Sorrows of the Empire

Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by theblitz, Feb 23, 2013.

  1. theblitz

    theblitz Commander Red Shirt

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    I just finished reading Glass Empires including Sorrows of the Empire.
    Time to read next book?

    So, how come it is also Sorrows of the Empire and it is the same story (from what I can see at the beginning).
    I realise it is much longer.

    Does it have that much extra in it so as to make it a worthwhile read or should I skip it?

    Of course, no spoilers please.
     
  2. Thrawn

    Thrawn Rear Admiral Premium Member

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    It's about twice as long as the original version from Glass Empires. I would have recommended skipping the Glass Empires version and reading the expanded one instead; too late for that, I guess. There's lots of good stuff that's added, though, you might want to read the expanded one anyway.
     
  3. BillJ

    BillJ The King of Kings Premium Member

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    I've read both and they're both excellent reads and well worth the time.
     
  4. Defcon

    Defcon Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    From an interview I did with David Mack a bit over three years ago:

     
  5. David Mack

    David Mack Writer Rear Admiral

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    ^ Yeah, what he said.

    And the book's title is The Sorrows of Empire. Every time someone gets it wrong, I curse his/her name. Just FYI. ;)
     
  6. Sci

    Sci Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I always liked that title. "The Sorrows of Empire," sans "the," changes the meaning; it becomes about the sorrows of imperialism as a system rather than about the Terran Empire itself as a particular entity.
     
  7. theblitz

    theblitz Commander Red Shirt

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    I'm considering skipping it for the moment and then coming back some other time for a re-read.
     
  8. David Mack

    David Mack Writer Rear Admiral

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    I borrowed it from a nonfiction political tome by Chalmers Johnson, which is itself worth a read when one has time.
     
  9. WesleysDisciple

    WesleysDisciple Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    wait, the stand alone novel is EXPANDED

    didnt know that or or woudl have bought it first time I saw it

    was thinking it would be the first in a series of indepeendent publications... but no such luck...
     
  10. BillJ

    BillJ The King of Kings Premium Member

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    There is a follow up novel called Rise Like Lions.
     
  11. Sci

    Sci Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    This one?

    In the words of Spock: "Fascinating."

     
  12. E-DUB

    E-DUB Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Open spoliers ahead for TSOE

    I greatly enjoyed "Sorrows" and was kind of sorry after reading the short version that the critical events in the MU timeline were not given the "full novel" treatment. Then the "expanded" version came out and WHOA.








    Hey, any story that starts with Kirk being strangled..........
     
  13. David Mack

    David Mack Writer Rear Admiral

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    Yup, that's the one. It's a sobering read.
     
  14. theblitz

    theblitz Commander Red Shirt

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    I know exactly what you mean.

    Was annoying how it skipped years at a time and you had to guess what had happened by using the next stage of the narrative.

    Still, I have skipped the long version for now and will come back to it when I finish the whole arc.

    New question:

    I am now reading the next book: Obsidian Alliances.
    The second story (Cutting Ties) is based on characters from New Frontier.
    Is not knowing that series going to screw-up the read?
     
  15. Thrawn

    Thrawn Rear Admiral Premium Member

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    Knowing those characters adds an extra dimension, since you see how different everything really is, but I think it's a pretty fine story even with no NF knowledge.
     
  16. JD

    JD Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I would definitely read the novel length version of TSoE before you read any of the stuff published after it. I'm pretty sure the stuff after it continues from it, rather than the novella.
     
  17. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

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    That's technically true, but the only MU tale that was published after the novel-length Sorrows was Rise Like Lions, the finale novel.
     
  18. JD

    JD Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I thought Shards and Shadows came out after TSoE (novel). But now that I look on Memory Beta, I see that it came out the year before.
     
  19. Kilana2

    Kilana2 Vice Admiral Admiral

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    I´m currently reading "Sorrows" and I read Rise like Lions before and I get along well. As sociologist I like the concepts of Power and Authority, all the schemes and intrigues. It reminds me of 16th century Europe, where rulers where in constant danger of being assassinated.