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Forbidden Borders #2
Relic of Empire
Alternate-cover edition can be found here
The call to battle…
The Forbidden Borders, an unassailable gravity-powered barrier, confine rival human empires to a few star systems, leaving them to strive endlessly against one another for domination. Now the balance of power has shifted so drastically that the long-dreaded final war between Rega and Sassa, the last surviving empires, is about to begin. Staffa kar Therma, Lord Commander of the Companions, the finest mercenary soldiers, knows this war could reduce all human civilization to ashes, and he is desperately striving to avert the spiral into total destruction.
Seeking to blackmail Staffa into fighting for them, the Regans kidnap Skyla Lyma, Staffa’s second-in-command and the woman he loves. And suddenly Staffa is forced to choose between Skyla’s life and the possible end of the universe. Yet perhaps the choice will not be left to him at all. For Sinklar, the son stolen from the Lord Commander as an infant, now a general who has become Staffa’s sworn enemy, is already mobilizing his own forces for the inevitable conflict.
But others, too, are weaving strategies of intrigue and betrayal as they reach out to seize control of the known worlds. And only time will tell if anyone will survive to claim the title of victor…
The call to battle…
The Forbidden Borders, an unassailable gravity-powered barrier, confine rival human empires to a few star systems, leaving them to strive endlessly against one another for domination. Now the balance of power has shifted so drastically that the long-dreaded final war between Rega and Sassa, the last surviving empires, is about to begin. Staffa kar Therma, Lord Commander of the Companions, the finest mercenary soldiers, knows this war could reduce all human civilization to ashes, and he is desperately striving to avert the spiral into total destruction.
Seeking to blackmail Staffa into fighting for them, the Regans kidnap Skyla Lyma, Staffa’s second-in-command and the woman he loves. And suddenly Staffa is forced to choose between Skyla’s life and the possible end of the universe. Yet perhaps the choice will not be left to him at all. For Sinklar, the son stolen from the Lord Commander as an infant, now a general who has become Staffa’s sworn enemy, is already mobilizing his own forces for the inevitable conflict.
But others, too, are weaving strategies of intrigue and betrayal as they reach out to seize control of the known worlds. And only time will tell if anyone will survive to claim the title of victor…
640 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 16, 1992
12 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
W. Michael Gear
181 books729 followersW. Michael Gear was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on the twentieth of May, 1955. A fourth generation Colorado native, his family had been involved in hard-rock mining, cattle ranching, and journalism. After his father's death in 1959, Michael's mother received her Master's degree in journalism and began teaching. In 1962 she married Joseph J. Cook, who taught tool and die making, and the family lived in Lakewood, Colorado, until 1968. At that time they moved to Fort Collins so that Joe could pursue his Ph.D.. During those years the family lived in the foothills above Horsetooth Reservoir.
It was there that Mike developed a love of history, anthropology, and motorcycles. They would color his future and fill his imagination for the rest of his life. During summers he volunteered labor on local ranches or at the farm east of Greeley and landed his first real job: picking up trash at the lake and cleaning outhouses. It has been said that his exposure to trash led him into archaeology. We will not speculate about what cleaning the outhouses might have led him to. On his first dig as a professional archaeologist in 1976 he discovered that two thousand year old human trash isn't nearly as obnoxious as the new stuff.
Michael graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1972 and pursued both his Bachelor's (1976) and Master's (1979) degrees at Colorado State University. Upon completion of his Master's - his specialty was in physical anthropology - he went to work for Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs as a field archaeologist.
It was in the winter of 1978 that he wrote his first novel. Irritated by historical inaccuracies in Western fiction, he swore he could do better. He was "taking retirement in installments," archaeology being a seasonal career, in the cabin his great uncle Aubrey had built. One cold January night he read a Western novel about a trail drive in which steers (castrated males) had calves. The historical inaccuracies of the story bothered him all night. The next morning, still incensed, he chunked wood into the stove and hunkered over the typewriter. There, on the mining claim, at nine thousand feet outside of Empire, Colorado he hammered out his first five hundred and fifty page novel. Yes, that first manuscript still exists, but if there is justice in the universe, no one will ever see it. It reads wretchedly - but the historical facts are correct!
