My Review of. . .
Demon in White
Demon in White
I’ve been itching to get to Demon in White, the third installment of
the Sun Eater Sequence, as it’s been
a journey of discovery, following along as Hadrian Marlowe, the young man who
wanted nothing more than to travel the stars in search of knowledge and peace
becomes the tyrant the galaxy needs.
Here’s a hint of what’s in
store from the cover blurb:
**********
Hadrian and
his Red Company have been serving the Empire in military engagements against
the Cielcin, the vicious alien civilization bent on humanity's destruction. And
they've been successful: a cult-like fervor building around Hadrian following a
particularly impressive victory. But popularity comes at a price: an
assassination attempt, triggered by those within the Imperial government who
are scared of his rise to prominence.
Now the Empire has turned dangerous, Hadrian and
his crew leave to pursue his true interest: a search for a long-rumored
connection between the first Emperor and the Quiet: the ancient, seemingly
long-dead race. And he will find the next key to unlocking their secrets in a
massive library on a distant world.
The coordinates for their origin planet.
A planet that no longer holds life, but may
still contain answers.
**********
Now the scene is set, what
did I think?
Awesome! Absolutely awesome.
And it has to be at close to
750 pages long. But this is the thing. Although Demon in White covers the sweeping vista of a number of planets
spread throughout the immense expanse of a galactic empire, it doesn’t lose the
personal touch. The story keeps its center by concentrating on Hadrian Marlowe’s
transition from hero to legend. And from legend to virtual godhood in the eyes
of the people that follow him.
And therein lies the rub.
If there’s one thing you need
to understand about heroes, it’s that there’s no room for them in the Empire.
For heroes build a reputation of invincibility, and such reputations attract
the worst kind of sedition: Followers. Zealots who believe more in the object
of their fervor than Caesar himself. And the Emperor mustn’t be challenged, for
he is jealous of his rule and the Chantry are ever willing and able to make an
example of those who fail to tow the party line.
Yes, Hadrian Marlowe learns
to his cost the consequences of victory.
His rank, his success, his
devotion – to duty and uncovering the truth about ancient beings both vast and
incomprehensible – has ramifications he couldn’t possibly have imagined. And
not only does he end up fighting against an evil from beyond the veil of time;
not only must he contend against the worst and most powerful of the Cielcin
overlords, but he must fend off multiple death threats from members of the
royal family, the government and the Chantry, all of who want to see him dead.
As I noted at the outset,
this is an awesomely epic extravaganza of far future science fiction. The pace
is well judged throughout; the battle scenes precise, bloody and brutal; the
gradual reveal of just what it is behind the events taking place, mind
bogglingly spectacular; and the story arc, superb.
And THAT’s what I’ve really
enjoyed about this series. As
I mentioned in my review of Empire of
Silence and Howling Dark, this
far-fling operatic production carries all
the scope of Frank Herbert’s, Dune;
The scale of Arthur C. Clarkes, 2001: A
Space Odyssey; and the poignancy of Barry B. Longyear’s, Enemy Mine. It’s huge. Yet Christopher
Rucchio has managed to avoid wasting time with ‘filler material.’ Everything
you read is relevant, and one of the best metaphysical journeys you will ever
take in the discovery of the past, present and future of the human race.
Do yourself a favor, and
enlist in the Red Company!
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