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Imperium #2
Fortunes of the Imperium
Sequel to A View from the Imperium. Jeeves in space! Rollicking adventure featuring a seemingly dense, lovable nobleman and his indespensible, droll aide, Parsons.
Lieutenant Lord Thomas Kinago sets out from the Imperium homeworld for the Autocracy of the Uctu, a galactic region with a geckolike overlord known, eponymously, as the Autocrat. Thomas is ostensibly on a pleasure cruise with his cousin Jil to enjoy the pleasures of the Gecko culture. (Jil is herself fleeing a spot of trouble in the Central Worlds after she rebuffed the unwanted amorous interest of a local crime boss)
In fact, Thomas is on a mission for the mysterious Mr. Frank, the head of the secret service, to discover how prohibited goods, including a small fighter ship, are being smuggled into the Autocracy. His crew’s overt assignment is to find out why legitimate shippers are being detained at checkpoints, sometimes for months, without explanation. As usual, Thomas’s reputation for sudden enthusiasm and goodhearted mayhem precede him. It is all his trusted aid Parsons can do to keep his leader on course.
Thomas’s newest interest is superstitions, and he is driving everyone to distraction by telling fortunes, and even inventing a new method or two. Yet while the Autocrat, a new and fairly young Uctu female, finds Thomas a curious diplomat, she also rather likes him—much to Parsons’s relief. It seems Thomas needs free passage within the Uctu home system before he can investigate the illegal contraband trade. What’s more, the smuggling ring is quite determined to cancel Thomas’s visit before he can cancel them. As usual, it’s up to Parsons to find a way to lead his hapless master to victory—or at least keep him from getting himself killed by a very determined enemy.
Praise for Jody Lynn Nye’s An Unexpected Apprentice:
“I thoroughly enjoyed it, the plot, the settlement, the whole nine yards, and especially the twitch of humor at odd moments...a book I can thoroughly recommend.” —Anne McCaffrey
“An unusual story well-told, with characters it's a real pleasure to spend time with.” —David Drake
Lieutenant Lord Thomas Kinago sets out from the Imperium homeworld for the Autocracy of the Uctu, a galactic region with a geckolike overlord known, eponymously, as the Autocrat. Thomas is ostensibly on a pleasure cruise with his cousin Jil to enjoy the pleasures of the Gecko culture. (Jil is herself fleeing a spot of trouble in the Central Worlds after she rebuffed the unwanted amorous interest of a local crime boss)
In fact, Thomas is on a mission for the mysterious Mr. Frank, the head of the secret service, to discover how prohibited goods, including a small fighter ship, are being smuggled into the Autocracy. His crew’s overt assignment is to find out why legitimate shippers are being detained at checkpoints, sometimes for months, without explanation. As usual, Thomas’s reputation for sudden enthusiasm and goodhearted mayhem precede him. It is all his trusted aid Parsons can do to keep his leader on course.
Thomas’s newest interest is superstitions, and he is driving everyone to distraction by telling fortunes, and even inventing a new method or two. Yet while the Autocrat, a new and fairly young Uctu female, finds Thomas a curious diplomat, she also rather likes him—much to Parsons’s relief. It seems Thomas needs free passage within the Uctu home system before he can investigate the illegal contraband trade. What’s more, the smuggling ring is quite determined to cancel Thomas’s visit before he can cancel them. As usual, it’s up to Parsons to find a way to lead his hapless master to victory—or at least keep him from getting himself killed by a very determined enemy.
Praise for Jody Lynn Nye’s An Unexpected Apprentice:
“I thoroughly enjoyed it, the plot, the settlement, the whole nine yards, and especially the twitch of humor at odd moments...a book I can thoroughly recommend.” —Anne McCaffrey
“An unusual story well-told, with characters it's a real pleasure to spend time with.” —David Drake
480 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2014
7 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Jody Lynn Nye
311 books286 followersJody Lynn Nye lists her main career activity as ‘spoiling cats.’ When not engaged upon this worthy occupation, she writes fantasy and science fiction books and short stories.
Before breaking away from gainful employment to write full time, Jody worked as a file clerk, book-keeper at a small publishing house, freelance journalist and photographer, accounting assistant and costume maker.