Beginning in 1981, Michael, along with two partners, put together his own archaeological consulting company. Pronghorn Anthropological Associates began doing cultural resource management studies in 1982, and, although Michael sold his interest in 1984, to this day the company remains in business in Casper, Wyoming. During the years, Michael has worked throughout the western United States doing archaeological surveys, testing, and mitigation for pipelines, oil wells, power lines, timber sales, and highway construction. He learned the value of strong black coffee, developed a palate for chocolate donuts, and ferreted out every quality Mexican restaurant in eight states. He spent nine months of the year traveling from project to project with his trowel and dig kit, a clapped-out '72 Wonder Blazer, and his boon companion, Tedi, a noble tri-color Sheltie.
That fateful day in November, 1981, was delightfully clear, cold, and still in Laramie, Wyoming. Archaeologists from all over the state had arrived at the University of Wyoming for the annual meetings of the Wyoming Association of Professional Archaeologists. It was there, in the meeting room, way too early after a much too long night, that Mike first laid eyes on the most beautiful woman in the world: Kathleen O'Neal Gear. The BLM State Archaeologist, Ray Leicht, introduced him to the pretty anthropologist and historian, and best of all, Ray invited Mike to lunch with Kathleen. It was the perfect beginning for a long and wondrous relationship.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/wmicha...
It was there that Mike developed a love of history, anthropology, and motorcycles. They would color his future and fill his imagination for the rest of his life. During summers he volunteered labor on local ranches or at the farm east of Greeley and landed his first real job: picking up trash at the lake and cleaning outhouses. It has been said that his exposure to trash led him into archaeology. We will not speculate about what cleaning the outhouses might have led him to. On his first dig as a professional archaeologist in 1976 he discovered that two thousand year old human trash isn't nearly as obnoxious as the new stuff.
Michael graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1972 and pursued both his Bachelor's (1976) and Master's (1979) degrees at Colorado State University. Upon completion of his Master's - his specialty was in physical anthropology - he went to work for Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs as a field archaeologist.
It was in the winter of 1978 that he wrote his first novel. Irritated by historical inaccuracies in Western fiction, he swore he could do better. He was "taking retirement in installments," archaeology being a seasonal career, in the cabin his great uncle Aubrey had built. One cold January night he read a Western novel about a trail drive in which steers (castrated males) had calves. The historical inaccuracies of the story bothered him all night. The next morning, still incensed, he chunked wood into the stove and hunkered over the typewriter. There, on the mining claim, at nine thousand feet outside of Empire, Colorado he hammered out his first five hundred and fifty page novel. Yes, that first manuscript still exists, but if there is justice in the universe, no one will ever see it. It reads wretchedly - but the historical facts are correct!
Beginning in 1981, Michael, along with two partners, put together his own archaeological consulting company. Pronghorn Anthropological Associates began doing cultural resource management studies in 1982, and, although Michael sold his interest in 1984, to this day the company remains in business in Casper, Wyoming. During the years, Michael has worked throughout the western United States doing archaeological surveys, testing, and mitigation for pipelines, oil wells, power lines, timber sales, and highway construction. He learned the value of strong black coffee, developed a palate for chocolate donuts, and ferreted out every quality Mexican restaurant in eight states. He spent nine months of the year traveling from project to project with his trowel and dig kit, a clapped-out '72 Wonder Blazer, and his boon companion, Tedi, a noble tri-color Sheltie.
