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Galaxy's Edge #5
Imperator
Warrior. Slave. Survivor. Emperor.
As a crumbling Galactic Republic falls to the relentless assault of a merciless foe, so begins the rise of an enigmatic emperor intent on saving a corrupt galaxy-spanning civilization from itself… and from something much darker that lies beyond the reaches of the known.
Just as the reins of power fall into his iron-fisted grasp, an assassination attempt by a hidden cabal within his own inner circle jeopardizes every plan he has set in motion for his Dark Legion, his Imperial Navy, and his ultimate conquest of the stars. But the assassins have no idea who they are actually dealing with… or what he has become.
Imperator is a darkly heroic epic that spans the boundaries of time, space, friendship, and one man’s quest for a power that never should have been found.
As a crumbling Galactic Republic falls to the relentless assault of a merciless foe, so begins the rise of an enigmatic emperor intent on saving a corrupt galaxy-spanning civilization from itself… and from something much darker that lies beyond the reaches of the known.
Just as the reins of power fall into his iron-fisted grasp, an assassination attempt by a hidden cabal within his own inner circle jeopardizes every plan he has set in motion for his Dark Legion, his Imperial Navy, and his ultimate conquest of the stars. But the assassins have no idea who they are actually dealing with… or what he has become.
Imperator is a darkly heroic epic that spans the boundaries of time, space, friendship, and one man’s quest for a power that never should have been found.
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 15, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
November 6, 2022
Imperator: “ Heavy is the head that wears the crown.”
This is marked as a stand-alone in the Galaxy’s Edge universe, a series I haven’t read yet, and felt it true. I read this book sweet and slow, I found there were many concepts and situations to absorb. It’s compelling, thought provoking, emotional, our basic instincts depicted, a yearning of a legionarie in his quest to search and obtain the ultimate power to overthrow the ruling and establish his own way to govern.
“Knowing is power. It has the ability to convince powers to act on the user’s behalf.”
The tenacity of Goth, the cruelty, are we so self absorbed to know what is right or wrong? Do we have to be evil first to do good? Good and Evil interwoven in an action filled plot.
“Embrace the Quantum...and the Quantum embraces me.” While I was reading this story, I found myself repeating this phrase all the long, and still do!
This is one of few books that has really effected me, and I’m adding it as a one of a kind in the same category as my favorite classic sci fy authors, like Asimov. Bradbury, Clarke, Heinlein, Le Guin...
I’m really impressed by Goth.
Congratulations, Nick Cole and Jason Anspach!
This is marked as a stand-alone in the Galaxy’s Edge universe, a series I haven’t read yet, and felt it true. I read this book sweet and slow, I found there were many concepts and situations to absorb. It’s compelling, thought provoking, emotional, our basic instincts depicted, a yearning of a legionarie in his quest to search and obtain the ultimate power to overthrow the ruling and establish his own way to govern.
“Knowing is power. It has the ability to convince powers to act on the user’s behalf.”
The tenacity of Goth, the cruelty, are we so self absorbed to know what is right or wrong? Do we have to be evil first to do good? Good and Evil interwoven in an action filled plot.
“Embrace the Quantum...and the Quantum embraces me.” While I was reading this story, I found myself repeating this phrase all the long, and still do!
This is one of few books that has really effected me, and I’m adding it as a one of a kind in the same category as my favorite classic sci fy authors, like Asimov. Bradbury, Clarke, Heinlein, Le Guin...
I’m really impressed by Goth.
Congratulations, Nick Cole and Jason Anspach!
January 19, 2018
A stand-alone novel that can be read on its own, but also functions as an excellent entry vector into the universe of Galaxy’s Edge. The quality, pacing and layered narratives quickly made it one of my favorite entries. A story of innocence lost, nobility warped, and a would-be savior who becomes a tyrant.
He is known as Goth Sullus, an enigmatic figure of dread who will make galactic civilization tremble. Conqueror, Emperor, a being who has mastered ancient and alien arts and has become more than a man. But who is he? Where did he come from?
