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The Forgotten Empire #2
Earth Ascendant
From USA Today Bestselling Author Raymond L. Weil comes the second book in a new military science fiction series.
The war between the seven alien races of the Confederation and Earth heats up as the two come into direct conflict over the former Human Empire. The people or Earth are determined to free it, and the Confederation is determined to keep it under their strict control.
Fleets meet in combat as the fate of worlds is decided. Earth is hopelessly outmatched as the Confederation controls thousands of inhabited planets. Their resources seem almost unlimited, and Earth only has the Solar System.
In a surprise move, Captain Derrick Masters makes a daring foray into Federation space to discover any Confederation weaknesses and uncovers a horrifying secret. For over a thousand years, the Federation has been conscripting young Humans from the Empire to use as slaves. In a dangerous gambit, he manages to learn the fate of those Humans.
Realizing the only hope Earth has is to bring the former Human Empire into the war, Earth launches a massive attack to free the Empire. If they fail, then Earth itself will become a slave world of the Confederation.
The war between the seven alien races of the Confederation and Earth heats up as the two come into direct conflict over the former Human Empire. The people or Earth are determined to free it, and the Confederation is determined to keep it under their strict control.
Fleets meet in combat as the fate of worlds is decided. Earth is hopelessly outmatched as the Confederation controls thousands of inhabited planets. Their resources seem almost unlimited, and Earth only has the Solar System.
In a surprise move, Captain Derrick Masters makes a daring foray into Federation space to discover any Confederation weaknesses and uncovers a horrifying secret. For over a thousand years, the Federation has been conscripting young Humans from the Empire to use as slaves. In a dangerous gambit, he manages to learn the fate of those Humans.
Realizing the only hope Earth has is to bring the former Human Empire into the war, Earth launches a massive attack to free the Empire. If they fail, then Earth itself will become a slave world of the Confederation.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2020
830 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
About the author
Raymond L. Weil
91 books339 followersUSA Today Best Selling Author
I live in Clinton Oklahoma with my wife of 40 years and our cat. I attended college at SWOSU in Weatherford Oklahoma, majoring in Math with minors in Creative Writing and History.
My hobbies include watching soccer, reading, camping, and of course writing. I coached youth soccer for twelve years before moving on and becoming a high school soccer coach for thirteen more. I also enjoy playing with my five grandchildren. I have a very vivid imagination, which sometimes worries my friends. They never know what I am going to say or what I am going to do.
I am an avid reader and have a science fiction / fantasy collection of over two thousand paperbacks. The space program has always fascinated me and I've followed it since its inception. When I was a teenager, I wanted to be an astronaut. Now, I just write about it.
I live in Clinton Oklahoma with my wife of 40 years and our cat. I attended college at SWOSU in Weatherford Oklahoma, majoring in Math with minors in Creative Writing and History.
My hobbies include watching soccer, reading, camping, and of course writing. I coached youth soccer for twelve years before moving on and becoming a high school soccer coach for thirteen more. I also enjoy playing with my five grandchildren. I have a very vivid imagination, which sometimes worries my friends. They never know what I am going to say or what I am going to do.
I am an avid reader and have a science fiction / fantasy collection of over two thousand paperbacks. The space program has always fascinated me and I've followed it since its inception. When I was a teenager, I wanted to be an astronaut. Now, I just write about it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
August 16, 2020
I don't know what reading level Mr. Weil expects his audience to be reading at, but my guess, it's pretty low. His writing is a lot of repetition sounding like the characters aren't truly believing what they are saying or not hearing what is said to them. You'll have someone say something in one paragraph and in the next, a character is saying the same thing back to the character that just said something. If that sounds confusing, it certainly is. And a lot of it is unnecessary.
Now, I've read a lot of Mr. Weil's books (about 34), so I do like his story-telling, but his writing is getting annoying. I wish he would just tell the story and move on. I know his characters don't need to repeat everything over and over, but I guess that does fill up pages in the book.
This book is about the old Human Empire getting ready to strike back at the Confederation and the Druins. The Earth Humans and the Imperials were using the Imperial advanced tech to build defenses in the Solar System to counter an expected Druin attack sometime in the near future. They had also sent out the Destiny on a scouting mission to find out what the Confederation was doing and how capable were their space forces. The Destiny also came upon a Lamothian fleet taking thousands of humans from one of the former Human Empire worlds. Apparently, the Lamothians had been doing this for years and know one knew what they were doing with all these young humans. But, the Destiny was able to find out using her very advanced stealth capabilities. That information was going to enrage all humanity!