That fateful day in November, 1981, was delightfully clear, cold, and still in Laramie, Wyoming. Archaeologists from all over the state had arrived at the University of Wyoming for the annual meetings of the Wyoming Association of Professional Archaeologists. It was there, in the meeting room, way too early after a much too long night, that Mike first laid eyes on the most beautiful woman in the world: Kathleen O'Neal Gear. The BLM State Archaeologist, Ray Leicht, introduced him to the pretty anthropologist and historian, and best of all, Ray invited Mike to lunch with Kathleen. It was the perfect beginning for a long and wondrous relationship.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/wmicha...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 24, 2017
Relic of Empire (Forbidden Borders, #2)
by W. Michael Gear
Relic of Empire meets our heroes as they struggle to find their way after the battles and solar system shaking revelations of Requiem of a Conqueror. The Idea the Universe was limited scope by the basis Forbidden Borders a gravity powered barrier. That mankind has been limited by an Other power to a portion of the universe, a selected number of solar systems. The sole purpose to see if they would meet expectations and exterminate themselves. The Lord Commander of the Companions, Staffa kar Therma, the World Butcher has been playing one side against the other for more of his life than he would like to admit. Finding the Seddi Mag Com, had manipulated mankind in its attempts to study their reactions. The Lord Commander is something different than those who are with him in his seclusion. One result of his existence was production of his son Sink. But revealing this connection has sent Sink to the opposing side. What our heroes did not expect was the detriment of the universe by the continued fighting of the Rega and Sassa empires. As both empires ramp up their military for a final battle, The Lord Commander has changed his focus and the mission of his mercenary soldiers. The Empires will never expect the detriment of continued battles they have fought. Nor is Sink ready to see the that the Rega Empire is not able to change. His personal belief that he could change the focus of his society from within will be put to the test. Michael Gear, spends so much of this book looking at the theoretical need of humanity. What defines humanity, and what is the true reason for human nature? The largest question what does it mean to be human? Michael Gear uses his characters to show all the characteristics of human mortal sin. His heroes have to face their own limited ability, but also the moral implications of conflicting political goals. I would suggest this book to any star explorers, epic addicts, or those who want to look into human nature, it’s a great book to learn many lessons of our own humanity.
by W. Michael Gear
Relic of Empire meets our heroes as they struggle to find their way after the battles and solar system shaking revelations of Requiem of a Conqueror. The Idea the Universe was limited scope by the basis Forbidden Borders a gravity powered barrier. That mankind has been limited by an Other power to a portion of the universe, a selected number of solar systems. The sole purpose to see if they would meet expectations and exterminate themselves. The Lord Commander of the Companions, Staffa kar Therma, the World Butcher has been playing one side against the other for more of his life than he would like to admit. Finding the Seddi Mag Com, had manipulated mankind in its attempts to study their reactions. The Lord Commander is something different than those who are with him in his seclusion. One result of his existence was production of his son Sink. But revealing this connection has sent Sink to the opposing side. What our heroes did not expect was the detriment of the universe by the continued fighting of the Rega and Sassa empires. As both empires ramp up their military for a final battle, The Lord Commander has changed his focus and the mission of his mercenary soldiers. The Empires will never expect the detriment of continued battles they have fought. Nor is Sink ready to see the that the Rega Empire is not able to change. His personal belief that he could change the focus of his society from within will be put to the test. Michael Gear, spends so much of this book looking at the theoretical need of humanity. What defines humanity, and what is the true reason for human nature? The largest question what does it mean to be human? Michael Gear uses his characters to show all the characteristics of human mortal sin. His heroes have to face their own limited ability, but also the moral implications of conflicting political goals. I would suggest this book to any star explorers, epic addicts, or those who want to look into human nature, it’s a great book to learn many lessons of our own humanity.
May 3, 2019
While a little long winded, the second in the Forbidden Borders trilogy really moves along, especially in the second half. Better than the first imho, and looking forward to the final installment.
January 30, 2021
space opera continued and added a good dash of philosophy - how do we perceive what we perceive?
genius!!
genius!!
March 28, 2021
Amazing
December 6, 2021
Довольно затянутая боевая космоопера про космического мачо.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2012
Продолжение Реквиема по завоевателю.
Герои предыдущей книги изменились до неузнаваемости - все все делают не так, как в прошлой. Книга превратилась в мелодраму.
Санта-Барбара, ей богу.
Что же будет в третьей?
Герои предыдущей книги изменились до неузнаваемости - все все делают не так, как в прошлой. Книга превратилась в мелодраму.
Санта-Барбара, ей богу.
Что же будет в третьей?
April 20, 2012
Best science fiction i've read in quite some time. have reread the trilogy numerous times.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews