring board for others it is a universe of potential.

I might also add that, as a podcast mixing music and books, I’m impressed by Adam Christopher’s apendix listing and explaining his personal soundtrack for the book. Including tracks by The Pixies and Brian Jonestown Massacre.

File Under: Science Fiction [ Pocket Universe | Heroes or Villains | Speak Easy | Loyalties Divided ](less)

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Mar 26, 2013 Pat rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although this was not the first Adam Christopher I read, it was apparently his first novel. I didn't detect much of that first-novel awkwardness you find from time to time, so didn't notice or know that until after I'd finished the book. Empire State is a noir tale in the tradition of The Maltese Falcon or Chinatown or any number of other detective stories, twisted into a superhero book, or maybe an alternate-universe book... There's OUR real breathing New York City, then there's the world of th...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Ole Imsen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: alternate-history, crime-noir, super-heroes, parallel-worlds

If you have read Crime Noir, you'll recognise both the atmosphere that this novel creates and its 20th century setting. But it's not as simple as that, this isn't "just" Crime Noir but rather a mix of genres. Christopher blends Crime Noir with superheroes and parallel universes, and he does it in such a way that his novel retains the rugged realism of Crime Noir.

The story starts off in a way that isn't out of place in any 1930s set crime novel, but that changes very quickly, and we are soon tr...more If you have read Crime Noir, you'll recognise both the atmosphere that this novel creates and its 20th century setting. But it's not as simple as that, this isn't "just" Crime Noir but rather a mix of genres. Christopher blends Crime Noir with superheroes and parallel universes, and he does it in such a way that his novel retains the rugged realism of Crime Noir.

The story starts off in a way that isn't out of place in any 1930s set crime novel, but that changes very quickly, and we are soon transported into the realm of SFF. Structurally however the story stays in the realm of Crime Noir. It moves rather slowly, and it can feel frustrating at times that the answers to all the questions the novel poses take a long time to get answered. But that is not a flaw, Christopher deliberately holds his cards to his chest while he builds the characters and setting.

The slow pace is wonderful for the atmosphere of the book, and Christopher really pays back the readers patience when he gives us the answers to the many mysteries we are presented with along the way. It's impossible to predict what will happen, or what role many of the characters eventually will have in the story. This makes each revelation more powerful, and adds a lot to the depth of the story.
Although the pace is slow, the story never gets dull. Christopher's writing is great throughout, and he's very good at holding on to the readers interest. And more importantly there's no authorial cheating. When the answers come they do so in a way that feels natural to the story, and there is no revelations that come out of the blue.

There is also quite a bit of action in the book, especially towards the end. The action is very well done, it is written in a way that creates a lot of tension, and the change of pace from the slower build up gives it a very nice urgency.

When there's a mix of different genres, like in this novel, there's always a danger that some element of it feels like it is put there as an afterthought. That is not the case here at all, the SFF elements and the Crime Noir flow together seamlessly, and it is definitely all needed to make the novel a whole.
I never felt that anything suffered in the mix either, there's full development of all the genre parts of this novel. The crime, superheroes, and parallel universe all are fully developed. And together they make something that feels fresh and exciting.

All in all this is a wonderful debut novel, there's not really any flaws at all. Whether your preference lies in parallel universes, crime, or superheroes, this is a novel that should find its way into your hands at the earliest opportunity. The world, the characters, and the story are all excellent and together they will give you a great reading experience.

Review originally published on my blog: http://weirdmage.blogspot.com/(less)

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Dec 08, 2012 Gabriel C. rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: cory, noir, 2012

I absolutely need to stop reading anything that Cory Doctorow recommends. He has absolutely no filter. Fool me once (I'm looking at you, Star Island), shame on Boing Boing. Fool me twice, there's more than enough shame to go around. Cory and I can share it with the author, the publisher, and anyone who knows either of them. There's enough shame here that we can give a big helping to anyone who has held a door for Adam Christopher or said to him "Excuse me, I think you dropped your hat." By page...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Jon Storey added it

I'll save you the plot summary, which you can read anywhere, and just tell you what I thought after reading this book...

