Daniel Darabos reviewed Dread Empire's Fall by Walter Jon Williams
Review of "Dread Empire's Fall " on 'Goodreads'
1 star
I've only read the first 30%. The main character is unlikable. He only thinks about advancing his career and women. In women his only interest is looks. Accordingly, we get lots of paragraphs about the skin and hair and eyes of his love interests.
This could be fine. Maybe there will be character development! But why not foreshadow that? Indicate somehow that this is a trait of the character and not the author?
I would be fine with an unlikable main character if the book held up otherwise. Is there an exciting plot? Not so far! Only a single thing has happened, and it had seemingly no consequences. The spaceship and its dead pilot were retrieved. Let's get back to advancing this guy's career and leering on women.
How about world building? There is some kind of long-term hook. The last Shaa is about to die. What will happen to …
I've only read the first 30%. The main character is unlikable. He only thinks about advancing his career and women. In women his only interest is looks. Accordingly, we get lots of paragraphs about the skin and hair and eyes of his love interests.
This could be fine. Maybe there will be character development! But why not foreshadow that? Indicate somehow that this is a trait of the character and not the author?
I would be fine with an unlikable main character if the book held up otherwise. Is there an exciting plot? Not so far! Only a single thing has happened, and it had seemingly no consequences. The spaceship and its dead pilot were retrieved. Let's get back to advancing this guy's career and leering on women.
How about world building? There is some kind of long-term hook. The last Shaa is about to die. What will happen to their empire? They subjugated all races and forced the Praxis on them. The Praxis is never described, but it looks like aristocracy and dysfunctional bureaucracy. Aliens didn't have to bomb Los Angeles for this! This is the default mode of humanity!
This book relies on aliens to make the world LESS interesting. Fantastic twist.
There's a second character. In a flashback we learn that she probably has a stolen identity. I expect a series of clues about this will be presented every few chapters until a final surprise reveal? There's no hook to make me interested in this. Am I supposed to want to know more because of her fantastic skin and emerald eyes?