Imperator delves into Sullus’ past, and uses this conceit to explore times and places only hinted at. Readers will see the Savage Wars firsthand, when starfaring humanity struggled against mutated branches of the species, warped by mutation and technology gone mad, and in an homage to Heart of Darkness as well as Star Wars, readers will follow our protagonist through a dense alien jungle and into his fracturing psyche as he is forced to relive a running fight through a generation ship the size of a planet, stocked with experiments on the mutability of abominations that can be worked on the human form, and dotted with alien artifacts from a vanished star-faring civilization.
Dare you join him in his tragic search for the ancient knowledge and power, with the goal of changing the course of humanity for the better, knowing what he will become?
And, dear reader, could you have done any better?
He is known as Goth Sullus, an enigmatic figure of dread who will make galactic civilization tremble. Conqueror, Emperor, a being who has mastered ancient and alien arts and has become more than a man. But who is he? Where did he come from?
Imperator delves into Sullus’ past, and uses this conceit to explore times and places only hinted at. Readers will see the Savage Wars firsthand, when starfaring humanity struggled against mutated branches of the species, warped by mutation and technology gone mad, and in an homage to Heart of Darkness as well as Star Wars, readers will follow our protagonist through a dense alien jungle and into his fracturing psyche as he is forced to relive a running fight through a generation ship the size of a planet, stocked with experiments on the mutability of abominations that can be worked on the human form, and dotted with alien artifacts from a vanished star-faring civilization.
Dare you join him in his tragic search for the ancient knowledge and power, with the goal of changing the course of humanity for the better, knowing what he will become?
And, dear reader, could you have done any better?
February 23, 2018
My heart is broken. Broken for the good man Goth Sullus once was. Back when I wrote up Galactic Outlaws, I left a long comment on Jon Mollison's response to me saying that I thought Sullus was once a man of honor too. It turns out that was true. And now I know exactly what pushed him over the edge of the galaxy.
I don't know that I would have done any better, in his place. He endured more than any man should, and accomplished more than most. He genuinely wanted to protect others. Thus his fall, when it comes, is all the worse.
Going back to Socrates, there is a principle of moral philosophy that no man really seeks evil: we all seek what we think is good. It is through our brokenness and weakness that evil comes about, because we aren't really up to the task of seeing what is good and what is not. This Greek idea was fused with a Hebrew one, that our ability to seek good is actively thwarted by things that really do want evil.
In the Aristotelian tradition, there is also a principle that only something truly good can really become evil in a meaningful way. This is because of the identity of being and goodness: having a greater capacity, a greater power, is a good thing in and of itself, a kind of perfection. A man who lacks intelligence and self-control lacks the capacity to be as dangerous as someone bright and disciplined.
Thus the angels, when they rebelled, were far more dangerous than men, because they had greater perfections. Thus too, Goth Sullus, the man, longer of life, more wise and powerful than the average man, is something far worse than the average man when he loses his humanity.
Except that he doesn't really lose it. He gives it away. Why he chooses to do that is a great and mythic story. I think I can almost understand why some people see Sullus as a tragic hero. After a very long lifetime of trying to protect people from themselves, at the final hour when the demons from outside the galaxy are about to sweep in and conquer when the races of galaxy are squabbling amongst themselves, he gives up everything in order to gain the power to protect those who in many ways don't deserve his sacrifice.
And yet, there is something about his sacrifice that seems, unworthy. If pressed on why I think so, it is a lot of little things. Much like Cain, after his sacrifice, Sullus kills his brother. He is indifferent to the fate of little girls, especially little girls he arguably owes a debt to. His deepest well-springs of motivation seem to be fear and revenge. It was Nietzsche, perhaps in light of the tradition I cited above, who said, “Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.”
There is a kind of man for whom the abyss holds no fascinations. The kind of man whose life is duty, who is an immovable rock. The man who became Goth Sullus, is not that man. When good, his archetype is Merlin, the powerful wizard who manipulates behind the scenes. When bad, his archetype is Faust, the man who gambles for power and knowledge.