Basically, enjoyed this a lot. Crime Noir, Super-heroes, Robots, Alternate Universes this book has got it all, Fringe vs Humphrey Bogart vs Steampunk Iron Man, quite an eclectic mix.

I read several reviews about this book before I bought it which all mention the many genres this novel encompasses, just as I've done, and thought that there's no way they could all be in one novel...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Sam Reader rated it 2 of 5 stars

"You're late."

"No, actually, you're early." He rechecked his watch. "Actually, I am late, I think my watch is busted."

"Like your lip."

- Rad Bradley and Kane Fortuna

I found this book in a very conventional way, for once. It was on the shelves of the local Barnes & Noble not far from my house. Now, I don't normally support big bookstores, but they've never steered me wrong much. In fact, a lot of the ones I visit inexplicably have smaller and mid-range press genre titles sitt...more

"You're late."

"No, actually, you're early." He rechecked his watch. "Actually, I am late, I think my watch is busted."

"Like your lip."

- Rad Bradley and Kane Fortuna

I found this book in a very conventional way, for once. It was on the shelves of the local Barnes & Noble not far from my house. Now, I don't normally support big bookstores, but they've never steered me wrong much. In fact, a lot of the ones I visit inexplicably have smaller and mid-range press genre titles sitting on the shelves without the slightest provocation*. I'd had a bad day, and some money burning a hole in my pocket, so I pointed myself towards the bookstore. And there the book was, its cover done in a very stark red-black-white-green Art Deco-style design, and its back promising a story of private detectives, film-noir backdrops, and masked villains. I was intrigued, and by the time it started to compare itself to Boardwalk Empire and Batman, I knew it would make the trip home with me.

And at first, it was brilliant. That was at first. As the book continued, it started to cool off a little, turning into something more and more...off. And eventually, I found myself realizing the thing I always realize...a lot of the modern retro-future writing aims high...and then promptly ducks under the bar. There are exceptions, of course...Stephen Hunt's lightly retro-themed fantasies are a delight, Larklight is a great book with an interesting atmosphere, and the seminal works of the genre-- like K.W. Jeter's Infernal Devices-- are, while flawed, classics in their own right. But it seems now that every pen jockey with something to prove has to say it with pneumatic tubes and an over-gross of airships.

But that's enough of that.

Empire State is the story of private detective Rad Bradley, a man who doesn't seem terribly in his element. Rad lives in the Empire State, a fog-enshrouded version of New York City, and is given a case to find Samantha Saturn, a woman who has gone missing after an encounter with the quietly-sinister Pastor of Lost Souls. Rad is also menaced by two men in gas masks asking him about "Nineteen Fifty" and hounded by a long-dead superhero named The Skyguard. Rad must decipher the clues about the city and keep one step ahead of his enemies if he ever hopes to unravel exactly what is going on in his city and indeed why it even exists. As things ramp up, he will encounter cyborgs, doppelgangers, alternate universes, and the possibility that his own friends may know more than they let on. Much more than one could ever think of. In the end, he may have to contend with the end of the world if he hopes to solve the case and save his own universe from destruction at the unwitting hands of our own world.

And I would like to tell you it's the book that revived my faith in the genre. I'd like to tell you it's the book that I could hold aloft as proof that the retro-future genre isn't a complete wash.

Yeah. I'd like to. But you already know how this review is gonna go.

Empire State is above all a book with serious commitment issues. It wants very badly to be a golden-age superhero story. It also wants very badly to be an alternate-world story (spoilers be damned, it's right there on the back of the freaking book), a noir detective story, a retro-future sci-fi novel, and a pulp adventure story. It wants to be all these things and it tries really, really hard to be all of them. The problem is, since it can't make up its mind and it cannot be all of these things, it really just falls short of all of it. The book ends up a jangling, confused mess where people swap allegiances almost with the flip of a coin and a major character is named "Nimrod" for seemingly no purpose than to hold up the naming conventions. The ending makes no sense, as not even the main character can tell whose side he's on and what he's doing in the overall conflict.