For four years, she was on the technical operations staff of a local Chicago television station, WFBN (WGBO), serving the last year as Technical Operations Manager. During her time at WFBN, she was part of the engineering team that built the station, acted as Technical Director during live sports broadcasts, and worked to produce in-house spots and public service announcements.
Over the last twenty-five or so years, Jody has taught in numerous writing workshops and participated on hundreds of panels covering the subjects of writing and being published at science-fiction conventions. She has also spoken in schools and libraries around the north and northwest suburbs. In 2007 she taught fantasy writing at Columbia College Chicago. She also runs the two-day writers workshop at DragonCon, and is a judge for the Writers of the Future contest, the largest speculative fiction contest in the world.
Jody lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, with her husband Bill Fawcett, a writer, game designer, military historian and book packager, and three feline overlords, Athena, Minx, and Marmalade.
Before breaking away from gainful employment to write full time, Jody worked as a file clerk, book-keeper at a small publishing house, freelance journalist and photographer, accounting assistant and costume maker.
For four years, she was on the technical operations staff of a local Chicago television station, WFBN (WGBO), serving the last year as Technical Operations Manager. During her time at WFBN, she was part of the engineering team that built the station, acted as Technical Director during live sports broadcasts, and worked to produce in-house spots and public service announcements.
Over the last twenty-five or so years, Jody has taught in numerous writing workshops and participated on hundreds of panels covering the subjects of writing and being published at science-fiction conventions. She has also spoken in schools and libraries around the north and northwest suburbs. In 2007 she taught fantasy writing at Columbia College Chicago. She also runs the two-day writers workshop at DragonCon, and is a judge for the Writers of the Future contest, the largest speculative fiction contest in the world.
Jody lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, with her husband Bill Fawcett, a writer, game designer, military historian and book packager, and three feline overlords, Athena, Minx, and Marmalade.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 27, 2025
Campy but fun! I really enjoyed this book.
May 12, 2015
Lord Lieutenant Thomas Kinago, cousin of the Emperor of humanity, son of the first space lord, professional fop, sometime naval officer, and amateur well... everything is back. Trade with the neighboring Uctu (aka Geckos) has suddenly ground to a halt and no one knows why, ships are being held at the border for weeks and even months for no reason. When a group of ships is permitted to enter Uctu space, their ships are found to be carrying contraband that not only do the traders claim to have no knowledge of, but for which there doesn't seem to be any logical explanation for how it could have been put aboard the ships. Even more ominously, there are hints that all is not well at the heart of the Uctu government. The answer, send in Lt. Thomas, his incredibly competent aide-de-camp Commander Parsons, and his crew of extremely capable subordinates to charm and connive their way to figuring out what's really going on with a little help from Thomas's newest obsession, fortune-telling.
As with its imminently entertaining predecessor, The View from the Imperium, Fortunes of the Imperium, is a charming story if not quite as clever as its predecessor. What really makes it stand out is Thomas's charming (literally) noblesse oblige and his bizarre eccentricities, and Ms. Nye has created a fun cast of characters around him, particularly the unflappable Commander Parsons who is the Bunter to Thomas's Lord Peter Wimsey (if Dorothy L. Sayers had written Lord Peter as a space-traveling special agent). Indeed my biggest gripe with the book is that we spend so little time with Thomas's crew this time around as they seem to spend most of the book in the background but not quite IN the story. Still, it's a light, fun read but still puts the effort into taking its science fiction seriously (well, mostly).
As with its imminently entertaining predecessor, The View from the Imperium, Fortunes of the Imperium, is a charming story if not quite as clever as its predecessor. What really makes it stand out is Thomas's charming (literally) noblesse oblige and his bizarre eccentricities, and Ms. Nye has created a fun cast of characters around him, particularly the unflappable Commander Parsons who is the Bunter to Thomas's Lord Peter Wimsey (if Dorothy L. Sayers had written Lord Peter as a space-traveling special agent). Indeed my biggest gripe with the book is that we spend so little time with Thomas's crew this time around as they seem to spend most of the book in the background but not quite IN the story. Still, it's a light, fun read but still puts the effort into taking its science fiction seriously (well, mostly).
