What do you think?
Rate this book
Death is Collapsing
The universe was supposed to be infinite. But when humanity set out to the great beyond, they encountered a the Edge of the Reachable Universe. And what was initially dismissed as a physical limitation may have much more sinister origins…
As the corporate conglomerate named the CEC announces first contact with an alien species, its charismatic leader Alex Fjord harbors a dark secret—he's already made a pact with the cosmic force of Death itself. Earth's new contact may not be as benevolent as they appear, and Fjord’s negotiations with this existential entity threaten the future of the human race.
Starlight Death is Collapsing starts the reader on a journey of nihilistic optimism. At its heart is Simon, a weary engineer struggling to maintain his personal life light-years from Earth. As Simon wrestles with love and duty, his life is turned upside down when he wakes up to a universe that has moved on without him. As he struggles to adjust to this new reality, where laws have been replaced by corporate policies and the line between human and AI is not as clear as it once seemed, he finds himself questioning whether he can ever truly belong again. And when he finds himself tangled in the plans of a tired God, he becomes the unwilling keeper of the best kept secret in the universe.
Starlight Empires is a deeply human story set against the backdrop of a hopeless future. For fans of thought-provoking science fiction, this gripping existential drama explores what it means to be alive in a universe that is already lost.
It is a story about Life and Death, failure and forgiveness, and the end of Starlight Empires.
No one flies forever.
As the corporate conglomerate named the CEC announces first contact with an alien species, its charismatic leader Alex Fjord harbors a dark secret—he's already made a pact with the cosmic force of Death itself. Earth's new contact may not be as benevolent as they appear, and Fjord’s negotiations with this existential entity threaten the future of the human race.
Starlight Death is Collapsing starts the reader on a journey of nihilistic optimism. At its heart is Simon, a weary engineer struggling to maintain his personal life light-years from Earth. As Simon wrestles with love and duty, his life is turned upside down when he wakes up to a universe that has moved on without him. As he struggles to adjust to this new reality, where laws have been replaced by corporate policies and the line between human and AI is not as clear as it once seemed, he finds himself questioning whether he can ever truly belong again. And when he finds himself tangled in the plans of a tired God, he becomes the unwilling keeper of the best kept secret in the universe.
Starlight Empires is a deeply human story set against the backdrop of a hopeless future. For fans of thought-provoking science fiction, this gripping existential drama explores what it means to be alive in a universe that is already lost.
It is a story about Life and Death, failure and forgiveness, and the end of Starlight Empires.
No one flies forever.
- GenresScience Fiction
332 pages, Paperback
Published October 9, 2024
1 person is currently reading
10 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 12, 2024
DNF@32%
The "good" thing is the future seems to be now, the bad thing is that this book is a few decades too late to shine.
Quoting another review: "one can easily see how society could end up exactly as described in the book", yeah... because it's more an exaggerated version of the present (or near future, with the space setting as a different "background") for cautionary commentary, than anything else.
Respectfully, this book needs an editor, both for the science, and the fiction parts. And the accidental references to real people that one should be extra careful with. More research is also needed on the AI, tech, and science topics it plays with.
I'm giving it two stars, because it's an indie debut, and because some underlying ideas made me curious. Unfortunately, the quest to find those bits that interested me is an adventure in its own right, and the pile of things that are annoying me is getting out of hand. I'm getting too old to be that kind of hero.
Thank you, NetGalley and the author for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The "good" thing is the future seems to be now, the bad thing is that this book is a few decades too late to shine.
Quoting another review: "one can easily see how society could end up exactly as described in the book", yeah... because it's more an exaggerated version of the present (or near future, with the space setting as a different "background") for cautionary commentary, than anything else.
Respectfully, this book needs an editor, both for the science, and the fiction parts. And the accidental references to real people that one should be extra careful with. More research is also needed on the AI, tech, and science topics it plays with.
I'm giving it two stars, because it's an indie debut, and because some underlying ideas made me curious. Unfortunately, the quest to find those bits that interested me is an adventure in its own right, and the pile of things that are annoying me is getting out of hand. I'm getting too old to be that kind of hero.