That sense of not really knowing what's going on permeates the entire book, too. Perhaps it's just that I failed to connect with the plot on any level, but it just didn't seem like there was any reason for me to. The initial chapters did much to try and draw me in, but once I was there; the story got bored, puttered around the house, checked its email, and then promptly looked back into the living room where I was sitting and asked, "Oh, you're still here?" When the few historical characters used (there are two of them at the very least, I know, shocker) appear, they're given some brief context as to who they are, but not really much to why they're there. The main villain of the piece is one of those, further driving any investment in the plot towards apathy.

Speaking of the characters that drive the main plot, there are four of them. None of them are the main character. Not a single one. And this is the problem. There are books where the protagonists have had no effect on the plot. Gravity's Rainbow is a good example of a book where the main character has no real effect on the plot, and Gravity's Rainbow, despite being the most incoherent and cack-handed book ever written, is a fantastic read**. But to have us follow a single character from cohesive beginnings to an incoherent climax that involves Rad, his alternate universe double (spoilers be damned, if there's an alternate universe, there is always an alternate universe double. This is a scientific fact), his introduced-as-untrustworthy ballroom-dancer friend, and just about every other high-powered character in the story. It eventually rockets towards a climax that, somehow, The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack handled better***.

However, after all of that, I do have to say this: The book has its good points. A fair number of them. The bits in the Empire State reveal a pulp dystopia**** that sounds like a lot of fun to play around in, and there is an excellent control over setting. At the beginning, the mystery is gripping and reads very well, unfolding with just the right amount of information to keep you guessing. I admit that this is one of the very few works of fiction that had me stumped: I had no idea where they were going with the story (I would later learn this is because the story went nowhere), and I liked that. And the dialogue, on top of all those things, is very well-done. Maybe not to Locke Lamora levels, but very well done nonetheless.

But in conclusion, it is the plot that keeps the book down, and the plot that damns it. Despite having a great many cool concepts in it, the book isn't actually about anything, and without any kind of driving force behind it, the machinery breaks down, and that big, beautiful box of a plot unfolds into a depressing Christmas present, much like an ugly sweater but with more robots and gunplay.The issue Mr. Christopher has in his book is the same one I have with my own writing-- you can invent as many cool concepts and characters and lines as your mind can dream of, but it doesn't mean a thing if you can't give them anything to do.

And so my final verdict would be this: While I don't recommend this book, it's certainly not terrible enough to warn you away from it (Hello to Ghosts of Manhattan!). I'd suggest taking it out from the library if you're curious, and seeing how you fare. It's certainly an interesting novel, if not a particularly well-plotted one.

*It's weird, but then again I live in New Jersey. Weird kinds of things (like, f'rinstance, Eraserhead Press books sitting on the shelves of Barnes & Noble) just sort of happen statewide. My unofficial state motto is "Over sixteen portals to hell and counting!"

**As a sidenote, I hate this book even more for making me use up a Pynchon reference before I did a review of an actual Pynchon book.

***Actually, in hindsight, I may have been a little too hard on Burton & Swinburne. Despite the stupid time-travel bits, it's actually quite well-constructed compared to other books in the retro-future genre.

****This word is not recognized by my spellcheck, but somehow "Quidditch" is. Why is it not recognized by my spellcheck?!

(less)

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Jul 09, 2012 Travis Knight rated it 3 of 5 stars

For a debut novel, Empire State is quite a bang. Set in the shadow of the Empire State Building, it tells a hard-boiled detective story filled with damsels, dirty streets, gangsters and superheroes. Yeah, you read that right. Adam Christopher’s SF-noir novel is set (approximately) in the 1930’s, and that carries all of the distinctions of the prohibition-era Big Apple. Organized crime, speakeasies, religious fundamentalism and government corruption are all featured in Empire State. Booze is a bi...more

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Jun 29, 2012 Dean Fetzer rated it 5 of 5 stars

wo New Yorks and a lot of fun

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this first novel by Adam Christopher - but it had come highly recommended by a number of my writer friends, so I figured it was worth a look.

Centered around a world with two New Yorks, one shrouded in fog and forever battling an unseen Enemy with the austerity of ‘Wartime’ and another set in our world in 1950, with all the light, noise and people that inhabited the city in that time.

