The Collapsing Empire

[Janice, Moderator]

Several of us recently purchased the audiobook, The Collapsing Empire and will discuss it in November. All are welcome to join.

Any particular time in November? I always prefer to read the challenges, group reads as soon as possible in the month to get them crossed off the list. So that leaves mid-month. November 18 is a Saturday. Would that work for everyone?

[Cherie]

I am working on getting a copy to join you, Janice. That sounds fine to me.

[Sarah]

I will be reading your discussion. ot sure if I can remember enough detail to comment though. Perhaps at the end. I thoroughly enoyed this book and it is a strong start to what looks like it could be a very promising series. I gave it stars. Looking forward to seeing what you all think.

[Kristie, Moderator]

The 18th looks good to me, Janice.

[Margo]

I'm in Janice :-)

Not fussy about start date. 18th is good for me.

[Janice, Moderator]

Sounds like the 18th works for us all. I'll update the Buddy Read calendar, and my own.

[Paul]

Just checking this was going ahead. Should be finished my current book well in time to start this as a buddy read

[Janice, Moderator]

It's still a go. I'm looking forward to it.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Yup! I’m still in. Can’t wait.

[Cherie]

Yes, I have been waiting too.

[Margo]

I'm starting tomorrow pm. I will put my current book aside as I can't get into it anyway - a break might help :-/

[Travis]

Chapter 3. (view spoiler)[. Atavio? The 6th has died but his daughter now empero can still talk to him as a memory. A ghost? A computer consciousness? What is going on here (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie, Moderator]

I only made it through the prologue today. It had a little Star Trek feel to it without the aliens. :)

[Janice, Moderator]

I'll start tomorrow as well. Travis is already out the gate!

[Margo]

Travis sivarT wrote: "Chapter 3. [spoilers removed]"

I've started chapter 4. Enjoying it so far.

re chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ I was interested by that comment too. It sounds like he will be able to give her advice so I'm thinking hologram. I love the names of of the spaceships ,- the "tell me another", the "I think we're now" etc. I'm picturing them as giant lego ships lol (hide spoiler)]

[Travis]

Yeah the ship names are pretty great. They kind of explain to chapter 3 later but I'm not sure which chapter I'm in. I think 5. Seems to be dealing with 3 main groups which are separate yet interconnected one way or the other

Empero family
Family supposed to marry into empero
The auditor or traders fruit selling people

[Travis]

My favorite ship. Yes sir that's my baby

[Margo]

Travis sivarT wrote: "My favorite ship. Yes sir that's my baby"

Yesss, that's the one that I couldn't think of! Think I'm in about the same place as you Travis (view spoiler)[ I feel sorry for the empiro (?) elect. It is a bit worrying for her that the advisors want her to marry into the same family that seem, unwittingly, to have triggered her brothers untimely end. Someone doesn't seem to want that connection made. (hide spoiler)]

[Travis]

Just finished 9

[Cherie]

I think I got to chapter four before I picked up my western saga. The way they travel through space is interesting. I wonder how Sclazi came up with it?

[Kristie, Moderator]

Can’t click on the spoilers on my app, but I’ll chat more tomorrow.

Thoughts so far:
*I love the ship names.
*I’m a bit confused with so many characters and situations added so quickly, but I have loose connections in my head so I think it will clear up quickly.
*I’m finding it interesting and I’m curious where it will go.
*Cheri - the travel reminds me of the flow that the turtles ride in Finding Nemo. lol I picture it kind of like that but in space.

I’ll hop on my laptop tomorrow and check the spoilers.

[Janice, Moderator]

You two are motoring through. I listened to the end of Chapter 2 while I shovelled the driveway today.

I'm enjoying it so far but haven't really figured out what it going on. More tomorrow.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I'm in the same boat as you, Janice. I've only gotten through chapter 3 and still not sure what's going on.

[Cherie]

@Kristie - (view spoiler)[I think I might have had the same "Finding Nemo" vision of the flow. I can see it as a current. What I can't quite fathom is how they get in and out. I can picture the space bubble they take with them, but I don't understand the time. (hide spoiler)]

I am listening to Will Wheaton narrate the story. I am dying laughing at some of his voices. I listen to him talking and don't hear what he's saying and keep having to go back. I need to turn it off and get some sleep now, so good night all.