Turning from myth to history, the first emperor, the man who unites all under heaven, can either be an inspiration, or a tyrant, hated by all who follow, even when they follow in his footsteps.
In Imperator, we get much of the backstory of the Galactic Republic. The Savage Wars, so frequently referenced in the earlier books, were far more horrible than I had imagined. Savage AF. The things that Rechs and Sullus saw are nigh unimaginable, but since I wasted my youth with videogames, I can come pretty close.
The Savage Wars, and the depraved millenarian lighthugger societies that spawned them, are a reminder that no matter how bad you think things are, there is almost always a way for it to be far, far worse.
They were mad, right? Right?
In addition to the origins of the Galactic Republic, and the fate of the long-lost and fabled Earth, we get some tantalizing hints of what made Tyrus Rechs who he was. We see Rechs through the eyes of the man who will eventually kill him, because of a broken promise. That betrayal, the inevitable consequence of a temptation that was not resisted, was perhaps fated.
We'll have to wait for his standalone novel to truly see Tyrus Rechs for who he was. In the meanwhile, we can now see Goth Sullus for what he was, and what he has become.
I don't know that I would have done any better, in his place. He endured more than any man should, and accomplished more than most. He genuinely wanted to protect others. Thus his fall, when it comes, is all the worse.
Going back to Socrates, there is a principle of moral philosophy that no man really seeks evil: we all seek what we think is good. It is through our brokenness and weakness that evil comes about, because we aren't really up to the task of seeing what is good and what is not. This Greek idea was fused with a Hebrew one, that our ability to seek good is actively thwarted by things that really do want evil.
In the Aristotelian tradition, there is also a principle that only something truly good can really become evil in a meaningful way. This is because of the identity of being and goodness: having a greater capacity, a greater power, is a good thing in and of itself, a kind of perfection. A man who lacks intelligence and self-control lacks the capacity to be as dangerous as someone bright and disciplined.
Thus the angels, when they rebelled, were far more dangerous than men, because they had greater perfections. Thus too, Goth Sullus, the man, longer of life, more wise and powerful than the average man, is something far worse than the average man when he loses his humanity.
Except that he doesn't really lose it. He gives it away. Why he chooses to do that is a great and mythic story. I think I can almost understand why some people see Sullus as a tragic hero. After a very long lifetime of trying to protect people from themselves, at the final hour when the demons from outside the galaxy are about to sweep in and conquer when the races of galaxy are squabbling amongst themselves, he gives up everything in order to gain the power to protect those who in many ways don't deserve his sacrifice.
And yet, there is something about his sacrifice that seems, unworthy. If pressed on why I think so, it is a lot of little things. Much like Cain, after his sacrifice, Sullus kills his brother. He is indifferent to the fate of little girls, especially little girls he arguably owes a debt to. His deepest well-springs of motivation seem to be fear and revenge. It was Nietzsche, perhaps in light of the tradition I cited above, who said, “Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.”
There is a kind of man for whom the abyss holds no fascinations. The kind of man whose life is duty, who is an immovable rock. The man who became Goth Sullus, is not that man. When good, his archetype is Merlin, the powerful wizard who manipulates behind the scenes. When bad, his archetype is Faust, the man who gambles for power and knowledge.
Turning from myth to history, the first emperor, the man who unites all under heaven, can either be an inspiration, or a tyrant, hated by all who follow, even when they follow in his footsteps.
In Imperator, we get much of the backstory of the Galactic Republic. The Savage Wars, so frequently referenced in the earlier books, were far more horrible than I had imagined. Savage AF. The things that Rechs and Sullus saw are nigh unimaginable, but since I wasted my youth with videogames, I can come pretty close.
The Savage Wars, and the depraved millenarian lighthugger societies that spawned them, are a reminder that no matter how bad you think things are, there is almost always a way for it to be far, far worse.
One lighthugger had tried to develop the powers of the mind by living in total darkness and going long periods without sleep. When the UNS found the ship and cracked the hull, the people they found within referred to themselves as demons. They said the humans who had once occupied their bodies were all gone now. They said they, the demons, had come in from the outer dark. Their minds were shattered. They were stark raving mad.
They were mad, right? Right?
In addition to the origins of the Galactic Republic, and the fate of the long-lost and fabled Earth, we get some tantalizing hints of what made Tyrus Rechs who he was. We see Rechs through the eyes of the man who will eventually kill him, because of a broken promise. That betrayal, the inevitable consequence of a temptation that was not resisted, was perhaps fated.
We'll have to wait for his standalone novel to truly see Tyrus Rechs for who he was. In the meanwhile, we can now see Goth Sullus for what he was, and what he has become.
February 4, 2018
"I embrace the Quantum...and it embraces me."
A post apocalyptic world some thousands of years into the future and one man, Goth Sullus, is the conqueror, the Emperor, risen from the dirt poor boy unable to save his parents from being murdered to the one " who would save the galaxy from itself."
This superb, attention rivetting story takes the reader on a journey from his birth in the year of the Exodus, when the rich, powerful and famous soared away from the dying Earth in Lighthuggers, enormous ships travelling into space in the hope of new lives elsewhere and abandoning those left behind. But fifteen years later the hyperdrive was invented, with faster than light travel which meant that everyone could, and did, leave for new and alien worlds, arriving decades before those who had left them behind. At 20, he had joined the Terrain navy, and, over the course of the next two thousand plus years, endured slavery and longevity increasing experiments, decades of training with a Yoda-like character, suffered the horrors of lighthuggers gone crazy, the Dead Zone and a centuries long Savages War from which he emerged victorious. And along the way, in a battle in which only he, together with his friend Rechs/Rex and a woman named Reina are the only survivors, he encounters the prophetesses and the Dark Wanderer which set him on a quest which lands him stranded on a planet beyond the galaxies with only his Killer bot and a strangely enigmatic little creature as companions.
The whole of this life journey is revealed in cleverly spliced together and interwoven snapshots of the Emperors remembering and dreaming, essentially detailing four of the major periods of his life. It could so easily have becoming confusing but instead sweeps the reader along with the Emperor, his inner as well as physical adventures revealed. To become the man he is now.
Whilst the book naturally focuses on Sullus himself and is told from his personal perspective, one character in particular warrants special mention: the distaining Killer boy who accompanies him on one mission, who, whilst fulfilling his task of protecting the human, snidely makes it clear that men are inferior.
Imperator is a story to carry the reader into different realms. Exciting, unputdownable and thought provoking. Wonderful.
A post apocalyptic world some thousands of years into the future and one man, Goth Sullus, is the conqueror, the Emperor, risen from the dirt poor boy unable to save his parents from being murdered to the one " who would save the galaxy from itself."
This superb, attention rivetting story takes the reader on a journey from his birth in the year of the Exodus, when the rich, powerful and famous soared away from the dying Earth in Lighthuggers, enormous ships travelling into space in the hope of new lives elsewhere and abandoning those left behind. But fifteen years later the hyperdrive was invented, with faster than light travel which meant that everyone could, and did, leave for new and alien worlds, arriving decades before those who had left them behind. At 20, he had joined the Terrain navy, and, over the course of the next two thousand plus years, endured slavery and longevity increasing experiments, decades of training with a Yoda-like character, suffered the horrors of lighthuggers gone crazy, the Dead Zone and a centuries long Savages War from which he emerged victorious. And along the way, in a battle in which only he, together with his friend Rechs/Rex and a woman named Reina are the only survivors, he encounters the prophetesses and the Dark Wanderer which set him on a quest which lands him stranded on a planet beyond the galaxies with only his Killer bot and a strangely enigmatic little creature as companions.
The whole of this life journey is revealed in cleverly spliced together and interwoven snapshots of the Emperors remembering and dreaming, essentially detailing four of the major periods of his life. It could so easily have becoming confusing but instead sweeps the reader along with the Emperor, his inner as well as physical adventures revealed. To become the man he is now.
Whilst the book naturally focuses on Sullus himself and is told from his personal perspective, one character in particular warrants special mention: the distaining Killer boy who accompanies him on one mission, who, whilst fulfilling his task of protecting the human, snidely makes it clear that men are inferior.
Imperator is a story to carry the reader into different realms. Exciting, unputdownable and thought provoking. Wonderful.
January 19, 2018
Goth Sullus.
This book gets to the crux of it and reveals his past, present, maybe his future too. Riveting, I was up until 3am reading this book and regrets I have none.
This book gets to the crux of it and reveals his past, present, maybe his future too. Riveting, I was up until 3am reading this book and regrets I have none.
March 6, 2019
A solid standalone with excellent world-building.
November 30, 2018
It ended too quickly! I will be looking for, reading anything about Tyrus Rex (he is on my list of all time favorite characters, allong with Frodo, Luke, Snoopy...) and soon to be wearing T-Rex also!
June 30, 2021
2.5/10
A bland backstory to an otherwise intriguing character in the universe of Galaxy's Edge. It's almost exactly a carbon copy of Luke Skywalker on Dagobah with Yoda. Like, even the master's phrasing is like Yoda's.
A bland backstory to an otherwise intriguing character in the universe of Galaxy's Edge. It's almost exactly a carbon copy of Luke Skywalker on Dagobah with Yoda. Like, even the master's phrasing is like Yoda's.
February 1, 2018
Shades of Starwars
This book reminds me a lot of the Star Wars franchise....however it was an enjoyable experience reading this book. I want to read more about Emperor Sullas.
This book reminds me a lot of the Star Wars franchise....however it was an enjoyable experience reading this book. I want to read more about Emperor Sullas.
April 5, 2018
Excellent!!!
I was shocked how deep this series of books becomes. Mystery, action, linking books and foreshadowing galore. I will reread this series!
I was shocked how deep this series of books becomes. Mystery, action, linking books and foreshadowing galore. I will reread this series!
October 16, 2018
It's necessary to destroy the Republic to save it. The oftentimes brutal backstory of the man who would be Emperor.
March 10, 2020
Certainly continuing with the series, though in this book I continually found the lore more interesting than the main character.
March 20, 2019
I'm really liking this series. If you like Star Wars, you'll like this series. Of course if you think of Star Wars as almost a quasi religion, this series would be considered sacrilege. In this book you learn the origins of Darth Vader...I mean Goth Sullis and it is a much better explanation than the Star Wars prequels. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Also, while this is considered a standalone, I recommend you read the other 4 books first.
Also, while this is considered a standalone, I recommend you read the other 4 books first.
September 15, 2024
3.5/5
Overall, a really interesting story with a lot of cool lore however, it ultimately felt like a slog to get through, especially in the first half.
Overall, a really interesting story with a lot of cool lore however, it ultimately felt like a slog to get through, especially in the first half.
April 2, 2018
I just could not get into this book, despite wanting to like it. It was too descriptive of items not truly germane to the plot, too slow moving, and hopped around too much in the timeline to be easy to follow.
February 9, 2018
I have enjoyed every book in the Galaxy's Edge series and although this is a standalone story, it is a tie-in to that series. That being said, it was my least favorite read. To be fair, I have read every book written by Jason Anspach and Nick Cole. Where this book went off the rails for me was, in part, was in how it was presented. Readers are introduced to the person behind the mysterious Goth Sullus mentioned in the Galaxy's Edge series, which makes it immediately intriguing. Is the mystery finally revealed? In my opinion, no. Do I find out his origins, what drives him, his personal demons? Yes. Yet I still found myself asking, "Who is the Master and who is the student?"
The story features several flashbacks, flash-forwards and what might be interpreted as the "here and now", but I admittedly became confused at times if the three different lines were about the same main character; the man who becomes The Imperator. How did he get introduced to the training he received? Is he immortal? Too many questions were left unanswered for me.
As for a couple characters, they seemed to be ripped straight from another sci-fi universe (especially in how they spoke and interacted) - it could be humorous at times but then seemed too similar and almost mockingly so in other parts.
One thing that Anspach and Cole always do well is character development and world-building. They write as if painting. It's hard not to imagine being terrified in their smothering jungle and parched to the point of death in their great sands of a seeming endless barren landscape. Even the descriptions of what I will simply call "space ships" are so well done that your mind can not help but fill with images as you read. I am a very visual person and they get a big "A" for helping me see, as it were, where their characters were in their universe.
The formatting is well done (e-book) with few typographical errors (always a huge plus). They simply did not sell me, this time, on wanting to be invested in the main character. I found the story wandered and required that I go back to re-read parts to try to understand what I missed the first time, which is rare.
Do I think this fills a gap in possibly tying up a loose-end or unknown in their overall arc? Somewhat, yes. In the stories in this same "universe", I would have been comfortable buying copies for friends to introduce them to superb, deep storylines and the work of both Anspach and Cole. Imperator is not one I would personally be anxious to use as an introduction. It would make very little sense to someone who has read none of the Galaxy's Edge stories, in my opinion. This isnt to say the story is not worth reading. It is an interesting compilation with twists I did not expect. It just did not flow in a similar way to the other books. It is still a solid read for fans of the Galaxy's Edge books and stunning in other ways. Kudos to Jason and Nick for creating a new world to explore.
The story features several flashbacks, flash-forwards and what might be interpreted as the "here and now", but I admittedly became confused at times if the three different lines were about the same main character; the man who becomes The Imperator. How did he get introduced to the training he received? Is he immortal? Too many questions were left unanswered for me.
As for a couple characters, they seemed to be ripped straight from another sci-fi universe (especially in how they spoke and interacted) - it could be humorous at times but then seemed too similar and almost mockingly so in other parts.
One thing that Anspach and Cole always do well is character development and world-building. They write as if painting. It's hard not to imagine being terrified in their smothering jungle and parched to the point of death in their great sands of a seeming endless barren landscape. Even the descriptions of what I will simply call "space ships" are so well done that your mind can not help but fill with images as you read. I am a very visual person and they get a big "A" for helping me see, as it were, where their characters were in their universe.
The formatting is well done (e-book) with few typographical errors (always a huge plus). They simply did not sell me, this time, on wanting to be invested in the main character. I found the story wandered and required that I go back to re-read parts to try to understand what I missed the first time, which is rare.
Do I think this fills a gap in possibly tying up a loose-end or unknown in their overall arc? Somewhat, yes. In the stories in this same "universe", I would have been comfortable buying copies for friends to introduce them to superb, deep storylines and the work of both Anspach and Cole. Imperator is not one I would personally be anxious to use as an introduction. It would make very little sense to someone who has read none of the Galaxy's Edge stories, in my opinion. This isnt to say the story is not worth reading. It is an interesting compilation with twists I did not expect. It just did not flow in a similar way to the other books. It is still a solid read for fans of the Galaxy's Edge books and stunning in other ways. Kudos to Jason and Nick for creating a new world to explore.
April 24, 2018
I really enjoy the Galaxy's Edge series. It's got a fundamental clash between the Marines (called the Legion here) and magic. Sometimes it tries to be all concrete (meaning no magic), and sometimes it's a mix of concrete and magic. Sometimes it's a clash between humans and AI's.
Let's speak to that. A rogue AI is a modern version of the old super-villian. It's no different from a billionaire who wants to rule the world. There is always a struggle to limit the power of those who would hurt many innocents.
But back to this book. We learned about "The Crux" and its potential influence on the rest of the series.
And if you're going to write a book completely from the supervillian's point of view, you're going to have a challenge getting a lot of sympathy - or empathy - for the main character of your book.
That was my problem with this entry. I really wanted the bad guy to get it in the neck in each chapter.
Now I'm rooting for the good guys to find his Achilles heel and save the day in a future volume.
Let's speak to that. A rogue AI is a modern version of the old super-villian. It's no different from a billionaire who wants to rule the world. There is always a struggle to limit the power of those who would hurt many innocents.
But back to this book. We learned about "The Crux" and its potential influence on the rest of the series.
And if you're going to write a book completely from the supervillian's point of view, you're going to have a challenge getting a lot of sympathy - or empathy - for the main character of your book.
That was my problem with this entry. I really wanted the bad guy to get it in the neck in each chapter.
Now I'm rooting for the good guys to find his Achilles heel and save the day in a future volume.
January 31, 2018
I stayed up way too late because I could not put this book down. I loved getting to see the background to Goth Sullus and what drives him. The flashbacks to the Moirai were creepy AF. I never ever want to envision mechanical spider/human hybrid cyborgs again. The mystery of the missing station 3 and the comparing stops to Apple Stores was perfection. That ghost ship was a carnival of horrors, and no, Reina was not worth it. Unfortunately, Casper and Tyrus had no way of knowing that. I was amused to realize that the worthless body of the House of Reason was Casper's doing, so I hope he has a plan for doing better this time as clearly there are bad forces from outside the galaxy coming and Sullus is busy running the burn down the village to save it playbook. Anyway, these books are insanely addictive and I need another installment pronto.
February 23, 2018
Imperator
Cole and Ansbach
Military Sci Fi
Tagline: He was born in a crossfire hurricane.
These guys write like Monet painted. They wield a broad brush that sweeps across a dysfunctional galaxy filled with corruption and greed. This is no paint-by-numbers mashup. It’s like an old fashioned swashbuckler; yes, Pirates!
Imperator fills in some of the backstory and focuses on the character Goth Sullus. This guy is like Darth Vader with flesh and bones. More than the two-dimensional character from another galaxy far far away. We also learn about the beginning of the house of reason, the Legion and the relationships of several main characters.
No spoilers here. But, the world and the universe are not painted in black and white, It’s complicated…in a good way. So read the book. Read the series. KTF!
Cole and Ansbach
Military Sci Fi
Tagline: He was born in a crossfire hurricane.
These guys write like Monet painted. They wield a broad brush that sweeps across a dysfunctional galaxy filled with corruption and greed. This is no paint-by-numbers mashup. It’s like an old fashioned swashbuckler; yes, Pirates!
Imperator fills in some of the backstory and focuses on the character Goth Sullus. This guy is like Darth Vader with flesh and bones. More than the two-dimensional character from another galaxy far far away. We also learn about the beginning of the house of reason, the Legion and the relationships of several main characters.
No spoilers here. But, the world and the universe are not painted in black and white, It’s complicated…in a good way. So read the book. Read the series. KTF!
June 6, 2018
Wow! Just Wow.. This is the history of Goth Sullus, aka Casper Sullivan, aka Admiral Caspro, aka hundreds of other names. But it's more than that. It's also a history of Tyrus Rechs as well, and the woman that they both loved.
It's a tale of epic battles, fought by the precursers of the Legion, of the madness and folly of men, and the Power that has allowed Sullus to become and do what he has.
It's a tale of a man who pursues a dark secret power, knowing that he shouldn't do so, but does because he cannot see any other way to put out the dumpster fire that the Galaxy Republic is becoming.
Up till now, Goth Sullus has been painted as the villain of the story, wanting to destroy the Republic, but this story makes his motives a little greyer around the edges, and even makes him a little bit redeemable.
I can't wait to read the next books (I'm way behind)
It's a tale of epic battles, fought by the precursers of the Legion, of the madness and folly of men, and the Power that has allowed Sullus to become and do what he has.
It's a tale of a man who pursues a dark secret power, knowing that he shouldn't do so, but does because he cannot see any other way to put out the dumpster fire that the Galaxy Republic is becoming.
Up till now, Goth Sullus has been painted as the villain of the story, wanting to destroy the Republic, but this story makes his motives a little greyer around the edges, and even makes him a little bit redeemable.
I can't wait to read the next books (I'm way behind)
October 3, 2022
This is a hard book to review. I think you’ll want to read it if you’ve come this far in the series. I don’t think it’s very skippable either, but I also don’t think it makes good stand alone novel or even a good novel.