The Empire State, with its heart in o...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Ryan Lawler rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sometimes a book comes along that doesn't quite fit into the categories we have already established for fiction novels. We tend to refer to these as novels that bend and cross genres, novels that are pushing the envelope, novels that are attempted to redefine our known and accepted universe. Empire State by Adam Christopher is one such novel - a book that blends comic book science heroes, noir style mysteries, the 1930's-1950's, airships, robots, prohibition, and parallel worlds. This is an ecle...more Sometimes a book comes along that doesn't quite fit into the categories we have already established for fiction novels. We tend to refer to these as novels that bend and cross genres, novels that are pushing the envelope, novels that are attempted to redefine our known and accepted universe. Empire State by Adam Christopher is one such novel - a book that blends comic book science heroes, noir style mysteries, the 1930's-1950's, airships, robots, prohibition, and parallel worlds. This is an eclectic mix of styles, complete with an eclectic mix of characters, and Christopher does an admirable job of bringing so much of it together. But, after a rip roaring start Empire State gradually loses its way and I'm left with that sinking feeling of what might have been.

The Empire State is a copy of New York, a city in a bubble created by a violent energy blast during a fight between the city's last two science heroes. The story revolves around Rad Bradley, a private detective in the Empire State whose latest case gets him tangled in a complex web of robotic killers, inter-dimensional doppelgangers, and science heroes looking to settle a few scores. When things start to look dire, it is up to Rad and a bunch of friends from both dimensions to make a stand and save both worlds from destruction. The opening scenes of this book are some of the most exciting and promising opening scenes I have read in a book. You get car chases, you heroes in suits flying above the city shooting energy beams at each other, and you get some dark, gritty, back alley murders in the rain. The story also gets pretty complex, with a number of different plot threads and sub plots weaving their way in and out of the main story line from very early. I like this added complexity, I have read a lot of complex stories lately so it was good to have a story that really made me think. The problem for me was that the main storyline really started to lose it's identity about half way through, and from there the complex threads and sub plots started to become a tangled mess that would end up going unresolved at the end of the story. It was about the same time that I realised the actions of Rad were largely inconsequential, that he had stopped driving the story and was just a passenger who happened to have the most viewpoints. I think this story stopped working when the protagonist stopped being a protagonist, and while things did pick up towards the end, it was a case of too little too late.

While the story may have suffered from a lack of consistency, the characters more than make up for it by being a cast of wonderfully unique and mysterious people whose motivations are hinted at but well hidden. Rad is a fantastic character who I built a lot of empathy for, he is a guy who is good at his job, a guy who looks to the future, a guy who enjoys having a few too many drinks, and a guy who is willing to test his mettle and put himself in uncomfortable situations without any thought of personal gain. It provides a perfect contrast to Rex, the gangster from New York whose every action is motivated by personal gain, and who often chooses the easy option whenever it presents itself. Combine these guys with the brash and enthusiastic Kane, the borderline eccentric Carson, the devious / schizophrenic Pastor of Lost Souls, the noble Skyguard and the Science Pirate with an inferiority complex, and you get a wonderful cast that inhabit this eclectic world and tell this complex story.

The writing here is of a very high standard, much higher than a number of other debut authors whose works I have read over the past few years. The pacing of his story is just right, his explanation of complex scientific gobbledygook is so easy to understand without there being any condescension in the writing, and his general prose makes this story very easy to read. He manages evoke emotions consistent with what is going on in the plot, and for the first half of the book I had no trouble immersing myself in his world.

Empire State is a book starts off by promising the world but ends up delivering the shell of a parallel bubble. Christopher does so many things right in this book, but the issues with plotting during the second half of the book stick out like a sore thumb. Despite the issues, Empire State shows off a world full of potential, and clearly demonstrates that Christopher is a talented author who is sure to become a real force in the future. It was a lot of fun to read, you should give it try, and I will definitely be checking out his next release.(less)

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Jan 29, 2012 Sean Randall rated it 3 of 5 stars

"Time to save the world. Rad stopped and considered. Two worlds."

It's difficult to wax enthusiastic about a book I new I wouldn't really enjoy.The reviews were all very promising and the blurb fascinating, but even there, there was a warning bell. Steampunk is an sf&F subgenre that I have yet to enjoy in any way, shape or form. Now, now - yes, I've had very little exposure to it, I know. But having not liked it anywhere else, I see no reason to push it onto myself unnecessarily.

So, that's th...more "Time to save the world. Rad stopped and considered. Two worlds."

It's difficult to wax enthusiastic about a book I new I wouldn't really enjoy.The reviews were all very promising and the blurb fascinating, but even there, there was a warning bell. Steampunk is an sf&F subgenre that I have yet to enjoy in any way, shape or form. Now, now - yes, I've had very little exposure to it, I know. But having not liked it anywhere else, I see no reason to push it onto myself unnecessarily.

So, that's the first demerit. Second, and more specific to this novel, is the setting - the Speakeasy, 1930's prohibition period of the US's history is one I am not particularly enamored of, mainly because I had to study it in depth for two years when I would have preferred continuing with the First World War. Those tortuous years gave me a fine appreciation for the stock market but a rather irritating outlook on that era, and so when I began to realise where this book was sett and what powered it's primary technologies (steammen, airships and so forth) I was tempted to trash it.

But I didn't.

I in fact read it to the end and, rather surprisingly, liked it!

Even more worryingly, the comic superhero thing? I hate that, too. "The Skyguard and the Science Pirate" and everything that you associate with it... it reminds me of mindless, silly, juvenile drivel, the sort of thing I probably lapped up as a preteen and doubtless secretly enjoyed for a year or two afterward. I'm not saying it's the type of material that can't be well written, but it's part of a pulp era that doesn't appeal to me in the least.

So for all that, I really enjoyed it. The writing was engaging, the characters distinctive. I felt a little at sea on occasion, Rad seemed one of the least competent detectives imaginable and his view throughout was a bit narrow, but the denouement was exciting, the writing good and the science at least vaguely interesting.

I'll certainly be looking at Adam Christopher's further works, reading the reviews, maybe even sample chapters. I am, for all that this book should have gotten on my nerves, rather impressed.(less)

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Jan 27, 2012 Hector Acosta rated it 3 of 5 stars

Overall, while I enjoyed the book, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would-if that makes sense.

Maybe it's unfair to leverage my expectations with the final result, but I couldn't help it. When I first heard of the book, I knew it was going to be in my must read. How could it not, with its mixture of pulp, detective stories, superheroes, and steampunks?

I think what bugged me was that all those different ideas and themes never ending up fulling coming together and working well. The detect...more

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Jan 23, 2012 Marc Aplin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Marc by: Angry Robot

So, essentially, we as fantasy fans don’t mind a bit of repetition. In fact, I think the majority of us would admit that within our genre there isn’t a huge amount of variation. But, we don’t mind this – we read fantasy because we enjoy the young lad who against it all somehow manages to complete his quest. This could be taking a ring to Mordor, it could be defeating the evil Voldemort, maybe pulling a sword from a stone and rising up to become King? We love it. What we also love is the past – t...more So, essentially, we as fantasy fans don’t mind a bit of repetition. In fact, I think the majority of us would admit that within our genre there isn’t a huge amount of variation. But, we don’t mind this – we read fantasy because we enjoy the young lad who against it all somehow manages to complete his quest. This could be taking a ring to Mordor, it could be defeating the evil Voldemort, maybe pulling a sword from a stone and rising up to become King? We love it. What we also love is the past – those Game of Thrones or Wheel of Time type settings – I guess you would call them Medieval(ish), oh – and Dragons and Unicorns – chuck some of those in too. The point I am trying to make is that within Fantasy Literature it is very, very rare that you read something that feels completely new and unlike anything you’ve previously read. Well, when Angry Robot announced Empire State and touted it as a Sci-Fi / Fantasy blend I was pretty damned excited because it sounded completely unique in both setting and story. However, before I continue – I should point out that I did discover during my reading of Empire State that they (Angry Robot) kind of tricked me *shakes angry fist* (I shall explain later).

So, Empire State – this is Adam Chrisopher’s début novel and I have to say that for his first published novel the narration is damned impressive. I’ve seen people describe it as ‘noir’ and I’m going to run with that because I think it’s a pretty damned good description of Christopher’s voice. The novel is in third person and we switch between a number of (at most times) character limited perspectives (i.e. we know only what the character knows). This is important because the novel reads kind of as a detective novel – one of the characters, Rad, is actually a Private Detective and the other, Rex, is a petty criminal.

The novel opens up with the character Rex fleeing from some gangsta types that he has had a run in with. When the car he is escaping in flips over it looks like the end of the line – however, nearby events cause a bit of a distraction and Rex is able to escape into the crowd. So, what is this event that has distracted the crowd and allowed Rex to escape? Well, it is a superhero vs supervillain fight – happening right there – in the centre of New York – ah yes, that old chestnut! Well, as Rex watches the Superheroes there fighting it out he witnesses the death of our Superhero. The strange thing is though, the Supervillain decided to unmask upon her victory and get this – the supervillain… she is kind of… a girl! Yes… a girl! (A hot one too apparently). Anyway, she obviously legs it – being a supervillain the police would quite like to speak to her and she doesn’t seem keen on that. Rex takes the opportunity too to flee and when he sees the broken, scared looking supervillain dashing into an alleyway in front of him – he realises he has an opportunity here… he could, if he wanted, kill the supervillain and earn himself a medal.

Snap – we leave Rex for now and centre in on Private Detective Rad. Rad is a pretty likeable guy, a no-nonsense Private Detective who we can relate to and are quite happy to explore, with him, the 1920′s/1930′s style New York, known here as Empire State. Remember Philip Marlowe? That 1930′s private detective that appeared in that golden age of hardboiled crime fiction? If you do – that’s the kind of man you get with Rad. He is searching for a missing woman that sounds, through description, remarkably like the supervillain character we saw Rex follow down the alley a few chapters ago. Certainly, it is a strange coincidence and we know (as the reader) there must be some kind of link between this woman who has disappeared, the supervillain who removed her mask and Rex. We, as the reader, are as much the detective as Rad with Mr Christopher placing us upon Rad’s shoulder as he wonders around Empire State trying to find out what the heck is going on.

Whilst looking for the missing person, Ms Saturn, Rad teams up with a local reporter who introduces him to a man, Captain Carson, who quite simply, blows Rad’s mind. In fact – he not only blows Rad’s mind – but the readers mind (that is me – and you, if you read it!). We find that Empire State is not all it seems and in order to solve the disappearance of Ms Saturn, Rad is going to have to embrace and explore the various aspects of Empire State that make it ‘not’ normal. Now, this is where I reveal the little lie that Angry Robot handed to me and tricked me with… Where as I was expecting some kind of magical powers to be powering the super heroes and behind the events that happen in Empire State, it is in fact some pretty damned complex Science-Fiction consisting of Portals, Robots, Superheroes. Now though, I’m going to forgive Angry Robot – because, even though I’m not a Science-Fiction fan, I very much enjoyed this. I think the reason I did so is due to Adam Christopher’s ability to really take the time and ensure that the reader explains the various Science Fiction elements of the novel.

So, once we as the reader have been explained the various Science-Fiction elements of Empire State they begin to really add new dimensions to the story. More characters and introduced and their varying comprehension of how this World that Mr Christopher has created begins to add a certain complexity to the story that readers will initially loathe, but should they be willing to invest the time into thinking it through, will be damned impressed with the wrap up. I would describe this story as a roller coaster. On the way up, you are completely unsure what the hell is going on and what is going to happen when you reach the peak, once you reach the peak you understand and things become clear, then comes the break-neck pace at which you fly down that damned coaster hanging on for your dear life. Even more terrifying though is that Adam’s roller coaster doesn’t have a single track on the way down. It seems to have around 10 different tracks in which you could end up being thrown down – you, as the reader, will not know until the very end of the book who is whose side or who is working for the greater good as opposed to their own, selfish motives.