Meanwhile Durin Admiral Kreen has found the Solar System and is attacking. He doesn't expect it to be much of a fight, but then finds out that the Humans have built quite a large armada and for the first time in thousands of years, a Druin/Confederation fleet loses a major battle! But, the Solar System lost a lot of their starships so their schedule to invade the Confederation in force is set back just a little.
It's expected that it will take Earth another 100 years to be ready to actually send an invasion force into Confederation space and retake the worlds that belong to the Human Empire. Aboard one of the ships in that invasion fleet will be the High Princess Layla Starguard and her cousin, Krista Starguard. She hopes to regain Golan Four and the royal palace of her Father and Mother.
This fight will not be easy. The Confederation hasn't had a threat to it's existence in thousands of years and they don't really see the humans as a threat now. The Confederation Council has grown complacent and has never acted in a quick and decisive manner. That could be a fault the humans could exploit and they do very well.
The story is pretty good, the writing not so much. Still, I believe I'll continue reading this series because it is interesting and I want to see how it all ends.
Now, I've read a lot of Mr. Weil's books (about 34), so I do like his story-telling, but his writing is getting annoying. I wish he would just tell the story and move on. I know his characters don't need to repeat everything over and over, but I guess that does fill up pages in the book.
This book is about the old Human Empire getting ready to strike back at the Confederation and the Druins. The Earth Humans and the Imperials were using the Imperial advanced tech to build defenses in the Solar System to counter an expected Druin attack sometime in the near future. They had also sent out the Destiny on a scouting mission to find out what the Confederation was doing and how capable were their space forces. The Destiny also came upon a Lamothian fleet taking thousands of humans from one of the former Human Empire worlds. Apparently, the Lamothians had been doing this for years and know one knew what they were doing with all these young humans. But, the Destiny was able to find out using her very advanced stealth capabilities. That information was going to enrage all humanity!
Meanwhile Durin Admiral Kreen has found the Solar System and is attacking. He doesn't expect it to be much of a fight, but then finds out that the Humans have built quite a large armada and for the first time in thousands of years, a Druin/Confederation fleet loses a major battle! But, the Solar System lost a lot of their starships so their schedule to invade the Confederation in force is set back just a little.
It's expected that it will take Earth another 100 years to be ready to actually send an invasion force into Confederation space and retake the worlds that belong to the Human Empire. Aboard one of the ships in that invasion fleet will be the High Princess Layla Starguard and her cousin, Krista Starguard. She hopes to regain Golan Four and the royal palace of her Father and Mother.
This fight will not be easy. The Confederation hasn't had a threat to it's existence in thousands of years and they don't really see the humans as a threat now. The Confederation Council has grown complacent and has never acted in a quick and decisive manner. That could be a fault the humans could exploit and they do very well.
The story is pretty good, the writing not so much. Still, I believe I'll continue reading this series because it is interesting and I want to see how it all ends.
August 13, 2020
I thought this was a slightly better book than the previous one, the writing seemed to flow more and most of the story made sense. Although after the princesses were woken up there was a bit of a lull. I suppose the author wanted some calm before the storm, but I thought the ‘soap opera’ mode didn’t really work.
The battles were OK, but I’m not sure the author really understands how viruses and firewalls work and I had some issues with some of the tactics.
Overall I enjoyed the book and if possible would have given 3.5 stars, I have kept it to three because although I thought it was a decent story I couldn’t help think if you have had a thousands years to plan your strategy you should have been able to come up with something more imaginative than a ‘slug fest’. Perhaps the author really wanted to write romances.
The battles were OK, but I’m not sure the author really understands how viruses and firewalls work and I had some issues with some of the tactics.
Overall I enjoyed the book and if possible would have given 3.5 stars, I have kept it to three because although I thought it was a decent story I couldn’t help think if you have had a thousands years to plan your strategy you should have been able to come up with something more imaginative than a ‘slug fest’. Perhaps the author really wanted to write romances.
November 24, 2020
I skipped through it, like 2 or 3 words per page
I can think of no bigger condemnation
I can think of no bigger condemnation
August 16, 2022
This drove me mad
Okay, I never ever advocate for burning a book but hear me out. (spoilers)
Imagine your friends/colleagues are left to die in space. Your reaction? Oh no so sad, what’s for dinner?
Hundreds of millions of humans die as we progress through the book, walk it off pal.
There are only two, and I mean only two kinds of weapon systems known to everyone; fusion and antimatter. Did someone build something grander? No. Did someone try mass projectiles? No. Is the whole galaxy stupid? Looks like it. For crying out loud the big advanced races include space slugs, space birds, space raptors, space gorillas, Spock and yeah why the hell not, space amoebas.