Thank you, NetGalley and the author for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
January 3, 2025
Full review coming soon. Best book I have read in a long long time. New favourite author alert!!!
*Received an ARC via NetGalley in return for an honest review*
Provoking, dripping in irony, and downright thrilling, DEATH IS COLLPASING is the perfect debut novel for fans of SCI-FI and societal commentary.
Death Is Collapsing is fast paced, and leaves you unable to put it down, despite a healthy page count. Every character has a unique authenticity and are impossible to confuse even during the thrilling action scenes. This first novel is the perfect introduction to a world, nay galaxy, where AI has taken the positions of everyone in society, and a haunting new species rules the roost in stead of their faceless gods.
I devoured Death Is Collapsing and cannot wait for the next instalment in the series. Simon is a funny, empathetic protagonist who is thrust into a time where the Earth is long-since destroyed and everything he knew lost. But that doesn't let it stop him from demanding answers about how everything turned inside out.
Amazing, amazing, amazing. Everyone should be reading this book.
*Received an ARC via NetGalley in return for an honest review*
Provoking, dripping in irony, and downright thrilling, DEATH IS COLLPASING is the perfect debut novel for fans of SCI-FI and societal commentary.
Death Is Collapsing is fast paced, and leaves you unable to put it down, despite a healthy page count. Every character has a unique authenticity and are impossible to confuse even during the thrilling action scenes. This first novel is the perfect introduction to a world, nay galaxy, where AI has taken the positions of everyone in society, and a haunting new species rules the roost in stead of their faceless gods.
I devoured Death Is Collapsing and cannot wait for the next instalment in the series. Simon is a funny, empathetic protagonist who is thrust into a time where the Earth is long-since destroyed and everything he knew lost. But that doesn't let it stop him from demanding answers about how everything turned inside out.
Amazing, amazing, amazing. Everyone should be reading this book.
November 2, 2024
This is the most exciting sci-fi novel I've read in a long time. It's big, both in size and ambition. Wilms achieves some pretty epic things with this story. From the beginning, it just keeps growing bigger and bigger, the universe falling into place as we realize just what's going on. But whenever I thought I figured it all out, a new twist came that threw everything onto its head. Wow. I can't remember the last time a book threw me for a loop this many times.
The end? I was speechless. I actually had to go back and reread the last ten pages again just to make sure I understood what was happening. I don't know when the sequel is coming, but you best believe I will be reading it ASAP.
I won't stop thinking about this for a while. If you're a fan of of The Divide series by J.S. Dewes, I think you would really enjoy this.
The end? I was speechless. I actually had to go back and reread the last ten pages again just to make sure I understood what was happening. I don't know when the sequel is coming, but you best believe I will be reading it ASAP.
I won't stop thinking about this for a while. If you're a fan of of The Divide series by J.S. Dewes, I think you would really enjoy this.
November 19, 2024
Hans Trevor Wilms, PhD's Starlight Empires: Death is Collapsing, kicks off a thrilling space opera saga that explores humanity's future among the stars. The story centers around Alex Fjord, the charismatic and wealthy CEO of CEC, who drops the bombshell news of humanity’s first contact with an alien race. But just as the excitement starts to build, we’re hit with a sinister twist: Fjord is haunted by a godlike entity called Death, a presence that makes him question everything, including the survival of the human race. Meanwhile, Simon Martinez, an engineer on a far-flung space station, finds his routine life thrown into chaos. He’s caught between personal heartbreak, a crumbling relationship, and the discovery of something much bigger than he ever imagined.
Right from the opening scene, I felt pulled in. Fjord’s announcement about alien contact had all the suspense and showmanship you’d expect from a space-age business mogul. But then Death shows up, and the dread sets in. Wilms knows how to build tension. The way Death speaks—cold and unwavering—makes you uneasy, and Fjord’s powerlessness is chilling. Sometimes, I wanted the conversations to cut deeper or the prose to trim some of the fat. But even with that, the eerie vibe sticks with you.
Simon’s story, on the other hand, is way more relatable and down-to-earth, which I loved. He’s this hardworking guy, crawling through ducts on a lonely space station, trying to patch up broken tech while his girlfriend, Cara, sends him an avalanche of frustrated texts from Earth. We’ve all felt that kind of helplessness in relationships, and it’s captured perfectly here. One of my favorite parts was when Simon, despite everything, finds joy in his engineering work, even customizing his prosthetic arm with a 3D printer. The descriptions of his fixes are vivid and detailed.
What really struck me were the bigger ideas floating around this book. Humanity’s future, the ethics of corporate domination—Wilms goes there, and it’s uncomfortable in the best way. The CEC’s chokehold on society is unsettling and feels all too real. At one point, Simon reflects on how CEC quietly buys up entire countries, and it’s a gut punch. Wilms does an incredible job weaving these themes into a character-driven story. Simon’s quiet moments, like playing his banjo to clear his mind, bring a touch of humanity that balances the cosmic dread.
In the end, Starlight Empires: Death is Collapsing is a complex, ambitious adventure. If you’re a fan of science fiction that digs into the human condition and explores our place in the universe, this book will get you thinking. It’s not a quick, action-packed ride but a slow burn that’s rich with atmosphere and philosophical musings. If you’ve got the patience for a story that’s equal parts existential and personal, you’ll be rewarded. Just buckle up—it’s a wild ride worth taking.
Right from the opening scene, I felt pulled in. Fjord’s announcement about alien contact had all the suspense and showmanship you’d expect from a space-age business mogul. But then Death shows up, and the dread sets in. Wilms knows how to build tension. The way Death speaks—cold and unwavering—makes you uneasy, and Fjord’s powerlessness is chilling. Sometimes, I wanted the conversations to cut deeper or the prose to trim some of the fat. But even with that, the eerie vibe sticks with you.
Simon’s story, on the other hand, is way more relatable and down-to-earth, which I loved. He’s this hardworking guy, crawling through ducts on a lonely space station, trying to patch up broken tech while his girlfriend, Cara, sends him an avalanche of frustrated texts from Earth. We’ve all felt that kind of helplessness in relationships, and it’s captured perfectly here. One of my favorite parts was when Simon, despite everything, finds joy in his engineering work, even customizing his prosthetic arm with a 3D printer. The descriptions of his fixes are vivid and detailed.
What really struck me were the bigger ideas floating around this book. Humanity’s future, the ethics of corporate domination—Wilms goes there, and it’s uncomfortable in the best way. The CEC’s chokehold on society is unsettling and feels all too real. At one point, Simon reflects on how CEC quietly buys up entire countries, and it’s a gut punch. Wilms does an incredible job weaving these themes into a character-driven story. Simon’s quiet moments, like playing his banjo to clear his mind, bring a touch of humanity that balances the cosmic dread.
In the end, Starlight Empires: Death is Collapsing is a complex, ambitious adventure. If you’re a fan of science fiction that digs into the human condition and explores our place in the universe, this book will get you thinking. It’s not a quick, action-packed ride but a slow burn that’s rich with atmosphere and philosophical musings. If you’ve got the patience for a story that’s equal parts existential and personal, you’ll be rewarded. Just buckle up—it’s a wild ride worth taking.
December 9, 2024
𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Death is Collapsing
𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Tears of the Perishing
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Hans Trevor Wilms @scienceandcats
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿: The Little Rebel
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Easy
𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: Novel
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Sci-fi Odyssey
4/𝟱
🌵𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁
Dude with a gf as annoying as he is 👀, allegedly, wakes up 80 years later after trying to rush back to her, to a world that has tech, music & life beyond what he knew. As he tries to navigate the culture shocks & find his place in this new world, he will find friends & enemies in unexpected places. One, in particular, that will consume everything.
I love a sci-fi book that pitches us into a new world with enemies & challenges & such (especially when it is truly intergalactic and there are new species and new worlds)… While I found that the author took too much time explaining things he didn’t have to (I love books that have me figure it out), the overall effect was an easy, rewarding read.
Was I fed up with the irritating behaviour of the MC (whose name I have forgotten 💁), yes. Will I read the next books? Yes.
✨𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱.
🌵𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗵
The angsty behaviour in a 24+ year old and the over-crying. This dude did a lot of crying. Justifiable? One can argue that yes, but it was A LOT of crying. 👀
♡🌵 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲 ;)
Thanks @netgalley 🤎
𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Tears of the Perishing
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Hans Trevor Wilms @scienceandcats
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿: The Little Rebel
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Easy
𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: Novel
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Sci-fi Odyssey
4/𝟱
🌵𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁
Dude with a gf as annoying as he is 👀, allegedly, wakes up 80 years later after trying to rush back to her, to a world that has tech, music & life beyond what he knew. As he tries to navigate the culture shocks & find his place in this new world, he will find friends & enemies in unexpected places. One, in particular, that will consume everything.
I love a sci-fi book that pitches us into a new world with enemies & challenges & such (especially when it is truly intergalactic and there are new species and new worlds)… While I found that the author took too much time explaining things he didn’t have to (I love books that have me figure it out), the overall effect was an easy, rewarding read.
Was I fed up with the irritating behaviour of the MC (whose name I have forgotten 💁), yes. Will I read the next books? Yes.
✨𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱.
🌵𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗵
The angsty behaviour in a 24+ year old and the over-crying. This dude did a lot of crying. Justifiable? One can argue that yes, but it was A LOT of crying. 👀
♡🌵 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲 ;)
Thanks @netgalley 🤎
March 20, 2025
"I just finished reading 'Death is Collapsing' by Hans T. Wilms, and I'm still reeling from the experience. This sci-fi novel is a masterclass in world-building, with a richly detailed universe that's both fascinating and unsettling.
The story is full of unexpected twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I tried to unravel the mysteries alongside the characters. Wilms' writing is crisp and evocative, conjuring vivid images of distant planets, advanced technologies, and the darker aspects of human nature.
What truly sets 'Death is Collapsing' apart, however, is its thought-provoking exploration of complex themes. Wilms tackles topics like mortality, identity, and the consequences of playing with forces beyond human control.
Overall, I highly recommend 'Death is Collapsing' to fans of science fiction and anyone looking for a gripping, intellectually stimulating read. Hans T. Wilms is a talented author who's definitely worth keeping an eye on.
The story is full of unexpected twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I tried to unravel the mysteries alongside the characters. Wilms' writing is crisp and evocative, conjuring vivid images of distant planets, advanced technologies, and the darker aspects of human nature.
What truly sets 'Death is Collapsing' apart, however, is its thought-provoking exploration of complex themes. Wilms tackles topics like mortality, identity, and the consequences of playing with forces beyond human control.
Overall, I highly recommend 'Death is Collapsing' to fans of science fiction and anyone looking for a gripping, intellectually stimulating read. Hans T. Wilms is a talented author who's definitely worth keeping an eye on.
February 6, 2025
Le iba a poner 2☆ porque LO QUE ME COSTÓ Y LO LARGO QUE ES, y a veces se hacia un poco lento!!
pero.. al final le puse 5☆ porque la trama esta buena, las descripciones de los personajes y las diferentes razas que hay y sus descripciones fisicas, los robots,las naves, como usan la IA y la RA en esta sociedad futurista, no tan alejada de la actualidad , es todo una locura!!
Yo lo hubiese dejado en autoconclusivo.. pero me intriga saber como va a seguir esta serie.
pero.. al final le puse 5☆ porque la trama esta buena, las descripciones de los personajes y las diferentes razas que hay y sus descripciones fisicas, los robots,las naves, como usan la IA y la RA en esta sociedad futurista, no tan alejada de la actualidad , es todo una locura!!
Yo lo hubiese dejado en autoconclusivo.. pero me intriga saber como va a seguir esta serie.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews