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Chronicles of the Second Interstellar Empire of Mankind #1
The Game Players of Meridien: Chronicles of the Second Empire
Douglas Oliver loves to play games.He’s good at games, but the game he likes best is the greatest game of all, the game of life, where success is measured first by survival and second by rising to the top. The world of Illyria was settled three thousand years ago by the First Interstellar Empire of Mankind, with the goal of breeding the toughest soldiers in the galaxy, men and women who would glory in competition, never give up and endlessly strive to dominate their environment; but the First Empire went down in flames and Illyria was isolated for two thousand years, until a new Empire rose from the ashes of the old and spread among the stars.Douglas Oliver is a respected member of Argent, the foremost Guild in the nation of Meridien. The Guilds offer their members financial backing and military assistance but no Guild member is immune to challenge. Douglas Oliver doesn’t mind being challenged. Challenge goes along with success. Douglas Oliver accepts this. He enjoys it. Sometimes, he even loves it, until a challenge arrives from an unknown agent and suddenly, the Game is no longer just a game. It’s an all-out war where the stakes are survival, not just for Douglas Oliver, but for the nation of Meridien and the entire world of Illyria.You will love this hard hitting science fiction adventure from award winning author, Robert I. Katz.Buy it now.
- GenresScience FictionFantasy
161 pages, Paperback
Published February 2, 2018
77 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Robert I. Katz
40 books24 followersRobert I. Katz attended Columbia College and Northwestern University Medical School, and is on the faculty of the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His first novel, Edward Maret was published by Willowgate in 2001 and won the ASA Literary Prize that year.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 1, 2019
A surprisingly fast and fun read that hooked me into the series which has 5 volumes to date - the title was something out of classic sf and the book tries to be a modern version of such with a super-competent (actually even superhuman) hero narrating in the first person in a lively, engaging style; you get everything one expects in such - from war in the board room to the real deal with gunships and the like (as here the fights are with weapons but with corporate takeovers too), the smart, funny (and decently rich of course as this universe is not one for the poor) love interest with a secret, the nasty, to be squashed like a bug business/love interest rival who of course is just a front for the real villains, the friend who may not be a friend etc etc. A good stopping point.
Highly recommended for a fast diverting and entertaining novel with book 2 on deck so to speak
Highly recommended for a fast diverting and entertaining novel with book 2 on deck so to speak
July 31, 2022
A future where corporation CEOs are gamers playing under the strict rules of a Guild, vying to grow their business empires through ‘challenges’. is the basis for Robert I. Katz’s novel ‘The Game Players of Meridien’. Although the tale is set in some far away future time, the reader can easily interpret the actions of the CEOs in context of today’s world, though not perhaps as violently as those in the tale. I believe that is the key to making this novel, the first book in a series, such a rewarding read. The games, as protagonist Douglas Oliver points out, are not the fun sort his corporation manufactures, rather far more deadly maneuverings as they seek to take control over other corporations’ assets.
This is a fast-paced tale from page one, with a constant background of world building that helps the reader situate the various contenders in the game. Douglas Oliver has been genetically enhanced, as have many in this scenario, and uses his acquired powers to thwart others trying to capture assets belonging to his medium-sized yet successful corporation. Author Katz does an extremely detailed and careful job in creating the main characters in the tale, such that they become credible and fully fleshed-out. This allows easy investment by the reader in what happens to them as the pieces – mainly the different corporations and the Guild, move around the ‘board’. Most of the tale is written from protagonist Oliver’s point of view, and the way in which Robert Katz uses this, places the reader in the middle of the action throughout.
It has been a while since I read such a solid and entertaining Science Fiction novel as this, and I found myself reading late into the night on two separate occasions because I needed to find out what happened to Oliver as he becomes the target for hostile takeovers by competing corporations. Definitely a great read, and one I highly recommend to fans of Asimov’s Foundation books, or Herbert’s Dune series.
This is a fast-paced tale from page one, with a constant background of world building that helps the reader situate the various contenders in the game. Douglas Oliver has been genetically enhanced, as have many in this scenario, and uses his acquired powers to thwart others trying to capture assets belonging to his medium-sized yet successful corporation. Author Katz does an extremely detailed and careful job in creating the main characters in the tale, such that they become credible and fully fleshed-out. This allows easy investment by the reader in what happens to them as the pieces – mainly the different corporations and the Guild, move around the ‘board’. Most of the tale is written from protagonist Oliver’s point of view, and the way in which Robert Katz uses this, places the reader in the middle of the action throughout.