The most advanced space faring species can’t detect stealth ships of inferior tech species, can’t subscribe to Norton anti-virus and can’t effectively smell bullshit.
Deep underground bases exist. They’re so deep, space scans miss them. But they build KM long ships down there. Then they fly them out through massive hatches. What’s under the hatches down to where the ships are built? Is it empty space? If so, how is that not visible on scans?
The premise was promising. But also didn’t make sense. Why are there primitive humans in a secluded corner of the galaxy? Is this like the whole evolution debate i.e. If dogs descended from wolves, why are there still wolves.
Why didn’t the prince maintain his bloodline on earth? His kids would be in direct line for the imperial throne. Why did the human empire, knowing full well that the confeds are essentially tyrannical douches, not prepare? How did these trigger happy, human munching, bomb dropping sausages allow humans to grow to 1000 planets?
Also how is it that they’re making thousands of ‘interceptors’ flown by 3 crewmen? Why can’t they make drones? You’re telling me, you have faster than light tech, but can’t make drones? Half the stooges get killed dropping two missiles. Why not, I don’t know, make missiles with longer range instead of interceptors? Also no one’s heard of point defence systems?
Now the writing. This books was written by one of those space amoebas. You can’t convince me that a human wrote this. Firstly, in what military does some staff officer turn to an admiral and ask questions like they’re on with operah? Do the princesses just exist as ex-machina exposition fillers? “Bla bla bla why do this what will happen where are we” followed by a narration of some stupid information vomit no two people who weren’t aliens trying really hard to look and sound human would do.
Who publishes these books? Is it you alien dudes? Are you trying to dumb us down before the eventual invasion? Not one character has a personality. Also, little is known of the confed races. How’s you translate their language then?
Who in arti-facial reviews, is dropping 5 stars on this? Because I don’t like you./
Okay, I never ever advocate for burning a book but hear me out. (spoilers)
Imagine your friends/colleagues are left to die in space. Your reaction? Oh no so sad, what’s for dinner?
Hundreds of millions of humans die as we progress through the book, walk it off pal.
There are only two, and I mean only two kinds of weapon systems known to everyone; fusion and antimatter. Did someone build something grander? No. Did someone try mass projectiles? No. Is the whole galaxy stupid? Looks like it. For crying out loud the big advanced races include space slugs, space birds, space raptors, space gorillas, Spock and yeah why the hell not, space amoebas.
The most advanced space faring species can’t detect stealth ships of inferior tech species, can’t subscribe to Norton anti-virus and can’t effectively smell bullshit.
Deep underground bases exist. They’re so deep, space scans miss them. But they build KM long ships down there. Then they fly them out through massive hatches. What’s under the hatches down to where the ships are built? Is it empty space? If so, how is that not visible on scans?
The premise was promising. But also didn’t make sense. Why are there primitive humans in a secluded corner of the galaxy? Is this like the whole evolution debate i.e. If dogs descended from wolves, why are there still wolves.
Why didn’t the prince maintain his bloodline on earth? His kids would be in direct line for the imperial throne. Why did the human empire, knowing full well that the confeds are essentially tyrannical douches, not prepare? How did these trigger happy, human munching, bomb dropping sausages allow humans to grow to 1000 planets?
Also how is it that they’re making thousands of ‘interceptors’ flown by 3 crewmen? Why can’t they make drones? You’re telling me, you have faster than light tech, but can’t make drones? Half the stooges get killed dropping two missiles. Why not, I don’t know, make missiles with longer range instead of interceptors? Also no one’s heard of point defence systems?
Now the writing. This books was written by one of those space amoebas. You can’t convince me that a human wrote this. Firstly, in what military does some staff officer turn to an admiral and ask questions like they’re on with operah? Do the princesses just exist as ex-machina exposition fillers? “Bla bla bla why do this what will happen where are we” followed by a narration of some stupid information vomit no two people who weren’t aliens trying really hard to look and sound human would do.
Who publishes these books? Is it you alien dudes? Are you trying to dumb us down before the eventual invasion? Not one character has a personality. Also, little is known of the confed races. How’s you translate their language then?
Who in arti-facial reviews, is dropping 5 stars on this? Because I don’t like you./
May 13, 2020
Before you start this book, please realize it is the second one of a series. You will need to have read the first book or the characters, scenes, and situations won’t make much sense to you.
The author does his usual nice job of getting you into the story, and it is another page turner that kept me up really late in order to finish it – I was dragging the next day. This series also seems to be better-written than his other series. I picked this up for $4.99 on my Kindle and certainly received more than $4.99 worth of entertainment value out of it: if you have enjoyed the author’s other series, I am confident you will enjoy this one, also.
The author does his usual nice job of getting you into the story, and it is another page turner that kept me up really late in order to finish it – I was dragging the next day. This series also seems to be better-written than his other series. I picked this up for $4.99 on my Kindle and certainly received more than $4.99 worth of entertainment value out of it: if you have enjoyed the author’s other series, I am confident you will enjoy this one, also.
March 29, 2021
Decent read. Worth buying the third.
I do like the main storyline of the Human Empire against the Confederation. I also want to learn the complete arc of the story. But I do get bored with the relationship portions of these books as they really feel like rather shallow constructs. I also am having issues with skepticism about the politics of these books. After the events of 2020 with Covid and the fiasco that was the US election process, I have strong doubts that humanity would act as focused to war and the return of a monarchy. People in power like power no matter if their power stems from a bad place.
I do like the main storyline of the Human Empire against the Confederation. I also want to learn the complete arc of the story. But I do get bored with the relationship portions of these books as they really feel like rather shallow constructs. I also am having issues with skepticism about the politics of these books. After the events of 2020 with Covid and the fiasco that was the US election process, I have strong doubts that humanity would act as focused to war and the return of a monarchy. People in power like power no matter if their power stems from a bad place.
August 24, 2025
THE HUMANS ARE BACK
Some things don't make sense in the plot. First, the Earth humans come back to retake the former human empire at under strength and with incomplete intelligence about the strength of the Confederation. Second, the confederation falls fir a Bluff when they are close to total victory but do not return to finish the job. Princess Leyla interactions are a distraction to the plot which has a good potential.
Some things don't make sense in the plot. First, the Earth humans come back to retake the former human empire at under strength and with incomplete intelligence about the strength of the Confederation. Second, the confederation falls fir a Bluff when they are close to total victory but do not return to finish the job. Princess Leyla interactions are a distraction to the plot which has a good potential.
May 24, 2020
Fantastic read for sure
What a fantastic story the author has got going here. A thousand years after crushing the human empire we humans are back with a vengeance. If you like underdog stories, fantastic story telling , the thought of our earth playing a key role this series is for you.
What a fantastic story the author has got going here. A thousand years after crushing the human empire we humans are back with a vengeance. If you like underdog stories, fantastic story telling , the thought of our earth playing a key role this series is for you.
June 4, 2020
Not As Good
I found the battle scenes interesting, but the relationship building and the nonsense with the royal princesses was too much. The storyline is only loosely held together with the battle and military development plots. There is much anger developed and a subsequent tremendous loss of life, mostly from the protagonists, it seems. This was not an enjoyable read.
I found the battle scenes interesting, but the relationship building and the nonsense with the royal princesses was too much. The storyline is only loosely held together with the battle and military development plots. There is much anger developed and a subsequent tremendous loss of life, mostly from the protagonists, it seems. This was not an enjoyable read.
June 17, 2020
Great Read
Constant action, vivid imaging of battle layout. Wish there was more details about ship differences and systems. Thought there would be more information about the Confederation, after their ships computers were downloaded? Overall a great read, finished it without knowing I was at the end
Constant action, vivid imaging of battle layout. Wish there was more details about ship differences and systems. Thought there would be more information about the Confederation, after their ships computers were downloaded? Overall a great read, finished it without knowing I was at the end
August 9, 2023
The writing is pretty bad but the story is good. I found myself skipping large sections just to get on with things. I found this pretty tedious compared to FE1 but I do want to know what happens next. I can’t help but think that if there was a new Alastair Reynolds out (or any actually good writer), I wouldn’t bother with this garbage. The story is good though.
May 2, 2020
Great new series!!
Great book and I would recommend this book to all syfi enthusiasts. Mr Weil never lets you down and is one of the Premier writers of his time! Love his adventures!
Great book and I would recommend this book to all syfi enthusiasts. Mr Weil never lets you down and is one of the Premier writers of his time! Love his adventures!
May 9, 2020
A great read
This is the 2nd book in this and I loved every minute of it. Raymond is know for massive fleet battles and they are here in spades, great story and looking forward to reading more,love all your books keep up the fantastic work
This is the 2nd book in this and I loved every minute of it. Raymond is know for massive fleet battles and they are here in spades, great story and looking forward to reading more,love all your books keep up the fantastic work
May 19, 2020
The humans rise
The humans of earth are rising against confederation. A evil secret provides ample motivation for humanity to fight the 7 alien races. The high princess is leading the revolt. The plot is very exciting. I am ready for the next book.
The humans of earth are rising against confederation. A evil secret provides ample motivation for humanity to fight the 7 alien races. The high princess is leading the revolt. The plot is very exciting. I am ready for the next book.
May 24, 2020
Excellent read
Well written as all Raymond Weil books are. Looking forward to the next episode. Really like how the time transition was handled. Left a lot of room for additional story lines.
Well written as all Raymond Weil books are. Looking forward to the next episode. Really like how the time transition was handled. Left a lot of room for additional story lines.
July 30, 2020
Kept my interest going while not delaying information on the plot. Well written and not too complicated. Most enjoyable.
Good book. Well written. Stayed interesting. I look forward to the next book that continues the story. Created good characters that feel real.
Good book. Well written. Stayed interesting. I look forward to the next book that continues the story. Created good characters that feel real.
September 15, 2020
Too simple plots and shallow characters
The confederation is composed of a cluster of morons and the good guys very predictably win all the time and has a happily ever after feeling. I Iike the author but this series turned out to be very boring. Will not try the 3rd book.
The confederation is composed of a cluster of morons and the good guys very predictably win all the time and has a happily ever after feeling. I Iike the author but this series turned out to be very boring. Will not try the 3rd book.
October 29, 2021
It is a good series of books to read
I really enjoy the books and look forward to finding the answers to why Earth is alone in the void.. What happened to star system that should have been there?
I really enjoy the books and look forward to finding the answers to why Earth is alone in the void.. What happened to star system that should have been there?
February 25, 2022
Sucked me in & down the Rabbit hole I went!
I found I could not go to sleep at night unless I read 25% of the book.
I am hooked on the characters, the story,and the plot. I keep wanting to find out what's in the best chapters.
I found I could not go to sleep at night unless I read 25% of the book.
I am hooked on the characters, the story,and the plot. I keep wanting to find out what's in the best chapters.
May 3, 2020
Can't wait for the next book.
The book is well written and the story is fast paced . I love the characters and can't wait to see what happen next. Keep writing Raymond!
The book is well written and the story is fast paced . I love the characters and can't wait to see what happen next. Keep writing Raymond!
May 3, 2020
This is a fast paced read that wouldn't let me put it down. I have read most of the author's books and thoroughly enjoyed all of them.
May 4, 2020
As always great read
The imagination and skill of making his characters so interesting along with an amazing storyline yielded another page turner for me
The imagination and skill of making his characters so interesting along with an amazing storyline yielded another page turner for me
May 6, 2020
Fantastic Series
An absolute pleasure to read and always a feast when reading something from Raymond L Weil universe.can wait for the next one.
An absolute pleasure to read and always a feast when reading something from Raymond L Weil universe.can wait for the next one.
May 7, 2020
Beautiful story great action
It’s a sci-fi action drama just the way I like it. Lively book and can’t wait for the next chapter I’m the series.
It’s a sci-fi action drama just the way I like it. Lively book and can’t wait for the next chapter I’m the series.
May 7, 2020
Big improvement. Good read.
I enjoyed this story and found the characters and plotting to be sharper than the first book in the series.
I enjoyed this story and found the characters and plotting to be sharper than the first book in the series.
May 10, 2020
Good book
Another great book of this series. Loved the characters and the storyline. I cannot wait for the next book that comes out of this series
Another great book of this series. Loved the characters and the storyline. I cannot wait for the next book that comes out of this series
May 11, 2020
Great Story Line
Well written. I found it difficult to put down. Great character development. I can't wait until the next book. Thank you and may God bless you.
Well written. I found it difficult to put down. Great character development. I can't wait until the next book. Thank you and may God bless you.
May 13, 2020
Exciting continuation of series
Fast moving and exciting tale of reclaiming their lost empire and can they hold it. Enjoyed the pace and character development.
Fast moving and exciting tale of reclaiming their lost empire and can they hold it. Enjoyed the pace and character development.
May 13, 2020
Great as always
A good second book in this series, waiting for the third one. I really liked that there were not a superadvanced species that help humankind (at least for now)
A good second book in this series, waiting for the third one. I really liked that there were not a superadvanced species that help humankind (at least for now)
May 16, 2020
Best books yet
I kid this story and it's and the action was great i would like to see more ground action overall great read can't wait for next book
I kid this story and it's and the action was great i would like to see more ground action overall great read can't wait for next book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews