You can always count on John Scalzi to write a fantastic science fiction story. Interesting and fully-fleshed out characters, unique story, great world building, fun plot. And if you like audiobooks, this one is narrated by Wil Wheaton, so yay! ( )

Had Scalzi not been contractually obligated to turn this book over, I would have preferred for him to wait and release it in combination with the sequel. This felt altogether too short (but quite enjoyable apart from that). ( )

Another excellent tale from John saying yet another unique universe. Humans have spread out through space, but only because of something known as The Flow. The Interdependency requires it to survive, but it's changing. I loved it and can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. ( )

I described this to the Worcester Public Library as _Foundation "Lite"_. A good, quick read. Memorable characters. There's both a science plot, many human political plots, and human personal plots, all nicely interacting. There is a human empire spread across planets and space stations connected by The Flow, which enables space travel (which nicely, still takes time! It's not instantaneous), but it's shifting and changing, and not everyone knows this. The motivations, calculations, and machinations drive the plot. The ending is such that it's obvious that this is the start of a series (trilogy). ( )

John Scalzi’s The Collapsing Empire — whose title may or may not be an on-the-nose allegory for the state of the United States at this moment — is an entertaining revisionist hyperspace narrative pastiche which combines elements of Asimov’s Foundation series with Herbert’s Dune, and Lucas’s Star Wars. In The Collapsing Empire, humans live within The Interdependency, a millennium-spanning trade partnership between far-flung planetary systems. The members of The Interdependency (the Empire) are linked together by the Flow, a naturally occurring “river” of space-time that allows ships to pass in and out by using entrance “shoals” that remain stationary (basically, wormholes in space). It’s not faster-than-light travel, but it makes travel between systems notably faster. It also allows human colonization of different systems—through the sharing of resources via an elaborate system of trade—that would otherwise not be possible. And it’s all about to fall apart, because the Flow shoals are vanishing which equals the Empire's and humanity's doom.

Cardenia is the new Emperox of the Interdependency (and perhaps my favorite character), the daughter of the previous ruler, brought up far away until the unexpected happened: her older brother and rightful heir dies unexpectedly. Now, the unprepared child is the one to rule them all. Cardenia is quietly reserved, smart and determined to do well. She is also not so sure the Interdependency is a good thing.

Enter the pending collapse, the news brought to her door by Marce, a traveling scientist from End, the farthest colony in the Empire. And it is in End, that the competing Houses – one of which ran by Lady Kiva and her family are attempting to capitalize on the impending doomsday scenario while fighting for trade resources. Each conniving House has different information which makes for an interesting read with results that will have repercussions all over.

Since it is John Scalzi writing, The Collapsing Empire reads rather quickly and the dialogue is witty and sharp. Scalzi is a consistently entertaining author and one I have great regards for.

The only problem with The Collapsing Empire is that it feels like a set-up for the rest of the series.
The entire setup of the Empire is a carefully regulated power play concentrated in the hands of a few merchant family nobles, the church, and the Emperox–those who are at the heart of the Flow’s most prominent channels, and who can control ships that enter and leave the Flow from their ports. It's super rad (don't get me wrong), I just felt that the buildup of impending doom gave us no real emotional, action-driven, or even character-driven payoff. But, perhaps that is coming....

I'm assuming a pay-off of some sort will come with the next book due out in October. And I look forward to reading it.

Reread this late 2019. * ( )