It has been a while since I read such a solid and entertaining Science Fiction novel as this, and I found myself reading late into the night on two separate occasions because I needed to find out what happened to Oliver as he becomes the target for hostile takeovers by competing corporations. Definitely a great read, and one I highly recommend to fans of Asimov’s Foundation books, or Herbert’s Dune series.
February 24, 2020
The Game Players of Meridien is a story told in the first-person voice by Douglas Oliver, who is a fearless game player and an inventor of games. Jenifer Mallett, who grew up in the nation of Octavia, reached the finals in freestyle martial arts, so her skills complement his. Embroiled in the Game of Life, his survival depends on his playing skills.
In this world, the game masquerades as reality and grips your attention. “I drew a shaky breath. There is something about naked hatred and rage directed at yourself that sobers the mind, yet I was bewildered. Who were these people?” What I loved is that the enemy has its own logic, its own feelings, even if they are misguided. “We’re taking back the future. We’re taking back what we deserve, what we’ve deserved all along, a change at a decent life.” What drove them wasn’t desperation or poverty, it was envy.
The story include dynamic chase scenes, and scenes from the ciege of Aphelion with fights on the city streets, airships attacked by small propellor planes, and a near-collapse of the infrastructure. The Guild Council ensures that the rules of the Game are followed, but when the game gets out of control, they don’t hesitate to change its rules.
In the words of the main character, “I released the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.” My very sentiment!
Five stars.
Disclosure: I discovered Robert I Katz work when both of us got invited to take part in Do No Harm, a boxed set. Since then I became a great fan of his writing.
In this world, the game masquerades as reality and grips your attention. “I drew a shaky breath. There is something about naked hatred and rage directed at yourself that sobers the mind, yet I was bewildered. Who were these people?” What I loved is that the enemy has its own logic, its own feelings, even if they are misguided. “We’re taking back the future. We’re taking back what we deserve, what we’ve deserved all along, a change at a decent life.” What drove them wasn’t desperation or poverty, it was envy.
The story include dynamic chase scenes, and scenes from the ciege of Aphelion with fights on the city streets, airships attacked by small propellor planes, and a near-collapse of the infrastructure. The Guild Council ensures that the rules of the Game are followed, but when the game gets out of control, they don’t hesitate to change its rules.
In the words of the main character, “I released the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.” My very sentiment!
Five stars.
Disclosure: I discovered Robert I Katz work when both of us got invited to take part in Do No Harm, a boxed set. Since then I became a great fan of his writing.
April 7, 2018
A quality read
I enjoyed finding quality fiction and for free. This universe is very interesting with enough background for a series to go a lot of different ways. The competing economic systems are interesting, without being a plug for unbridled capitalism. The Guilds are trippy and I am curious to see how the system repairs itself. It's not a system that I think benefits most people but it's interesting to read about.
The characters, their interactions and dialogue all fit and put flesh on the story. The plot was good and where it goes next could be very good. The main character is fun to follow and sits midway on the hero vs antihero line for me. A little darkness makes the character more human.
The writing in general is really good and I am hoping it continues in succeeding volumes.
I enjoyed finding quality fiction and for free. This universe is very interesting with enough background for a series to go a lot of different ways. The competing economic systems are interesting, without being a plug for unbridled capitalism. The Guilds are trippy and I am curious to see how the system repairs itself. It's not a system that I think benefits most people but it's interesting to read about.
The characters, their interactions and dialogue all fit and put flesh on the story. The plot was good and where it goes next could be very good. The main character is fun to follow and sits midway on the hero vs antihero line for me. A little darkness makes the character more human.
The writing in general is really good and I am hoping it continues in succeeding volumes.
May 26, 2023
Robert Katz has crafted a unique and interesting universe in THE GAME PLAYERS OF MERIDEIN.
Douglas Oliver is game player and inventor of games. He comes from a line of genetically engineered soldiers for the Imperial armies. He uses his enhanced powers to prevent others from capturing his business assets in the cut-throat corporate game played in this unique world.
The story is fast paced with action packed fight scenes that kept my interest all the way through.
The complex worldbuilding in this story is absolutely fascinating to me and Katz does a wonderful job presenting the world in such a way it is easy to envision and understand.
This was an interesting and enjoyable read. If you’re looking for something unique, this is the book for you.
Douglas Oliver is game player and inventor of games. He comes from a line of genetically engineered soldiers for the Imperial armies. He uses his enhanced powers to prevent others from capturing his business assets in the cut-throat corporate game played in this unique world.
The story is fast paced with action packed fight scenes that kept my interest all the way through.
The complex worldbuilding in this story is absolutely fascinating to me and Katz does a wonderful job presenting the world in such a way it is easy to envision and understand.
This was an interesting and enjoyable read. If you’re looking for something unique, this is the book for you.
June 14, 2023
An interesting civilization built upon the rules of the game
A very interesting idea of how to order a different society/civilization to function….and a tale of how the “game” can be taken to even greater arena….risk with capitalism and within an agreed set of guidelines are fine and good, until someone else enters the game, and plays by their own rules. The characters inherited competition with one another is very obvious, and the lure of indulging in the competitiveness to punish the ones who try to take you down, is very human.
A very interesting idea of how to order a different society/civilization to function….and a tale of how the “game” can be taken to even greater arena….risk with capitalism and within an agreed set of guidelines are fine and good, until someone else enters the game, and plays by their own rules. The characters inherited competition with one another is very obvious, and the lure of indulging in the competitiveness to punish the ones who try to take you down, is very human.
December 20, 2018
Very enjoyable
A new author to me but glad I took the chance on the book. I thought it sounded a bit like Iain M Banks Player of Games and although there are similarities it is not the same. On a world that developed alone after the collapse of the first interstellar empire there are many different nation states with all forms of government and someone is trying to get the upper hand. It reminded me of some of Jack Vance's stories. Will definitely be reading the next one.
A new author to me but glad I took the chance on the book. I thought it sounded a bit like Iain M Banks Player of Games and although there are similarities it is not the same. On a world that developed alone after the collapse of the first interstellar empire there are many different nation states with all forms of government and someone is trying to get the upper hand. It reminded me of some of Jack Vance's stories. Will definitely be reading the next one.
April 15, 2019
I found the opening chapters of this book quite intriguing, but also slightly frustrating. As the story progressed I began to find the corporate idiocy annoying and frankly a bit boring. There were a few encounters with the bad guys, but what action there was, was deeply unsatisfying.
I thought Douglas had potential, but by the end of the book I didn’t really care about him or the Guilds, I don’t think I will be reading the next book.
I thought Douglas had potential, but by the end of the book I didn’t really care about him or the Guilds, I don’t think I will be reading the next book.
January 27, 2022
not so bright future
Story is based largely on recreating the Cold War on a planet in the future. The character has special talents and the government is loosely based on western culture. Story has decent pacing but is largely intellectual with limited action sequences. I assume the sequel will be more physical.
Story is based largely on recreating the Cold War on a planet in the future. The character has special talents and the government is loosely based on western culture. Story has decent pacing but is largely intellectual with limited action sequences. I assume the sequel will be more physical.
Read
December 31, 2022Great Scifi
Pretty much everything Robert Katz writes is good . I started with Kurtz and Barent , then another scifi series that I think may follow this one and now this . Occasional typos , keeps your interest . Well worth the time . I'd like to thank him for his books being on Kindle Unlimited.
Pretty much everything Robert Katz writes is good . I started with Kurtz and Barent , then another scifi series that I think may follow this one and now this . Occasional typos , keeps your interest . Well worth the time . I'd like to thank him for his books being on Kindle Unlimited.
January 16, 2020
Otro autor independiente escribiendo una aventura a la antigua usanza de SF, sin una frase que le sobre. A-
February 22, 2020
Brilliant sci-fi
Loved story
Flowed well
Easy to read
Great characters
Easy to imagine
Look forward to next in series
Loved story
Flowed well
Easy to read
Great characters
Easy to imagine
Look forward to next in series
March 20, 2020
This was a really good read. I haven't read such a good sci fi in a years, it's my favourite my sub genre and hope the author will continue writing in this style.
December 29, 2023
I really enjoyed this one, much more than I was anticipating. The main character is an old-school hero, in that he's way OP, but in a sort-of-enjoyable way. The world-building is excellent - though I don't think for one second that the society described would last for more than a few decades in the real world - and I like the fact that the Second Empire is largely peripheral.
It's pretty short but recommended easy-reading.
It's pretty short but recommended easy-reading.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews