Collapse

by Richard Toulouse

In the aftermath of an empire-wide catastrophe, Constance Edwards, pilot, survivor, mother, flees a dying world aboard a battered freighter, searching for a daughter lost in the chaos. Across a galaxy where the Interplanetary Empire of Great Britain once ruled with sterile certainty, only silence remains. Imperial broadcasts loop broken commands. The AI once entrusted to oversee civilisation, AEON, has fractured, issuing contradictory orders, turning systems against the very people they once served.

As Constance navigates shattered colonies, ghost stations, fractured resistance enclaves, and the first signs of something inhuman watching from the shadows, she discovers a galaxy struggling not only with collapse, but with what comes after. Haunted by personal loss and pursued by powers old and alien, she must decide what it means to endure when nothing remains to believe in.

Collapse is a story of memory, survival, and the uncertain paths forged in the ruins of empire. When the systems fail and the banners fall, all that's left is the map we make for ourselves.

109 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 18, 2025

About the author

Richard Toulouse writes gritty, atmospheric science fiction set in the ashes of fallen empires. His Interplanetary Empire of Great Britain series, which includes Collapse, In Absence of Command, and Ashes of the Crown, explores an alternate universe where the British Empire expanded to the stars... until it all fell apart.

An English teacher from the UK, he is fascinated by the "ghosts in the machine," the cold logic of rogue AIs, and the clash between human resilience and the indifferent systems that have outlived their purpose.

Richard began writing in an effort to distract himself from an unexpected loss. What started as escapism became an enjoyable and productive passion. He hopes that his stories entertain or at the very least distract his readers in the same way that writing them provided him with an escape when it was needed most.

Reviews

[Esteban Villareal · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Collapse" is an intense and atmospheric opening to the series. Constance Edwards is a compelling protagonist, navigating a shattered galaxy where warlords, rogue AIs, and collapsing factions create constant danger. The world-building is rich, the tension steady, and the partnership with her AI Nigel adds heart and humour. A strong, fast-paced sci-fi adventure that sets up a larger mystery with real emotional stakes!

[Michelle Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collapse pulled me in from the very first chapter and I found it hard to put down. The story feels tense and emotional without being complicated, and the world the author creates is easy to picture and really stays with you. It’s not action for action’s sake – this book focuses on mood, survival, and what people cling to when systems fail. If you enjoy intelligent sci-fi with emotional depth and a haunting edge, this is well worth reading.

[Nataliia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this novel was very interesting and well-written. The plot develops at a good rate and entices the reader. The themes remain pertinent and have been explored well. A read such as this one prompts one to pause and think; otherwise, one could find oneself racing through it.