June 21, 2015
Thomas makes the book for me - I love that he is a genuinely NICE person, and hilarious with it. An enjoyable space opera romp - there’s little mystery as the bad guys are revealed early on, but there’s lot of dashing around the galaxy and adventuring and, oh, making sure everything's done in accordance with the latest fashions, of course.
August 5, 2017
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Lieutenant Lord Thomas Kinago sets out from the Imperium homeworld for the Autocracy of the Uctu, a galactic region with a geckolike overlord known, eponymously, as the Autocrat. Thomas is ostensibly on a pleasure cruise with his cousin Jil to enjoy the pleasures of the Gecko culture. (Jil is herself fleeing a spot of trouble in the Central Worlds after she rebuffed the unwanted amorous interest of a local crime boss)
In fact, Thomas is on a mission for the mysterious Mr. Frank, the head of the secret service, to discover how prohibited goods, including a small fighter ship, are being smuggled into the Autocracy. His crew’s overt assignment is to find out why legitimate shippers are being detained at checkpoints, sometimes for months, without explanation. As usual, Thomas’s reputation for sudden enthusiasm and goodhearted mayhem precede him. It is all his trusted aid Parsons can do to keep his leader on course.
Thomas’s newest interest is superstitions, and he is driving everyone to distraction by telling fortunes, and even inventing a new method or two. Yet while the Autocrat, a new and fairly young Uctu female, finds Thomas a curious diplomat, she also rather likes him—much to Parsons’s relief. It seems Thomas needs free passage within the Uctu home system before he can investigate the illegal contraband trade. What’s more, the smuggling ring is quite determined to cancel Thomas’s visit before he can cancel them. As usual, it’s up to Parsons to find a way to lead his hapless master to victory—or at least keep him from getting himself killed by a very determined enemy.
This is the sequel to A View from the Imperium.
This was a moderately amusing space opera novel, featuring the "Jeeves and Wooster" plot of a classless twit who signs up for the navy and spends more time getting in the way of his "minder's" plans.
Was it fun? Yeah, absolutely. I enjoyed the novelty of the story (although, by the time the end came, it was getting a little irritating.) Was it a good story? It was okay - I don't think I would hurry and read any more of this series (although the author does have some brilliant novels. Check her out!)
Paul
ARH
Lieutenant Lord Thomas Kinago sets out from the Imperium homeworld for the Autocracy of the Uctu, a galactic region with a geckolike overlord known, eponymously, as the Autocrat. Thomas is ostensibly on a pleasure cruise with his cousin Jil to enjoy the pleasures of the Gecko culture. (Jil is herself fleeing a spot of trouble in the Central Worlds after she rebuffed the unwanted amorous interest of a local crime boss)
In fact, Thomas is on a mission for the mysterious Mr. Frank, the head of the secret service, to discover how prohibited goods, including a small fighter ship, are being smuggled into the Autocracy. His crew’s overt assignment is to find out why legitimate shippers are being detained at checkpoints, sometimes for months, without explanation. As usual, Thomas’s reputation for sudden enthusiasm and goodhearted mayhem precede him. It is all his trusted aid Parsons can do to keep his leader on course.
Thomas’s newest interest is superstitions, and he is driving everyone to distraction by telling fortunes, and even inventing a new method or two. Yet while the Autocrat, a new and fairly young Uctu female, finds Thomas a curious diplomat, she also rather likes him—much to Parsons’s relief. It seems Thomas needs free passage within the Uctu home system before he can investigate the illegal contraband trade. What’s more, the smuggling ring is quite determined to cancel Thomas’s visit before he can cancel them. As usual, it’s up to Parsons to find a way to lead his hapless master to victory—or at least keep him from getting himself killed by a very determined enemy.
This is the sequel to A View from the Imperium.
This was a moderately amusing space opera novel, featuring the "Jeeves and Wooster" plot of a classless twit who signs up for the navy and spends more time getting in the way of his "minder's" plans.
Was it fun? Yeah, absolutely. I enjoyed the novelty of the story (although, by the time the end came, it was getting a little irritating.) Was it a good story? It was okay - I don't think I would hurry and read any more of this series (although the author does have some brilliant novels. Check her out!)
Paul
ARH
September 12, 2022
Love the humour. The characters are loveable and engaging. Looking forward to the next installment.
July 22, 2014
http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/07/22...
