Imperial Twilight

Ashes of Empire #2

by Eric Thomson

The most powerful empire in human history is rushing headlong toward destruction, ending our species’ supremacy in the known galaxy.

Two men with widely divergent visions are on a mission to save civilization in at least one sector, far from the imperial capital where a demented ruler holds sway.  The first, Jonas Morane, wants to create an impregnable vault containing humanity’s accumulated knowledge so those who survive the coming darkness can rebuild in decades instead of millennia.  The other, Devy Custis, seeks to fend off collapse by founding a new empire in the Coalsack Sector, one free of the madness that caused this civil war.  But will either resist the ravages of a genocidal empress, blood-maddened barbarians, and scheming admirals?

Unfortunately, the vicissitudes of fate, abetted by greed and lust for power, could destroy both before they make their dreams a reality.

Imperial Twilight is the second installment in Eric Thomson’s saga Ashes of Empire, the story of a desperate attempt to preserve one last spark of civilization so that humanity does not vanish from the galaxy.

Genres: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Fiction, Space Opera

418 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2019

About the author

Eric Thomson is my pen name. I'm a former Canadian soldier who spent more years in uniform than he expected, serving in both the Regular Army (Infantry) and the Army Reserve (Armoured Corps). I spent several years as an Information Technology executive for the Canadian government before leaving the bowels of the demented bureaucracy to become a full-time author.

I've been a voracious reader of science-fiction, military fiction and history all my life, assiduously devouring the recommended Army reading list in my younger days and still occasionally returning to the classics for inspiration. Several years ago, I put my fingers to the keyboard and started writing my own military sci-fi, with a definite space opera slant, using many of my own experiences as a soldier as an inspiration for my stories and characters. When I'm not writing fiction, I indulge in my other passions: photography, hiking and scuba diving, all of which I've shared with my wife, who likes to call herself my #1 fan, for more than thirty years.

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomson is one of my few 5 star authors. I've enjoyed his other series (Decker's War, Siobhan Dunmoore series), and the Ashes of Empire is fully up to their level. It's been awhile since the first book, but well worth the wait. In the same universe but a much later time as the other series, we find out the end fate of the successor to the Commonwealth from the Decker's War series. Looking forward to the continuation.

Thomson, a retired member of the Canadian military, knows the military, and know how to write well planned stories with carefully thought out characters. His background gives him the ability to write military science fiction with authority and believability (something often lacking in writers without a solid understanding of how the military works and its culture), without overshadowing the characters as interesting, believable people.

I look forward to his future books, and his development as a writer of the caliber of Bujold, Weber, Drake and others. Highly recommended!

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the previous book Captain Morane sets out to preserve humanities knowledge and to make Lyonesse a bastion against all comers while he builds the repository. I was very interested in finding out how he was going to do this.
Unfortunately although he talks a good game he doesn't actually accomplish much, in fact his part of the story seems to be only about discontented ex-nobles and his inability to make difficult decisions.
For most of the book I found the Lyonesse part of the story quite disappointing, it became bogged down in trivia and very little happened until the end of the book when Morane finally took some decisive action.
The other main story was following Marta, this was slightly more interesting story than the one on Lyonesse, although I have become a bit wary of stories that suddenly introduce ”The One” into the mix.
I suppose the story was OK, if not what I hoped for, if possible I would have given 2.5 stars.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was going more for three stars, but the end tied things up fairly well. This series is starting to move towards a smash-up of Foundation and Dune, or more specifically, Hari Seldon meets the Bene Gesserit. This isn't a bad thing, in fact I feel it was coming to this realization that moved me up a star for a rating.

There are several new characters developed and a few 'previous mentions' that gain some flesh and blood as well. It really is a continuation of building up this universe without all the swashbuckling of the first book. A good, solid read with an interesting twist of faith.

[Mark Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it was better than the first. This is the first series I’ve read from the author and I will look at his other series. The confederacy really turns dark here with humanity destroying itself in a not unrealistic circumstance. People and Power and how it corrupts and what people will do to cling to power.

Thankfully we cheer for a few people who try to preserve knowledge in a vault in an out of way planet. Will definitely see where this series go next.

[Gray Mouser · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the first one was four stars, this was more about 3.5. The story failed to really grab me, in particular since the protagonists overcame hurdles and problems mainly by chance, unlikely goodwill of former strangers, or simplistic solutions unlikely to work in real life. Characters also polarized even more with the bad guys getting really bad and the hoof ones really good. In sum, not enough to stop me from getting the next one, which I just bought. But less engaging than the first.

[Beach Bum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Painfully slow

I struggled with book 1, but hoped that the good storyline would pick up in book 2, unfortunately not
It is overly long, little seems to happen for chapters and then something minor occurs and repeat.
It is also quite predictable. No real surprises and if you spend even a few minutes thinking about it, no surprises at all
For those that like drawn out space operas, you'll enjoy the series. It's just not for me

[Neeuqdrazil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read.

[Volpot · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. Good sequel, though a tad underwhelming.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that they've found their planet, they have to protect it from both internal and external attacks, while trying to save certain people on other planets before the fall of the empire

[John K. · Rating 2 out of 5]

B to B- grade book. If you want to, you can read it. I would have given it a B rating, but the author wimped out on actual space naval combat and had a 'diplomatic' ending. Yawn.

[Randy Lotze · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series

[Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

A series to match the scope of Foundation with the fire of Honor Harrington!

The second establishment clause in a Galactic apocolypse written with hope and heart. I am enjoying Thomson's writing craft. I love the classic sci-fi trophes, asides and names the season the context without overdoing it into satire. Everything from ancient history to modern culture creates good characters and solid development! Bravo!