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Empire of Silence Mass Market Paperback – June 4, 2019

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 5,054 ratings

Hadrian Marlowe, a man revered as a hero and despised as a murderer, chronicles his tale in the galaxy-spanning debut of the Sun Eater series, merging the best of space opera and epic fantasy.

It was not his war.

The galaxy remembers him as a hero: the man who burned every last alien Cielcin from the sky. They remember him as a monster: the devil who destroyed a sun, casually annihilating four billion human lives—even the Emperor himself—against Imperial orders.

But Hadrian was not a hero. He was not a monster. He was not even a soldier.

On the wrong planet, at the right time, for the best reasons, Hadrian Marlowe starts down a path that can only end in fire. He flees his father and a future as a torturer only to be left stranded on a strange, backwater world.

Forced to fight as a gladiator and navigate the intrigues of a foreign planetary court, Hadrian must fight a war he did not start, for an Empire he does not love, against an enemy he will never understand.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Empire of Silence:

"
Empire of Silence is epic science fiction at its most genuinely epic.  Ruocchio has made something fascinating here, and I can't wait to see what he does next." —James S.A. Corey, New York Times-bestselling author of The Expanse novels

"Christopher Ruocchio's 
Empire of Silence is epic-scale space opera in the tradition of Iain M. Banks and Frank Herbert's Dune, without being a clone of either of them. His is a welcome new voice in science fiction." —Eric Flint, author of the bestselling 1632 series

Empire of Silence has the sweep and political complexity of Dune (though no sandworms). It builds to a blazing climax, followed by a satisfying conclusion. I recommend the book.” —David Drake, bestselling author of the RCN Series

Empire of Silence is a rich tapestry of future history and worldbuilding, a galactic-sized story of a hero, a tyrant, but portrayed as a man.” —Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times-bestselling author of The Dark Between the Stars
 
Empire of Silence packs in action and erudition in equal measure. This is a gripping first installment in a space opera that delivers both high-adrenaline thrills and hard-earned wisdom about the human spirit.” —D.J. Butler, author of Witchy Eye

“A richly imagined epic,
briskly and vividly told.” —R.M. Meluch, author of the Tour of the Merrimack series
 
A craftsman of rare ability, Christopher Ruocchio lures you into a future filled with danger, action, irony, vaulting prose, and a few, precious dollops of hope.” —David Brin, author of Earth and The Postman
 
"Space opera fans will
savor the rich details of Ruocchio’s far-future debut, which sets the scene for a complicated series.... Readers who like a slow-building story with a strong character focus will find everything they’re looking for in this series opener." —Publishers Weekly

"Although stretched across a vast array of planets, the story line is often more focused on the intimate than on the expanse, giving it a wonderful emotional punch. This wow book is a must for fans of Pierce Brown and Patrick Rothfuss." —Library Journal (starred review)

About the Author

Christopher Ruocchio is the internationally award-winning author of The Sun Eater, a space opera fantasy series, and the former Junior Editor at Baen Books, where he edited several anthologies. His work has also appeared in Marvel comics. He is a graduate of North Carolina State University, where he studied English Rhetoric and the Classics. Christopher has been writing since he was eight and sold his first novel, Empire of Silence, at twenty-two. His books have appeared in five languages. Christopher lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife, Jenna.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ DAW (June 4, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 768 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 075641301X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0756413019
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.19 x 1.64 x 6.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 5,054 ratings

About the author

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Christopher Ruocchio
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Christopher Ruocchio is the internationally award-winning author of the Sun Eater, a series blending elements of both science fiction and fantasy, as well as more than twenty works of short fiction. A graduate of North Carolina State University, he sold his first novel, Empire of Silence, at 22, and his books have appeared in 5 languages. He curated 8 short story anthologies for Baen Books, including Sword & Planet, Time Troopers, and Worlds Long Lost. His work has also appeared in Marvel Comics.

Christopher lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his family.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
5,054 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the story for its narration, prose, and world-building. They find the characters well-developed and relatable with personalities. Many describe the book as a profound beginning to a space opera. The plot is interesting and epic, with dramatic heartfelt scenes. Overall, customers enjoy the journey and find it satisfying. However, opinions differ on the pacing.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

118 customers mention "Story telling"98 positive20 negative

Customers enjoy the storytelling. They find the narration amazing and the characters realistic. The prose is stellar and introspective, and the story is carefully thought out. Readers appreciate the detailed world-building and realistic journey into interplanetary war.

"...He completely sold the story, from high adrenaline intense scenes to the more dramatic heartfelt scenes, everything felt like a top notch performance..." Read more

"...It is beautifully written with vivid descriptions and creative choice of words. It challenged my vocabulary, but that is something that I enjoy...." Read more

"...overall prose was a lovely balance between straight forward/direct and poetic – with the poetic passages being (mostly) limited to Hadrian’s inner..." Read more

"...The prose is stellar (pun intended) and introspective, the characters well developed and relateable, and the plot will leave you white knuckles by..." Read more

84 customers mention "World building"77 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging world-building. They find the universe complex and rich, with depth. The writing and creative cultural languages enhance their knowledge of the empire, its planets, and inhabitants. Readers appreciate the exploration and development of the story.

"...Another Red Rising comp is because the world is very Greek/Roman-esk, which is always going to be a selling point for me...." Read more

"...The next thing I enjoyed was the world building. It was done without huge explanations or word dumps...." Read more

"...The world building was top notch, with the reader’s knowledge of the empire, its planets, inhabitants (human and non-human), technology, history,..." Read more

"...Awesome Roman Empire influences in space with one melodramatic, erudite main character (who knows he's being melodramatic) whose knowledge of many..." Read more

73 customers mention "Character development"57 positive16 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed and relatable characters. They find them interesting, with personalities even down to the minor characters. The lead character is likable and down-to-earth.

"...Volka is such an extraordinary character, once she came in, I knew I was going to like her...." Read more

"...I did enjoy the characters that Hadrian met; I thought they were all interesting, allowed for Hadrian to do some soul searching, and moved the story..." Read more

"...The prose is stellar (pun intended) and introspective, the characters well developed and relateable, and the plot will leave you white knuckles by..." Read more

"...contact, secret places revealed, coliseum gladiator scenes, character origin story, world development, culture, and system established in just one..." Read more

68 customers mention "Sci-fi content"68 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the sci-fi content of the book. They find it engaging with its space opera setting, high stakes, and complex commentary on a fictional spacefaring empire. The book is described as an interesting start to a fantastic series that gives subtle nods to classic science fiction and historical texts.

"...Instead, it incorporated it into the story, and it grew throughout the story. And what a world it is!..." Read more

"...I especially liked the blending of sci-fi with fantasy and the use of the Roman Empire as a basis for some of the political/military structure...." Read more

"...Definitely pulls from all the great space operas and science fantasy out there as well as from ancient earth history...." Read more

"...and an enough of a philosopher to be challenging and rewarding for an old scifi guy like me, but also jarringly boring at times, heavy handed in..." Read more

63 customers mention "Plot"46 positive17 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging plot and writing style. They find the narrative compelling and absorbing, with dramatic and heartfelt scenes. The story has an intriguing future history that is teasingly revealed. Readers appreciate the thought-provoking mysteries and extraordinary characters.

"...sold the story, from high adrenaline intense scenes to the more dramatic heartfelt scenes, everything felt like a top notch performance...." Read more

"...She is fascinating. Smart, principled, mysterious, funny, and witty. The book picked up for me once she came into the story...." Read more

"...The prose is stellar (pun intended) and introspective, the characters well developed and relateable, and the plot will leave you white knuckles by..." Read more

"...and rewarding for an old scifi guy like me, but also jarringly boring at times, heavy handed in characterization and guilty of the 13th abomination..." Read more

9 customers mention "Enjoyment"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's journey. They find the characters relatable and well-developed, with a nice balance of straightforward and poetic prose. The story manages to blend genres in an enjoyable way, with a well-crafted narrative that allows readers to see the character grow and adapt.

"...clumsy, the novel’s overall prose was a lovely balance between straight forward/direct and poetic – with the poetic passages being (mostly) limited..." Read more

"This novel was a great entry into what I expect to be an incredible journey...." Read more

"Just an incredible ride from the start, I can’t wait to continue this series." Read more

"...Just get the series and enjoy the journey. I am just impatiently waiting for the next book in the series." Read more

49 customers mention "Pacing"20 positive29 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing. Some find it unhurried and enjoyable, with a familiar flow. Others feel the story drags through the end, lacking drive and excitement.

"...But again, there is not much action. Overall, I give Empire of Silence 3.5 stars...." Read more

"...to the more dramatic heartfelt scenes, everything felt like a top notch performance...." Read more

"...While the pacing was a bit slow, the story was never dull...." Read more

"...It has a familiar shape and a familiar flow. But the story itself is wholly its own as much as any story can be. And what a story this is!..." Read more

11 customers mention "Length"6 positive5 negative

Customers have different views on the book's length. Some find it expansive and epic, with a large scope. Others feel it's too long and wordy.

"...The world the author creates is awesome and vast...." Read more

"...This book is LONG, and the narrative is on a very slow burn...." Read more

"An epic space opera on a massive scale! Incredible world building, politics, religion, and side characters...." Read more

"...The result is an overlong book that gives away the results of future conflicts in subsequent books, so why do I need to read them?" Read more

Damages
3 out of 5 stars
Damages
Came a day later than expected, and there is damage to the book. It came in a bag much bigger than the book without any extra protection, so I expect that’s the reason but it kinda sucks for the person receiving this as a gift. Expected better quality.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2024
    Ok, so wow… this was pretty spectacular, the only reason I’m not giving this a full 5 stars is that, for a story that is already a bit on the slower side, there were a few times that felt very sluggish and I was ready to move on. With that being said, I think that’s about the only bad thing I can say about this incredible debut by Ruocchio. Empire of Silence was pitched as “Dune meets Name of the Wind.” I can definitely see where each of those are coming into play, and it’s clear that Dune was an inspiration for this, but fellow book reviewer and Texan, Mike’s Book Reviews had this to say, “Imagine if Patrick Rothfuss wrote Red Rising: Darrow starts off as a Gold, Nero is his father, and Cassius is his brother”, and that’s the exact feeling I got with this book. I had been planning to read this for 2-3 years but never got to it, that tag line made me push it up more than the publisher did.

    So when it comes to the inspiration of Dune and even comps of Red Rising, and even a small bit of Star Wars, Empire of Silence is a dark Space Opera, filled with mystery & adventure. Breathtaking scenes and even an emotional scene or two. The Name of the Wind and Patrick Rothfuss comparisons is due to the framed story telling of Hadrian, who is telling his story. This isn’t something Rothfuss created, but he is one of the most recent and very popular authors to do it. When done right, it’s incredible, and Ruocchio hammers it home with this style with an unforgettable read.

    “We live in stories, and in stories, we are subject to phenomena beyond the mechanisms of space and time. Fear and love, death and wrath and wisdom—these are as much parts of our universe as light and gravity.”

    Another Red Rising comp is because the world is very Greek/Roman-esk, which is always going to be a selling point for me. The world is built in a way that feels like “what if Rome never fell, but also stayed the same with its hierarchy style, coliseums and gladiatorial battles, but with the exception of advancing technologically. On top of that, Ruocchio went a step further and added multiple languages that are spoken (and translated), made the depth of this story even greater. The other thing that makes this so intriguing is the biggest mystery of the story, which is who are the first ones. The moment this came up, I immediately started thinking of the Anunnaki of ancient Summaria, and how they could possibly be based off of them. Giorgio Tsoukalos & Ancient Aliens fans will recognize that name.

    I really like characters that seem to have an inspiration, purposeful or not, of Sisyphus, who was punished to push a boulder up hill only to have to start all over when he reached the top, and to me, that’s exactly who Hadrian is. He’s also a lot like Red Rising’s, Darrow in that same vein, since both are deeply flawed in their thinking of trying to do the right thing, and never end up doing it the best way, causing more issues along the way. Hadrian’s story is one of tenacity and over coming obstacles that he ends up putting in his own way, but he meets some great people along the way. Volka is such an extraordinary character, once she came in, I knew I was going to like her. Ruocchio did such a good job of making her a bit of a scene thief, because every time she was there, even when not speaking, you could feel her presence.

    The writing is also so beautiful, over and over again, I was taken aback by his prose and the attention to detail. The amount of quotes I wrote down and saved just because they were so beautiful could probably fill up a short story, just truly astounding. I can’t finish this review without commenting on the incredible narration by Samuel Roukin. This was truly phenomenal, and I’m not sure how this guy isn’t on more radars as a favorite. He completely sold the story, from high adrenaline intense scenes to the more dramatic heartfelt scenes, everything felt like a top notch performance. I think I would’ve enjoyed this without his narration, but with it, I know I enjoyed it even more.
    30 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2024
    I will admit that I had high expectations of this book. It has a lot of praise online, and many have compared it to the Red Rising books. This is not Red Rising. It is The Name of the Wind.
    The best part of this book is Christopher Ruoccio's prose. It is beautifully written with vivid descriptions and creative choice of words. It challenged my vocabulary, but that is something that I enjoy. I was pulling up words to get definitions more often than I have in a while.
    The next thing I enjoyed was the world building. It was done without huge explanations or word dumps. Instead, it incorporated it into the story, and it grew throughout the story. And what a world it is! A feudal, galaxy-wide human civilization; a centuries long war with an alien civilization that is a mystery; a religious, propaganda branch of society that keeps society in line through fear; and an ancient civilization that left gigantic monolithic structures throughout the galaxy. This universe has mysteries galore.
    This leads to my biggest issue. The book is pretty boring. Our main character is not brave or cowardly, smart or dumb, good or bad, gallant or crass. He's just kind of bland. I can see hints of a great character but no development. The only character to stand out to me was Dr. Valka Onderra. She is fascinating. Smart, principled, mysterious, funny, and witty. The book picked up for me once she came into the story. I will say that I didn't like the first 400 pages of this book.
    Thankfully, the last 300 pages were better. We get our best evolution of the overall story. The best political plays. The best dialog and an overarching mystery that could have monumental consequence on humanity. But again, there is not much action.
    Overall, I give Empire of Silence 3.5 stars. I will give book 2 a chance, but I hope to see more actually happening. It's a beautifully written story in a fascinating universe. However, I am expecting character development out of the main character, a bit more action, and hopefully, some philosophical undertones that have me thinking about them after I've finished the book.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • SERGIO HERNANDEZ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Start to an Amazing Sci-fi Series
    Reviewed in Mexico on October 20, 2024
    I loved this book. The story is very engaging, the world Ruocchio has created is amazing, and it has such a great cast of characters (especially the main one). I also loved the philosophical ideas and concepts which are explored in it.

    It leaves you wanting more, and I can’t wait to read the next books in this series. Highly recommended!
  • Guilherme Elias
    5.0 out of 5 stars vale o hype!
    Reviewed in Brazil on March 19, 2024
    The media could not be loaded.
    que história sensacional! eu não estava esperando que fosse ser tão bom assim, ele entrou pra minha lista de favoritos da vida! ansioso pros próximos volumes
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    Guilherme Elias
    5.0 out of 5 stars vale o hype!
    Reviewed in Brazil on March 19, 2024
    que história sensacional! eu não estava esperando que fosse ser tão bom assim, ele entrou pra minha lista de favoritos da vida! ansioso pros próximos volumes
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  • Kari Deshaies
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing first entry in a series
    Reviewed in Canada on February 25, 2022
    I enjoyed the world building done by Christopher in this book. He blends beautifully sci-fi, fantasy and mythology themes. If you are an fan of any of these genres this book is a must read for you. Also, the hook in the prologue is one of the best I have read and I was engaged for the entire book. I enjoyed following the life of Hadrian Marlowe!
  • Rhys Brindley
    5.0 out of 5 stars superbly detailed
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2025
    Beautifully written world building, took me deep into the authors imagination. Brilliant book, I am looking forward to reading the next in the series
  • T. Rose
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dramatic beginning to great series
    Reviewed in Germany on July 19, 2024
    Complex and fascinating look at how humans live in a distant future. Very original storyline which I thoroughly enjoyed.