@Janice - I can't figure out what's happening yet either. I love the character names. I would like to see them though. I might have to get a text copy.

[Paul]

Falling Mildly behind but 40 pages in and should get a good run this evening. I do love Scalzi's style. Definitely a different feel to Old Mans War , feeling much more like a traditional space Opera.
(view spoiler)[Absolutely agree with the Finding Nemo image.Interesting twist on space travel but very much expecting minimal explanation as the captain doesnt understand it (hide spoiler)]

[Travis]

As far as I am I still don't know what's going on exactly. This is first book of a series so maybe we aren't going to get as much knowledge as we'd like

[Margo]

I'm just about to start chapter 8 and I have to agree with all of you who find it a tad confusing.

Cherie, I'm also listening to Will Wheaton narrate and enjoying it. I've been listening to him and only found out the other night, courtesy of my hubby, that he is Wesley Crusher - the most annoying, know-it-all, brat ever born!

Cht 3 (view spoiler)[ I love the connection you guys have made to finding nemo - the "go with the flow" thing (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Paul wrote: "Falling Mildly behind but 40 pages in and should get a good run this evening. I do love Scalzi's style. Definitely a different feel to Old Mans War , feeling much more like a traditional space Oper..."

I did notice something that was similar in Chapter 2 (or I think it was chapter 2) - where (view spoiler)[Cardenia had a network of some kind implanted in her brain in preparation to becoming the new empero. I immediately thought of Old Man's War and their "brain pals" (hide spoiler)]

[Travis]

I guess again this would fall to chapter 3 (view spoiler)[in old man's war there were ghost brigades yet here we have the memories of all the past emperos so again there is a bringing back after death. This time the mind and ghosrt brigades the bodies (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Travis sivarT wrote: "I guess again this would fall to chapter 3 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I thought the room with all of the past emperro relatives was cool. I cannot figure out what Cardenia is calling the entity, though. Is it Jeannie/Geini, like in the lamp? I wonder how much she will actually use the room and ask her father or her past relatives for their advice. (hide spoiler)]

My iPod indicates Chapter 6, but I think it is really Chapter 5 in the book - oh, I've got to get a text copy or take some notes or something.

[Cherie]

Margo wrote: "Cherie, I'm also listening to Will Wheaton narrate and enjoying it. I've been listening to him and only found out the other night, courtesy of my hubby, that he is Wesley Crusher - the most annoying, know-it-all, brat ever born! ..."

LOL!!! He was never my favorite Next Generation Character, but I got over the Will Wheaton, the actor, playing Wesley Crusher a long time ago. I love to listen to him. I even watch some of his You Tube gaming videos, and follow his blog.

I do not remember this much cursing in the Old Man's War books. Am I crazy? Maybe the difference is that I read them instead of listening to them.

[Sarah]

One character in particular in this book swears like a trooper. When i read it just made me laugh. She doesn't seem to be able to stop herself. It futs her persona too i thought.

[Paul]

Definitely more cursing in this to old Mans War but less sex (but still some).

[Kristie, Moderator]

Definitely one character that loves to curse! lol

[Cherie]

Sarah wrote: "One character in particular in this book swears like a trooper. When i read it just made me laugh. She doesn't seem to be able to stop herself. It futs her persona too i thought."

I thought it was funny too, Sarah, especially when she was trying not to swear. I cannot remember her name. (view spoiler)[ She is the family representative on the ship being embargoed at End. She had a meeting with the Duke of End. The titles crack me up! (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished to the end of Chapter 4. I'm having trouble remembering names too. I had to write down the names of the ships (hilarious, btw).

Chapter 3 - (view spoiler)[ I hope Cardinia surprises her father and become a great Empero and that she doesn't marry into that family that her brother was to marry into - names elude me. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4 - love Wil's voices that he gives the various characters. He does perfect kids.

The intrigues start. The foul mouthed character is one of my favourites so far.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Hmm...I think chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ So, I don't know why I think this, but is the family they want Cardenia to marry into the Duke of End's? Was it him or his brother?? I feel like something was said, but now I don't remember. Maybe I just made up that connection? I feel like somewhere during or just after that meeting someone said something that made me think that. (hide spoiler)]

[Travis]

I think the potty mouth is Keeva

[Sarah]

Travis sivarT wrote: "I think the potty mouth is Keeva"

Yes that's right.

[Paul]

(view spoiler)[Just an observation but getting a late medievil feel to all the politics, a noble class, with a rising merchant class and a heavy religious power influence . Interesting to pop the historical fiction political setup in a scifi scenario (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "Hmm...I think chapter 3 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Remember when Keeva left the meeting with the Duke, she was accompanied by a man that she despised. They had had an affair years back. I can't think of his name. It was his family that was seeking a marriage with Cardenia's brother. He made a comment that he might try fro Cardenia's hand. (hide spoiler)]

I wish there was a list of characters somewhere. I tend to gloss over names until they've been repeated enough times that they stick.

[Kristie, Moderator]

That's exactly what I was thinking of! But, who is he? I thought he had a title. He must if (view spoiler)[ his family is in the running to marry the empero. (hide spoiler)] But I don't recall.

I'm just trying to make some connections between the different groups.

[Janice, Moderator]

His family (view spoiler)[would be one of the main families in order to marry the Empero. Or is it Emperox? I think Cardenia's father said something about the family but I can't remember. There is a lot of information thrown at you. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Kristie wrote: "Hmm...I think chapter 3 [spoilers removed]"

who to marry? (view spoiler)[ No, not the Duke of End. The brother of the Nuri guy that Keeva is always arguing with, - Hamma-Pieden. Their sister was going to marry Cardenia's brother. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

I hate the way Sclazi kills off people. You just get to know them and like them, and they are gone! I love the bantering between Keeva and Nuri!

I have a question about the flow (view spoiler)[is the entire flow supposed to be going away everywhere or only where the Empire is? I cannot figure it out. (hide spoiler)]

I am at chapter 9. I started over last night and listened for an hour this morning.

[Cherie]

The names were driving me crazy. I found this link. I do not think it gives anything away, but if you do not want any spoilers - don't read it until at least Chapter 8. The names are spelled out, and some of the plot elements at a 2000 foot height, but nothing we do not know by now.

https://www.tor.com/2017/04/07/scalzi...

House of Wu - Cardenia=Emperox of The Interdependency
House Nohamapetan - Ghreni, Amit, and Nadashe
House Lagos - Kiva

Lord Claremont - father=?, son = Marce, daughter=?

[Margo]

I"ve been busy today so i didn't get to update comment. I'm on chapter 11. Cherie is right - the audio version is counys the prologue as a chapter.

Seems like everyone had cottoned on to the Wesley Crusher thing bar me ;-)

@kristie - i feel your fraustration with characters. It is a very fast moving plot and a lot of people to keep tabs on. It does got a little easier to keep up with as the story developes. I am really getting into it now and am getting a handle on who's who. (view spoiler)[you are thinking of the duke of end who is not a serious power, just an old friend of the late empero. He has 2 relatively normal children. The family that wants to marry the new empero (can't think of name) are not as nice and very political. The offspring are oily schemers (hide spoiler)]

@paul -interesting observation. It does have that feel to it.

chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ Loving lady Keevas moral values. It is OK to sell out a person by informing on him to kidnappers provided you tell his commando sister where he is before the torture starts lol
(hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished to the end of Part One, Chapter 6. Things are starting to make more sense in terms of who the characters are, and how they fit into the scheme of things. I love that Scalzi writes (view spoiler)[strong women. Kiva, Cardenia, and the captain of the one ship who fought off the mutiny (can't think of her name). (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

I am in actual Part 2, Chapter 9. I couldn't stand it and bought an ebook copy - way more than I wanted to spend. All the copies at my library are checked out and the hold is about 3 months out.

The entity in the Memory Room is Jiyi - pronounced Gee-Yee, for those listening.

(view spoiler)[ An interesting conversation is taking place between Cardenia and Rachela I, the founder of the Interdependency. What a great way for Sclazi to be able to give background information to the reader and the new Emperox. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

@Janice msg 48 (view spoiler)[The strong female characters is one of the reasons I loved this book. All the main characters are women pretty much too. Makes a nice change in sci-fi. (hide spoiler)]

@Cherie msg 49 (view spoiler)[I think the memories/consciousness of past empero/emperox is a genius idea and as you say, provides an interesting way for the reader to gain background information on the empire. Scalzi thinks outside the box that's for sure. (hide spoiler)]