Publisher: Baen
Publishing Date: September 2014
ISBN: 9781476736723
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 1.2/5
Publisher Description: Lieutenant Lord Thomas Kinago sets out from the Imperium homeworld for the Autocracy of the Uctu, a galactic region with a geckolike overlord known, eponymously, as the Autocrat. Thomas is ostensibly on a pleasure cruise with his cousin Jil to enjoy the pleasures of the Gecko culture. (Jil is herself fleeing a spot of trouble in the Central Worlds after she rebuffed the unwanted amorous interest of a local crime boss)
In fact, Thomas is on a mission for the mysterious Mr. Frank, the head of the secret service, to discover how prohibited goods, including a small fighter ship, are being smuggled into the Autocracy. His crew’s overt assignment is to find out why legitimate shippers are being detained at checkpoints, sometimes for months, without explanation. As usual, Thomas’s reputation for sudden enthusiasm and goodhearted mayhem precede him. It is all his trusted aid Parsons can do to keep his leader on course.
Thomas’s newest interest is superstitions, and he is driving everyone to distraction by telling fortunes, and even inventing a new method or two. Yet while the Autocrat, a new and fairly young Uctu female, finds Thomas a curious diplomat, she also rather likes him—much to Parsons’s relief. It seems Thomas needs free passage within the Uctu home system before he can investigate the illegal contraband trade. What’s more, the smuggling ring is quite determined to cancel Thomas’s visit before he can cancel them. As usual, it’s up to Parsons to find a way to lead his hapless master to victory—or at least keep him from getting himself killed by a very determined enemy.
Review: Cover art looks like a covey of virgin larpers staging re-enactment.
Wow, the publisher’s sure went to great lengths to describe this novel. There is a reason for this. Confusing novel is confusing. It is all over the frickin’ place. Which is not a bad thing , as you can usually figure it out as you ride along. You just have to be liking the story-line and the characters in order to do so. Which this novel doesn’t do. The characters seemed to be forced into complexity but come out one dimensional. The story-line is fairly weak. Smuggling prohibited goods…blah, blah, swashbuckling dude, blah,…..legitimate shippers ….telling fortunes, hot captain chicks…blah.
This was space operatic trash with pages of filler dialogue. Really tough to get through a novel that bashes you over the head with its smugness and ancillary dialogue.
Publisher: Baen
Publishing Date: September 2014
ISBN: 9781476736723
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 1.2/5
Publisher Description: Lieutenant Lord Thomas Kinago sets out from the Imperium homeworld for the Autocracy of the Uctu, a galactic region with a geckolike overlord known, eponymously, as the Autocrat. Thomas is ostensibly on a pleasure cruise with his cousin Jil to enjoy the pleasures of the Gecko culture. (Jil is herself fleeing a spot of trouble in the Central Worlds after she rebuffed the unwanted amorous interest of a local crime boss)
In fact, Thomas is on a mission for the mysterious Mr. Frank, the head of the secret service, to discover how prohibited goods, including a small fighter ship, are being smuggled into the Autocracy. His crew’s overt assignment is to find out why legitimate shippers are being detained at checkpoints, sometimes for months, without explanation. As usual, Thomas’s reputation for sudden enthusiasm and goodhearted mayhem precede him. It is all his trusted aid Parsons can do to keep his leader on course.
Thomas’s newest interest is superstitions, and he is driving everyone to distraction by telling fortunes, and even inventing a new method or two. Yet while the Autocrat, a new and fairly young Uctu female, finds Thomas a curious diplomat, she also rather likes him—much to Parsons’s relief. It seems Thomas needs free passage within the Uctu home system before he can investigate the illegal contraband trade. What’s more, the smuggling ring is quite determined to cancel Thomas’s visit before he can cancel them. As usual, it’s up to Parsons to find a way to lead his hapless master to victory—or at least keep him from getting himself killed by a very determined enemy.
Review: Cover art looks like a covey of virgin larpers staging re-enactment.
Wow, the publisher’s sure went to great lengths to describe this novel. There is a reason for this. Confusing novel is confusing. It is all over the frickin’ place. Which is not a bad thing , as you can usually figure it out as you ride along. You just have to be liking the story-line and the characters in order to do so. Which this novel doesn’t do. The characters seemed to be forced into complexity but come out one dimensional. The story-line is fairly weak. Smuggling prohibited goods…blah, blah, swashbuckling dude, blah,…..legitimate shippers ….telling fortunes, hot captain chicks…blah.
This was space operatic trash with pages of filler dialogue. Really tough to get through a novel that bashes you over the head with its smugness and ancillary dialogue.
September 1, 2014
Fortunes of the Imperium is a fun read; I enjoyed it far more than the first one, enough so that I'll eventually give View from the Imperium another chance. Definitely light fare but meant to be, in the Jeeves-and-Bertie-go-to-space tradition, this action comedy finds Lieutenant Lord Thomas Kinago on a diplomatic mission to the Autocracy, hoping to save the lives of Imperium citizens who have inadvertently smuggled forbidden military tech. The penalty for such smuggling is death, and the Uctu legal system doesn't seem to allow for
mistakes.
Lord Thomas's new fascination is superstition and fortune telling--in fact, he's invented a new method, condimentomancy--as ridiculous as any other, he promises. Fate in the fall of catsup on your plate, as it were. Thomas' legendary charm (genetically enhanced) crosses species, his factotum Parsons helps save the day, and the stage is set for future adventures. Parsons is way more hunky than Jeeves, and Thomas is far less irritating than Bertie Wooster. For fans of Kris Longknife and Daniel Leary, this sits somewhere in between and is overtly tongue-in-cheek. I received an e-galley for review from the publisher and netgalley.
mistakes.
Lord Thomas's new fascination is superstition and fortune telling--in fact, he's invented a new method, condimentomancy--as ridiculous as any other, he promises. Fate in the fall of catsup on your plate, as it were. Thomas' legendary charm (genetically enhanced) crosses species, his factotum Parsons helps save the day, and the stage is set for future adventures. Parsons is way more hunky than Jeeves, and Thomas is far less irritating than Bertie Wooster. For fans of Kris Longknife and Daniel Leary, this sits somewhere in between and is overtly tongue-in-cheek. I received an e-galley for review from the publisher and netgalley.
January 24, 2015
Moderately amusing space opera. The protagonist is an upper class twit who is only slightly less dense than his friends. He is enrolled in the navy, primarily as a decoy so that his minder can get things done, but somehow he always ends up in the thick of the action.
The amusing story was weakened by the authors lack of imagination. Other than interstellar travel, the main impact of science in the distant future seems to be 1, a large data network that you can research things on, and 2, an omnipresent social network that you can post photos to and comment on. I can't imagine how the author came up with those wacky ideas. Oh, and also some nanotech that I saw coming a million miles away.
3.5 stars.
The amusing story was weakened by the authors lack of imagination. Other than interstellar travel, the main impact of science in the distant future seems to be 1, a large data network that you can research things on, and 2, an omnipresent social network that you can post photos to and comment on. I can't imagine how the author came up with those wacky ideas. Oh, and also some nanotech that I saw coming a million miles away.
3.5 stars.
August 7, 2016
I had an absolute ball reading this one. Solid writing, excellent storytelling, and very well plotted, right up to a solid and solidly entertaining climax. I laughed like hell.
Thomas Kinago, for all his foppish exterior, has integrity, great inner strength, and rare kalothi. It was a genuine pleasure to watch him work.
Thomas Kinago, for all his foppish exterior, has integrity, great inner strength, and rare kalothi. It was a genuine pleasure to watch him work.
February 19, 2016
Love this series.
The character should not be taken seriously, cause he doesn't. I just love him, he makes me laugh outloud.
This book is real fun, the storyline is more complex that it might seem, hidden as it is by dumb-luck, card reading and witty dialogues and just incredibly stupid moments (which I just loved)
The character should not be taken seriously, cause he doesn't. I just love him, he makes me laugh outloud.
This book is real fun, the storyline is more complex that it might seem, hidden as it is by dumb-luck, card reading and witty dialogues and just incredibly stupid moments (which I just loved)
August 23, 2014
The story is fun and I really like how the main character is slowly growing more mature without loosing any of his sense of fun.
September 20, 2015
nice read, kept moving well even when I wanted to put it down. this author definitely will be in my must read list
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews