Hidden Empire

English language

Published Dec. 27, 2009 by TOR.

ISBN:
978-0-7653-2004-9
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3 stars (5 reviews)

Bestselling writer Orson Scott Card returns to the near-future world created for Empire - a world where the international power of the United States has grown too fast, and the fault lines at home have been stressed to the breaking point. The war of words between Right and Left collapsed into a shooting war, and raged between the high-technology weapons on each side, devastating cities, and over-running the countryside.

When the American dream shatters into violence, who could hold the people and the government together?

At the close of Empire, political scientist and government advisor Averell Torrent has maneuvered himself into the Presidency of the United States in the aftermath of the devastating insurrection and civil war. But the truth is, he engineered that war, and becoming President is just the next step in his plan. Now that he has complete power, he has two goals: To expand the American …

5 editions

Review of 'Hidden Empire' on 'Goodreads'

1 star

The label on the spine says "SCIENCE FICTION", but "FANTASY" would have been more accurate. "PARANOID RIGHT-WING FANTASY" would have been the most accurate of all.

Global warming is a lie, and even liberals know it in their heart of hearts. Guantanamo is relatively "nice". Progressives conspired against America, and were roundly defeated by patriotic red-state forces. Fox News is the only channel that even occasionally tells the truth. A Rush Limbaugh analog is a brave, noble, and lovable hero.

Three thoughts went through my head as I read this:

First, that Donald Trump could have written the whole thing. I knew that Card had been getting more and more right-wing over the years, but this surprised even me.

Second, that with each page I found myself disliking Card more and more. Your mileage may differ, but I found his opinions really offensive. He really seems quite proud of his …

Review of 'Hidden Empire' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Hidden Empire is an entertaining enough read, but ultimately doesn't provide enough thought or plot to make it a really compelling story. It wrestles with one big question that's worth asking: for a world leader impacting things on a global scale, do desirable ends actually justify some pretty rotten means? Is it acceptable to manipulate, lie, cheat, and kill some of your own if a greater global good is accomplished as a result?

However, that question only really occupies one small chunk of the story, and the rest of it fell flat for me.

Conclusion: less than compelling, far from OSC's best work, but if you're an OSC fan it's worth a quick read.

avatar for fryguy451

rated it

3 stars
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rated it

4 stars

Subjects

  • Civil war -- Fiction