I feel like it would have done a lot better at half the length, because there really is a lot of repetition and boring stuff in there. To me this book was a couple of different short stories that got bundles together and made much longer than they had to, but the core or each story is very interesting and worth it. So how do you rate that? Maybe 2/5 is a little too harsh, but it really did bore me a lot of the time.
I feel like it would have done a lot better at half the length, because there really is a lot of repetition and boring stuff in there. To me this book was a couple of different short stories that got bundles together and made much longer than they had to, but the core or each story is very interesting and worth it. So how do you rate that? Maybe 2/5 is a little too harsh, but it really did bore me a lot of the time.
March 5, 2018
The emperors secret memoirs
The best of the galaxy’s edge series so far. The writing, always slick, always fast paced from book one, is just fantastic in Imperator. We are witnessing master writers at work with this series. The spinning of three separate time events from the memoirist was well done. It kept the story moving quickly and kept me interested long after I should have slept! Good job, y’all! Keep these books coming!
The best of the galaxy’s edge series so far. The writing, always slick, always fast paced from book one, is just fantastic in Imperator. We are witnessing master writers at work with this series. The spinning of three separate time events from the memoirist was well done. It kept the story moving quickly and kept me interested long after I should have slept! Good job, y’all! Keep these books coming!
October 6, 2019
Disappointing
The authors have provided many enjoyable books in this series., this book however is not one of them. Secondly they take their universe down the wormhole of weirdnesa. If one of my other favorite authors hadn't done the same perhaps I'd be more receptive. For me this is by far the most disappointing book in the series, especially given the number of good reviews it had received. I hope the authors return to form soon.
The authors have provided many enjoyable books in this series., this book however is not one of them. Secondly they take their universe down the wormhole of weirdnesa. If one of my other favorite authors hadn't done the same perhaps I'd be more receptive. For me this is by far the most disappointing book in the series, especially given the number of good reviews it had received. I hope the authors return to form soon.
February 8, 2018
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading. I don't think this is "spoilery" by saying that this book is about the life of Goth Sullus. What is spoilery? That it's a hell of a book and you will know who he is by the end of it ... and how he is connected to Tyrus Rechs, the Legionnaires, The Galactic Republic ... and all things...
And why he wants to tear it all down...
And why he wants to tear it all down...
April 25, 2018
Good back story for a couple heavy players in the story. Doesn’t feel quite like Galaxy’s Edge series which I don’t think it’s supposed to. Takes a bit to get into but once you’re in you’ll start going “ohhhhh yeahhhh” with realization of how everything fits together. Essential to at least know the basics to add depth for the rest of the Universe.
February 3, 2018
I did enjoy this book. It was great to find out how Goth Sullas came to being. I would have given it 5 stars but for this reason. The master spoke like yoda from Star Wars and Goth Sullas used the Jedi mind control.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2018
The Emperor is awesome!
Again, Anspach and Cole deliver another powerful storyline with great character development of the Emperor. I normally don’t like bad guys but now I’m rooting for the Emperor! I definitely recommend this book and the entire series.
Again, Anspach and Cole deliver another powerful storyline with great character development of the Emperor. I normally don’t like bad guys but now I’m rooting for the Emperor! I definitely recommend this book and the entire series.
March 23, 2018
* Laser sword - check
* Yoda - check
* Going to the dark side - check
* Force - check
* Emperor - check
Probably missed couple of other similarities. But all in all good book, even when little rambling and jumping around in timelines.
* Yoda - check
* Going to the dark side - check
* Force - check
* Emperor - check
Probably missed couple of other similarities. But all in all good book, even when little rambling and jumping around in timelines.
October 4, 2018
Enjoyed it lots
Good, not as gripping as the others in this universe, but did an excellent job of filling in the background, an expanding knowledge of the why and who of the later books
Good, not as gripping as the others in this universe, but did an excellent job of filling in the background, an expanding knowledge of the why and who of the later books
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