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A review by burruss
The Accidental War by Walter Jon Williams
3.0
Glory to the illustrious Shaa and their servants, our honored ancestors. I speak before you all today to provide you my thoughts on The Accidental War, the long-awaited fourth book in the Dread Empire's Fall series (not that our empire is dread or shall ever fall). Finally released by the Board of Censors after several years, the next adventures of Senior Captain Lord Gareth Martinez and Captain "the Lady Sula" are finally ours to peruse.
The book follows on the first three books of the series, re-establishing where each of our main characters are nine years after their last published adventure (minor spoiler: largely where we left them). As the first book in a new trilogy, much of the book is spent setting the scene and establishing the chain of events that will power the coming narrative. While necessary, it does mean much of the novel is spent on build-up with only approximately the last 20% of the book devoted to the explosive fall-out. An economic downfall is largely taken from events from the last decade on the planet Terra, on the one hand an interesting prism through which to view recent events on that planet, on the other hand a bit too on the nose for those who closely follow news on that planet. A denouement is almost entirely lacking, leaving a slightly sour taste in the reader's mouth at the end; it's one thing to be the first book in a new trilogy, it's another to automatically presume all your readers will follow you to the next one.
But at the end of the day (a strict 29 hours, as set down by the munificent Shaa), these are minor criticisms on a rousing read. This is "space-opera" at its best, with economic machinations, political intrigue, combat (space and hand-to-hand) set in an intergalactic civil war. It's a story that will keep you turning page after page as you read of events spinning out of control. Williams' narrative style remains a pleasure to peruse. It is an enjoyable novel and one that you won't regret purchasing.
Thank you, fellow Peers and Convocates, thank you. Long live the Praxis.
The book follows on the first three books of the series, re-establishing where each of our main characters are nine years after their last published adventure (minor spoiler: largely where we left them). As the first book in a new trilogy, much of the book is spent setting the scene and establishing the chain of events that will power the coming narrative. While necessary, it does mean much of the novel is spent on build-up with only approximately the last 20% of the book devoted to the explosive fall-out. An economic downfall is largely taken from events from the last decade on the planet Terra, on the one hand an interesting prism through which to view recent events on that planet, on the other hand a bit too on the nose for those who closely follow news on that planet. A denouement is almost entirely lacking, leaving a slightly sour taste in the reader's mouth at the end; it's one thing to be the first book in a new trilogy, it's another to automatically presume all your readers will follow you to the next one.
But at the end of the day (a strict 29 hours, as set down by the munificent Shaa), these are minor criticisms on a rousing read. This is "space-opera" at its best, with economic machinations, political intrigue, combat (space and hand-to-hand) set in an intergalactic civil war. It's a story that will keep you turning page after page as you read of events spinning out of control. Williams' narrative style remains a pleasure to peruse. It is an enjoyable novel and one that you won't regret purchasing.
Thank you, fellow Peers and Convocates, thank you. Long live the Praxis.