So, to conclude things, I have to first say sorry for not doing Adam’s novel justice. In order to properly explain and commend Adam for the work he has done I’d have to completely destroy his hard work in regards to keeping the reader in the dark throughout the majority of the story. The fact that we, as readers know as little as the detective is fantastic and what makes the novel so successful. So, I’m actually going to end this review with two thank yous. One to Angry Robot for tricking me into reading Science-Fiction, something I very rarely do. And secondly, Adam Chrisopher who has emerged as not only a fantastic author but a damned genius that kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat throughout the entire novel. Readers, I suggest you run out now, pick up a copy of Empire State, embrace the uniqueness of the novel, the initial confusion and trust Mr Christopher to take you on a thrilling journey that will have a more than satisfying ending.(less)

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Jan 20, 2012 John Ritchie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Imagine Fringe meets Dark City and you get a really good idea of the book. I applaud it just for the sheer creativity of it. Prohibition-era noir, parallel universes, superheroes, and robots -- all in a richly detailed and well-crafted plot. Christopher does a great job of throwing out a lot of hooks without immediate answers. This keeps the interest level high. Thankfully he also does a great job of pulling things together and providing answers before the questions become too frustrating.

I have...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Chris Bauer rated it 2 of 5 stars

There is a lot to like about this debut novel from Adam Christopher. The premise of Empire State is exceptionally fresh and unique. The mechanics behind the novel are also interesting. There were so many details and minor points alluded to in the book which I found utterly fascinating and thought-provoking.And the Worldbuilder system shows plenty of promise. But...

I could not sympathize with the protagonist(s) at all. Very dry, 2D and somewhat stereotypically "noir" in nature. The basic structur...more

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Jan 07, 2012 Tony rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the first published novel by Adam Christopher. I’ve met Adam once and he is one of those genuine people, so it is no surprise that he got the chance to pitch for this novel due to impressing The Robot Overlords as a person as well as with his short stories (see the link to his site to read some). Being a twitter follower for a year I pre-ordered this book as soon as it was available. Luckily for me the pixies at my local Waterstone’s managed to get my copy in before the release date. Hap...more This is the first published novel by Adam Christopher. I’ve met Adam once and he is one of those genuine people, so it is no surprise that he got the chance to pitch for this novel due to impressing The Robot Overlords as a person as well as with his short stories (see the link to his site to read some). Being a twitter follower for a year I pre-ordered this book as soon as it was available. Luckily for me the pixies at my local Waterstone’s managed to get my copy in before the release date. Happy days.

The first thing that I could not help but notice is that this book has one of the most stunning covers I have ever seen. If I ever have an art deco room I am going to work this book cover in as a centre piece. It even has textures. I should stop now, I’m getting myself over-excited again. Back to the book.
This book is full of surprises. For me the seemingly simple writing style makes this a very easy book to read. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ve figured out the plot after the first fifty pages. You’re wrong. Go on, I challenge you to try. You’ll be wrong. There will be at least one more twist than you are expecting.

This book is basically a science fiction crime noir but with elements of superheroes and steampunk thrown in. I could start talking about alternate realities and pocket dimensions but I don’t want to give too much away.

The more I read of this book, the more I wanted to read. I really enjoyed the setting, and feel that it has a lot to offer. Which brings be rather neatly to yet another innovative idea from Angry Robot. How about a fan fiction site where your work could be published? I haven’t heard of anything like this since the old cyberpunk bulletin board days. If you want to find out more go to worldbuilderonline.com for more information. The usual Angry Robot extras in this book include an interview with Chuck Wendig and a music playlist that relates to this novel.

This is a really enjoyable read that will also look good on your shelf. I’ll just be off to look for the release date of Adam’s next novel.(less)

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Sep 01, 2012 Ben Babcock rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-read, alternate-history, ebook, science-fiction, mystery

Empire State is a frenetic concoction of noir mystery, Prohibition-era gangster-style criminal conspiracy, and Golden Age superhero fiction. Reading it is like sitting in a bare room, concrete walls and a single steel table with an uncomfortable chair, as the clock above the door ticks steadily towards 3 AM. It’s minimalist and rough, sometimes surreal and always uncomfortable. Just when I thought I had it figured out, Adam Christopher changes gears and leaves me in the dust. I like that I was a...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Lou rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rad Bradley is just a guy--a private eye in the Empire State who likes a drink and a natty fedora.

But of course he's a PI in the Empire State: after all, there isn't anywhere else, is there?

From the very beginning, EMPIRE STATE throws its readers into a clever, complex story full of shadows and secrets, double- and triple-crosses.

It's a world where speakeasies and superheroes coexist; where strange ships sail into the mist to fight an unknown enemy, never to return; where gas-masked goons prowl...more

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Dec 28, 2011 Ranting Dragon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: michelle

http://www.rantingdragon.com/empire-s...

Empire State is the genre-bending debut novel of New Zealand-born author Adam Christopher, one of Angry Robot’s exciting new acquisitions. Empire State successfully combines science fiction, Prohibition-era detective noir, comic book superheroes, and nearly endless plot twists to create a fast-paced and unique saga of surprises that is sure to keep countless readers up into the early hours of the morning.

Welcome to the Empire State
Empire State primarily te...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Mij rated it 2 of 5 stars

Adam Christopher has created an amazingly complex set of intertwined stories for his first novel. The story revolves (mainly) around Rad Bradley, a detective in the Empire State. He's been hired to find someone, but events conspire to make that a lot harder than the usual missing persons case. Some of those events include mad scientists, super-powered heroes, odd people in gas masks, interdimensional travel, and a bar tab due on Friday. All of these plots, believe it or not, are related. Exactly...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Dave Versace rated it 3 of 5 stars

Empire State is a whirling collision of Prohibition-era gangsters, hard-bitten private eyes, jetpack-wearing science heroes, zeppelins, robots and alternate dimensons. I plugged into the advance buzz on this book early and bought it the second it came out. I saved it up for my recent holiday when I knew I’d have the time to sit down and savour it. I was in every way primed to be the best possible audience for this book, which I expected to love.

Um, except I didn’t. It plods at a tedious pace, wi...more

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Jun 15, 2012 Paul rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Empire State is the other New York

It’s a parallel-universe, Prohibition-era world of mooks and shamuses that is a twisted magic mirror to our own bustling Big Apple. It’s a city where sinister characters lurk around every corner, while the great superheroes who once kept the streets safe have fallen into deadly rivalries and feuds. Not that its colorful residents know anything about real New York…until detective Rad Bradley makes a discovery that will change the lives of all its inhabitants....more

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Dec 22, 2011 Jen Williams rated it 5 of 5 stars

Prohibition-era New York, parallel universes, duelling superheroes... And the world of Empire State gets a lot stranger than that.

This is a great, punchy novel full of odd ideas and thrilling conflict, but what I liked best about it was the atmosphere, and the details that build it. Christopher constructs the sense of an off kilter world with layer upon layer of pulp noir strangeness, until the whole thing crackles with its own crazy energy. It's a fun house novel, where nothing is quite what i...more

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Nov 28, 2012 John rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed this book, about a city called the Empire State, administered from on high by the City Commissioners on the 101st level of the Empire State Building. The world was compelling, if a little bleak, and it was easy to fall into the central character (Rad Bradley) and his environment. Ultimately, however, this book didn't really prove as compelling as I'd hoped. I put it down for five or six days without feeling all that compelled to go back and finish it; this isn't a sign of a great novel...more I enjoyed this book, about a city called the Empire State, administered from on high by the City Commissioners on the 101st level of the Empire State Building. The world was compelling, if a little bleak, and it was easy to fall into the central character (Rad Bradley) and his environment. Ultimately, however, this book didn't really prove as compelling as I'd hoped. I put it down for five or six days without feeling all that compelled to go back and finish it; this isn't a sign of a great novel. Also, what were probably supposed to be twists in the plot were signposted so obviously that when the reveals came, they weren't so much reveals as confirmations of what I'd already worked out to be the case.

(view spoiler)

One thing that I do like is the notes at the back, which provide a framework of the world in order to facilitate fan fiction and other such things. Whilst the back of the book makes it clear that the novel is copyrighted and copying it/filming it/recording it/creating interpretative dance from it are wrong, it lets you know that the author's fine with works that play in the same universe (as long as they're under a Creative Commons licence, natch). Reading it made me think it might work very well as a roleplaying game, and I'm kinda tempted to set a short campaign in the city and see what happens. Maybe it'd be awesome!

I'm not sure I'd recommend people rush out and buy this, but it's an enjoyable romp through a world that has airships and a strong sense of identity, so you could definitely do worse.(less)

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