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The Collapsing Empire
- The Interdependency, Book 1
- Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
- Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
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The Collapsing Empire
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Publisher's Summary
2018 Locus Award, Best Science Fiction Novel
Our universe is ruled by physics, and faster-than-light travel is not possible - until the discovery of The Flow, an extradimensional field we can access at certain points in space-time that transports us to other worlds, around other stars.
Humanity flows away from Earth, into space, and in time forgets our home world and creates a new empire, the Interdependency, whose ethos requires that no one human outpost can survive without the others. It's a hedge against interstellar war - and a system of control for the rulers of the empire.
The Flow is eternal - but it is not static. Just as a river changes course, The Flow changes as well, cutting off worlds from the rest of humanity. When it's discovered that The Flow is moving, possibly cutting off all human worlds from faster-than-light travel forever, three individuals - a scientist, a starship captain, and the empress of the Interdependency - are in a race against time to discover what, if anything, can be salvaged from an interstellar empire on the brink of collapse.
Critic Reviews
"Fans of Game of Thrones and Dune will enjoy this bawdy, brutal, and brilliant political adventure." (Booklist)
"Scalzi has constructed a thrilling novel so in tune with the flow of politics that it would feel relevant at almost any time." (Entertainment Weekly)
"Political plotting, plenty of snark, puzzle-solving, and a healthy dose of action…Scalzi continues to be almost insufferably good at his brand of fun but think-y sci-fi adventure." (Kirkus Reviews)
What listeners say about The Collapsing Empire
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JamesV
- 01-08-2017
I could listen to Wil Wheaton read a corn flakes box.
Another great story by Scalzi. There is a fair bit a swearing, so you should be aware of that. I finish it in one seating.
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12 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andrew Powell
- 16-08-2020
Kept my attention
The story moved fast enough to be entertaining for me. Narration was clear and well done. I’ve now listened to book 2 which was really good too. About to start book 3!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tim D
- 23-08-2020
Fantastic!
Loved it. Political intrigue and Scifi. I'm very much hooked into this story. Into the next book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 17-05-2021
Loved it! Great story. Wil Wheaton is fantastic.
As above, wonderful story. Loved it! The characters are compelling. The twists and turns are well-crafted. My only,and very humble suggestion as a dialect coach, is that Mr. Wheaten could brush up on his British RP. But he is such a wonderful performer that it really doesn't matter. I'd listen to anything he does.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Chris Bennetts
- 15-10-2020
Interesting
It started off a little confusing but eventually started to make sense. Thanks to Wil Wheaton for bringing the characters alive and it's his narration which originally drew me to this book. Any story that gets him to narrate for them will usually get my attention as his style is very entertaining and as well calming. It's like listening to a story by an old friend if that makes sense.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Scott May
- 27-08-2019
Outstanding
Excellently crafted universe, good characters, interesting story and brilliant narration that clearly shows his pasting acting experience.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Peter S
- 28-05-2017
Great world building but language so-so
Really enjoyed the world, plot, intrigue, turns and twists in this well crafted novel. The language was a weak point for me, it felt somewhat repetitive and pubescent at times - as if all the characters were drawing from a somewhat limited vocabulary which never really managed to stand out. The swearing was a bit pubescent and dull, rather than colourful and imaginative. (Think how many times can you put the F word in a sentence - it just gets a bit boring after a while). But nevertheless I really enjoyed the story and am curious about what will happen in the next instalment - hoping the word smithing may improve a bit.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ozgribbo
- 15-06-2017
Great, but beware of language.
This reminds me slightly of Asimov's "Foundation and Empire" series, but with more swear words. It shares the theme of a galaxy-wide empire facing disaster, but does it it a different way. The usual great characterisations and plotting from John Scalzi are here. Looking forward to tyhe next in the series.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- dave
- 10-08-2018
The collapsing empire
Thoroughly enjoyable story. Good collection of believable characters, goodies and baddies. Story rockets along nicely.
Excellently presented by Will Wheaton
Look forward to the continuation
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 25-02-2019
Stunning
Thoroughly engrossing, delivery by Wil Wheaton was powerful and immersive. Thanks for returning an enjoyable sci fi story!
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