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Astropolis #2
Earth Ascendant
When Imre Bergamasc, the First Prime of the Returned Continuum, is kidnapped by an unknown entity, which results in the deaths of innocent people, he is forced to return to Earth where saboteurs and dissidents threaten to destroy his empire. Original.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 29, 2008
About the author
Sean Williams
278 books469 followers#1 New York Times bestselling Sean Williams lives with his family in Adelaide, South Australia. He’s written some books--forty-two at last count--including the Philip K. Dick-nominated Saturn Returns, several Star Wars novels and the Troubletwister series with Garth Nix. Twinmaker is a YA SF series that takes his love affair with the matter transmitter to a whole new level. You can find some related short stories over at Lightspeed Magazine and elsewhere. Thanks for reading.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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February 13, 20242P
July 4, 2024
I did enjoy this book. The series is getting interesting. Hopefully the next book will be even better.
February 21, 2011
Earth Ascendant opens to selective sabotage, phantasms, and explosive assassination attempts. Here, Sean wastes no time introducing the reader back into the fray of his Astropolis universe that was begun with such skill in Saturn Returns.
Imre Bergamasc, 'First Prime' and leader of a bourgeoning empire, is seeing through his plan to forge the bonds between The Returned Continuum and the outlying systems that have yet to return to the fold. His whistle-stop tours have taken him on a journey of self-discovery and revelation. With his latest destination, Dussehra, seemingly no different from the other hundreds of worlds that have been subsumed by his motley crew with their agenda of avenging the Forts and restoring the galaxy to its previous incarnation. But Dussehra's inhabitants are not so willing to be annexed, and before Imre can return to Earth, dark mysteries will manifest in the form of its leaders -
Although Earth Ascendant begins with one of Imre's whistle-stop tours, the book is primarily about Earth. Upon arrival into the flourishing beacon where the Returned Continuum has set up shop as capital, many changes become apparent. With centuries and sometimes millennia transpiring during hardcaster and space travel, the dynamics and structure of civilization can alter dramatically. With such a facet, Sean reminds us just how vast the stage of the universe is - and not just in the realm of fiction. Unexpected and surprising developments greet Imre, not least of which the revelation that he (or his previous self) might have sired a child. During his absence, Imre's old ally Helwise Macphedron has ruled as Regent in his place, something that could have devastating effects.
With answers to unanswered questions coming thick and fast, Earth Ascendant is a remarkably good ride. The prose is how first-rate space opera should be: lyrical, philosophical and poetic. It does the job of putting things into perspective regarding our own earthen empire, and how religions can manifest and evolve. Truly unexpected villains greet us toward the conclusion as the story runs riot with Doppelgangers, parasites, and a broken higher intelligence. The third in the series, The Grand Conjunction, promises to be an epic thrill ride tapering off a remarkable journey that might well be the author's greatest achievement.
Imre Bergamasc, 'First Prime' and leader of a bourgeoning empire, is seeing through his plan to forge the bonds between The Returned Continuum and the outlying systems that have yet to return to the fold. His whistle-stop tours have taken him on a journey of self-discovery and revelation. With his latest destination, Dussehra, seemingly no different from the other hundreds of worlds that have been subsumed by his motley crew with their agenda of avenging the Forts and restoring the galaxy to its previous incarnation. But Dussehra's inhabitants are not so willing to be annexed, and before Imre can return to Earth, dark mysteries will manifest in the form of its leaders -
Although Earth Ascendant begins with one of Imre's whistle-stop tours, the book is primarily about Earth. Upon arrival into the flourishing beacon where the Returned Continuum has set up shop as capital, many changes become apparent. With centuries and sometimes millennia transpiring during hardcaster and space travel, the dynamics and structure of civilization can alter dramatically. With such a facet, Sean reminds us just how vast the stage of the universe is - and not just in the realm of fiction. Unexpected and surprising developments greet Imre, not least of which the revelation that he (or his previous self) might have sired a child. During his absence, Imre's old ally Helwise Macphedron has ruled as Regent in his place, something that could have devastating effects.
With answers to unanswered questions coming thick and fast, Earth Ascendant is a remarkably good ride. The prose is how first-rate space opera should be: lyrical, philosophical and poetic. It does the job of putting things into perspective regarding our own earthen empire, and how religions can manifest and evolve. Truly unexpected villains greet us toward the conclusion as the story runs riot with Doppelgangers, parasites, and a broken higher intelligence. The third in the series, The Grand Conjunction, promises to be an epic thrill ride tapering off a remarkable journey that might well be the author's greatest achievement.
May 23, 2011
I've read the whole series, but commonts on it will belong in the last book.
Anyway...
This books works pretty well. I'd say it's the most coherant of the books in it's narrative and seems the most together.
Imre has the things he wants, and he goes after it. Mysteries arise etc etc.
The book seemed to feel like there was just a big blog of plot points that he needed to get through and so he just went through them, connectivity be damned. Domguard was an interesting piece, but it just seemed to feel forced for exposition. Like the council of elrong with flying sphere's.
The stuff with the apparatus I found fascinating, and it's relation to the rest of the cast was interesting and could have gone much further, but then thats the subject of book 1.5 I guess (which I own but haven't read yet).
Overall, this book, like the series in general seems like an exercise in trying to make things hugley epic, but failing rather badly. The ideas of time scale are virtually ignored in a case of "oh, and this happens 100,000 years later". This book is especially guilty of it. Time changes, but not nearly enough. The rise of Ra seems like he was pulled out of nowhere and didn't really connect to me as a character.
My final review will contain my overall summery.
Anyway...
This books works pretty well. I'd say it's the most coherant of the books in it's narrative and seems the most together.
Imre has the things he wants, and he goes after it. Mysteries arise etc etc.
The book seemed to feel like there was just a big blog of plot points that he needed to get through and so he just went through them, connectivity be damned. Domguard was an interesting piece, but it just seemed to feel forced for exposition. Like the council of elrong with flying sphere's.
The stuff with the apparatus I found fascinating, and it's relation to the rest of the cast was interesting and could have gone much further, but then thats the subject of book 1.5 I guess (which I own but haven't read yet).
Overall, this book, like the series in general seems like an exercise in trying to make things hugley epic, but failing rather badly. The ideas of time scale are virtually ignored in a case of "oh, and this happens 100,000 years later". This book is especially guilty of it. Time changes, but not nearly enough. The rise of Ra seems like he was pulled out of nowhere and didn't really connect to me as a character.
My final review will contain my overall summery.
January 6, 2013
As my first read of Sean Williams is the Astropolis series book 2: Earth Ascendant, I wish I would have read book 1 first. That being said, I still enjoyed book 2. There was some confusion figuring out the significance of each faction in power struggles thoughout the book, but when treated like a who done it, a sense of solving the mystery becomes the driving factor. So what if I was unfamilliar with the characters and the universe they reside in, by the end I understood and even longed for more. To summarize much is to give away the plot twists, so I will refrain from doing so. If you enjoy sci-fi and can wade through unknow technical specifications from a time when humans are thinking in melliniums, not mear years; if you can accept that humans are cloning themselves into several versions of themselves and then pooling their experiences over hundreds of thousands of years; If you are entertained by the possible religious/government implications of some wanting to remain individual(primes) instead of copied masses(singletons)and the ensuing dissidence, then this is a good read.
July 31, 2011
2nd of the Astropolis trilogy. Imre Bergamasc returns to Earth with Emlee to find that Helwise has a surprise in store for him - her son, Ra, who may also be Imre's child. Subsequenlty, he and Emlee set off on a mission to find the home of the Slow Wave, enlisting the help of a lone Fort, MZ. Using strange technology, they journey to an unknown destination to find that Himself has baited a trap to catch and kill Imre. The plot is nearly successful but does hint that the heart of the mystery involves aliens and dark matter.
Upon his return to earth, Imre foils another plot against his life, this time from Helwise and Ra. Although the plot seems to fail, and Imre leaves Emlee to rule as First Prime in his place on Earth, so he can continue in his quest for Himself and the mysterious slow wave, it appears that not all copies of Helwise have been eradicated.
So the elements of volume 3 are in place ...
Upon his return to earth, Imre foils another plot against his life, this time from Helwise and Ra. Although the plot seems to fail, and Imre leaves Emlee to rule as First Prime in his place on Earth, so he can continue in his quest for Himself and the mysterious slow wave, it appears that not all copies of Helwise have been eradicated.
So the elements of volume 3 are in place ...
September 4, 2009
The first half of this book lags somewhat, but the pace noticeably quickens in the second half and sets up the concluding volume very well. The final chapter was a nice touch too - quite intriguing and could be interpreted in a number of ways.
I'm looking forward to reading The Grand Conjunction.
I'm looking forward to reading The Grand Conjunction.
June 15, 2008
After the excellent Saturn Returns and the superb Cenotaxis, the pace slacks a little in this one, but the middle part picks up and the set up for the final Astropolis volume is well done, so not a 5 star like the other two, but close.
February 25, 2011
I really enjoyed the story line and characters. The projection of future technology based on physics, and how the human race develops and diversifies, makes for great discussions and truly sets this series apart as a true "science" fiction.
May 1, 2011
Book two of the mind-blowing Astropolis series. Great intrigue, action, and science speculation. For a longer review see the January 2009 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
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April 28, 2008UK: Trade paperback original
December 31, 2010
Space opera at its best.
January 25, 2011
Loved it, just as I did the first book. The suspense is building up as you go deeper in the book. Very well done.
January 2, 2017
Good book. I wouldn't leave it to long between reading this one and the first.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews