Book Review: THE CONSUMING FIRE by John Scalzi

THE CONSUMING FIRE by John Scalzi  (Tor Books, October 2018)  Hardcover, 320 pages.  ISBN #0765388979 / 9780765388971 

 

Summary from the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

     The Consuming Fire --the second thrilling novel in the bestselling Interdependency series, from the Hugo Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author John Scalzi:

 

     The Interdependency, humanity's interstellar empire, is on the verge of collapse. The Flow, the extra-dimensional conduit that makes travel between the stars possible, is disappearing, leaving entire star systems stranded. When it goes, human civilization may go with it--unless desperate measures can be taken.

 

     Emperox Grayland II, the leader of the Interdependency, is ready to take those measures to help ensure the survival of billions. But nothing is ever that easy. Arrayed before her are those who believe the collapse of the Flow is a myth--or at the very least, an opportunity that can allow them to ascend to power.

 

     While Grayland prepares for disaster, others are preparing for a civil war, a war that will take place in the halls of power, the markets of business and the altars of worship as much as it will take place between spaceships and battlefields. The Emperox and her allies are smart and resourceful, but then so are her enemies. Nothing about this power struggle will be simple or easy... and all of humanity will be caught in its widening gyre.

 

 

 

My Review on the Goodreads website ( I rated it 5 stars, with bookshelves for family relationships, interstellar war, isolation, science-fiction, series, space-opera, far-future .  . . . .

 

SPOILER FREE REVIEW AND APPRECIATION . . . . .

 

     My first acquaintance with John Scalzi’s work was OLD MAN’S WAR, which I loved. The themes and Scalzi’s writing style reminded me of Robert A. Heinlein, in all the right ways.

 

     After finishing the second book in the Interdependency Sequence THE CONSUMING FIRE, I am newly impressed. Scalzi has become a master plotter and the scope of this series is epic.

 

     His skill at detailing intricate plots, the schemes and manipulations of royal families in a power struggle, and vivid characterization rival those of George R. R. Martin. If you are a fan of GAME OF THRONES, you will enjoy this series. It does for science-fiction what Martin did for fantasy. Also, if you're a fan of DUNE, this will remind you of that book as well. At the core of this story is a parallel to contemporary climate change - - with science proving the existence of a crisis and business interests trying to deny it in order to milk the system for as long as possible before things collapse. 

 

     New readers will be entertained, and still able to pick up on what happened before enough to follow the proceedings, but I recommend reading THE COLLAPSING EMPIRE first for full appreciation. 

 

    There is a compelling space opera saga here to please fans of that genre, plenty of interesting science-fiction concepts to pacify hard science fans (and Scalzi has a great way of breaking things down into understandable small bits), and enough political machinations and ruling family back-stabbing and maneuvering to make the cynics inside us laugh in appreciation. 

 

     But the real strength of this novel is the compelling characterization of all the multitude of players in this complex tale of the allegedly final days of an interstellar civilization. My favorite characters are Marce Claremont, the scientist who understands best the breakdown of the Flow (travel between worlds, and the means of commerce) and is tasked with explaining same to a skeptical and denying governing body, the new emperox Grayland II (Cardenia Wu, daughter of the former emperox) who believes him and is severely underestimated by her foes, and Kiva Lagos the foul-mouthed, sex-crazed ready-for-a-brawl combative female intent on surviving the whole mess. Plus, there's an entire family of bad-asses - - the Nohamapetan clan - - a passel of scheming, manipulative, double-crossing, amoral hierarchy, with none matching the complete depravity of their matriarch the Countess. 

 

     Theres' plenty of humorous touches throughout to keep readers entertained. Scalzi has a tongue-in-cheek style in several places, pokes fun at many tropes, and writes perfect dialogue. I almost forgot to mention the fun of discovering the unconventional names he gives to space ships, like 

We Never Agreed To This and For This Gift I Feel Blessed.

 

     There's plenty of new information, world-building, and revelations throughout to keep this from becoming burdensome. I await the third (and final?) novel with great anticipation.