Hidden Empire (Empire #2)
At the close of Empire, political scientist and government adviser Averell Torrent had maneuvered himself into the presidency of the United States. And now that he has complete power at home, he plans to expand American imperial power around the world.
Opportunity comes quickly. There's a deadly new plague in Africa, and it is devastating the countryside and cities. President Torrent declares American solidarity with the victims, but places all of Africa in quarantine until a vaccine is found or the disease burns itself out. And he sends Captain Bartholomew Coleman, Cole to his friends, to run the relief operations and protect the American scientists working on identifying the virus. If Cole and his team can avoid dying of the plague, or being cut down by the weapons of fearful African nations, they might do some good. Or they might be out of the way for good.
I'd nearly forgotten the first book in this series by the time I picked this up, so I had to learn about President Averell Torrent all over again here. And, while Torrent isn't present for a lot of the action, it is his desire to turn America into an Empire that drives much of what happens. What gives him the opportunity is the outbreak of a new virus in Africa, which threatens to become a worldwide pandemic. How he and others react to that forms the core of the story. I enjoyed the book because
I really enjoyed this continuation several years after the first book. I'd suggest reading the other book first, but you don't have to. Card did fill in just enough that you wouldn't be lost, but he didn't recap in detail, thankfully. This short (only these 2 books so far) series is based on a concept that was being developed for a video game (now on Xbox, although with a different name) & comics. Card just took the basic idea & developed these novels. As usual, his afterword (which he
These Empire books strain my admiration for Card. He does a poor job of being balanced and presenting a truly even view of opposing world views. His clear disdain for climate change theories slips in regularly, as does his stereotyped view of liberals as just Marxists who are too stupid to know they are Marxists. Given the humane and loving views that underpin and add richness to the best of the Ender novels, this limited view of those who disagree with him politically is disturbing and a big
For me, Hidden Empire was to Empire much as Speaker of the Dead was to Ender's Game. Hidden Empire continued to develop the plot and the characters of Empire but was really memorable for it's introduction of a more human element, less kick butt action and more philosophy of the human condition. That being said, there is still plenty of action and drama, just more tear jerking to go along with it. We were left at the end of Empire with a more or less happy ending, foreboding but tidy. In Hidden
I didn't want to give him a 4 for this book because I disagree with so many statements within the book. And definitely with the choices Cole made at the end. He even questions himself "What if I watch Torrent and find out that they were right after all, and I wrong? That sometimes a ruler needs to be killed to save the people? That democracy is more important than peace after all?" (Mainly because that statement assumes you can't have both peace and democracy at the same time, which I completely
Orson Scott Card
Hardcover | Pages: 336 pages Rating: 3.64 | 3409 Users | 322 Reviews
Mention Books In Pursuance Of Hidden Empire (Empire #2)
Original Title: | Hidden Empire |
ISBN: | 0765320045 (ISBN13: 9780765320049) |
Edition Language: | English |
Series: | Empire #2 |
Setting: | Nigeria United States of America |
Narration Supposing Books Hidden Empire (Empire #2)
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 overrunning the countryside.At the close of Empire, political scientist and government adviser Averell Torrent had maneuvered himself into the presidency of the United States. And now that he has complete power at home, he plans to expand American imperial power around the world.
Opportunity comes quickly. There's a deadly new plague in Africa, and it is devastating the countryside and cities. President Torrent declares American solidarity with the victims, but places all of Africa in quarantine until a vaccine is found or the disease burns itself out. And he sends Captain Bartholomew Coleman, Cole to his friends, to run the relief operations and protect the American scientists working on identifying the virus. If Cole and his team can avoid dying of the plague, or being cut down by the weapons of fearful African nations, they might do some good. Or they might be out of the way for good.
Specify Of Books Hidden Empire (Empire #2)
Title | : | Hidden Empire (Empire #2) |
Author | : | Orson Scott Card |
Book Format | : | Hardcover |
Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
Pages | : | Pages: 336 pages |
Published | : | December 22nd 2009 by Tor Books (first published October 21st 2009) |
Categories | : | Science Fiction. Fiction. Thriller |
Rating Of Books Hidden Empire (Empire #2)
Ratings: 3.64 From 3409 Users | 322 ReviewsWrite-Up Of Books Hidden Empire (Empire #2)
My perception of this book changed when my wife asked if she would enjoy it. My first thought was, "well it's the second in a series, so you'd have to read the first book first." Then I thought a little harder and realized that that wasn't necessarily true. Yes, it is the second in a series. Yes, the writer assumes that you already know the characters and the major points of their backstory. Other that that, though, what I consider to be the main aspect of the story (and the part that I enjoyedI'd nearly forgotten the first book in this series by the time I picked this up, so I had to learn about President Averell Torrent all over again here. And, while Torrent isn't present for a lot of the action, it is his desire to turn America into an Empire that drives much of what happens. What gives him the opportunity is the outbreak of a new virus in Africa, which threatens to become a worldwide pandemic. How he and others react to that forms the core of the story. I enjoyed the book because
I really enjoyed this continuation several years after the first book. I'd suggest reading the other book first, but you don't have to. Card did fill in just enough that you wouldn't be lost, but he didn't recap in detail, thankfully. This short (only these 2 books so far) series is based on a concept that was being developed for a video game (now on Xbox, although with a different name) & comics. Card just took the basic idea & developed these novels. As usual, his afterword (which he
These Empire books strain my admiration for Card. He does a poor job of being balanced and presenting a truly even view of opposing world views. His clear disdain for climate change theories slips in regularly, as does his stereotyped view of liberals as just Marxists who are too stupid to know they are Marxists. Given the humane and loving views that underpin and add richness to the best of the Ender novels, this limited view of those who disagree with him politically is disturbing and a big
For me, Hidden Empire was to Empire much as Speaker of the Dead was to Ender's Game. Hidden Empire continued to develop the plot and the characters of Empire but was really memorable for it's introduction of a more human element, less kick butt action and more philosophy of the human condition. That being said, there is still plenty of action and drama, just more tear jerking to go along with it. We were left at the end of Empire with a more or less happy ending, foreboding but tidy. In Hidden
I didn't want to give him a 4 for this book because I disagree with so many statements within the book. And definitely with the choices Cole made at the end. He even questions himself "What if I watch Torrent and find out that they were right after all, and I wrong? That sometimes a ruler needs to be killed to save the people? That democracy is more important than peace after all?" (Mainly because that statement assumes you can't have both peace and democracy at the same time, which I completely
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