Empire is a novel, released on November 28 2006, written by Orson Scott Card, author of Ender's Game, which tells the story of a possible second American Civil War, this time between the Right Wing and Left Wing in the near future.
| File:Empire Cover ISBN 0765316110.jpg First edition cover | |
| Author | Orson Scott Card |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Speculative fiction novel |
| Publisher | Tor Books |
Publication date | November 28, 2006 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover |
| Pages | 352 pp (first edition, hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-7653-1611-0 (first edition, hardback) {{isbn}}: Check isbn value: invalid character (help) |
Plot introduction
The book follows U.S. Army Major Reuben Malich and U.S. Army Captain Coleman, both former Special Forces, as America falls into a civil war, after the assassinations of both the American President and Vice President. A radical leftist army calling itself the Progressive Restoration takes over New York City and declares itself the rightful government of the United States. [1]
Plot summary
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2007) |
Template:Spoiler Major Malich works at the Pentagon, where he wrote the plans to find holes in American security, having no idea that they would fall into the wrong hands. The plans called for a stealthy underwater entrance into Washington D.C., followed by a rocket launcher attack on the White House, relying on an inside informant to give the ___location of the President. Malich and Coleman come upon the attack in progress, and, after acquiring rifles, attempt to prevent the attack. Although they succeed in killing one of the men holding the launchers, the second fires and hits the south wall of the West Wing, killing the President, Secretary of Defense, and several others. It is later revealed the Vice President had been assassinated by a dump truck backing up into his limousine. Suspicion then turns to Malich, as he had written the plans and was present at the attack.
While Malich is being debriefed at the Pentagon, Coleman is asked to participate in a right wing coup to correct the existing government. Coleman recounts the meeting on live television and retreats to Malich's side in New Jersey. The next morning they both decide to take a borrowed SUV to Ground Zero. They are caught in an uprising led by high tech mechs that fire on anyone wearing uniforms. After rescuing a squad of New York Police officers, they escape on foot via the Holland Tunnel to New Jersey where they collaborate with the National Guard to repel a horde of the mechanized warriors. Two Air Force F-16 jets are shot down into New York Harbor, one hitting the gown of the Statue of Liberty.
Once back in New Jersey, Malich and Coleman join Malich's wife who used to work for an Idaho congressman who is now, due to the order of succession, President of the United States. Malich's wife is summoned by the new President. He asks for Malich, Coleman and Malich's former Special Forces buddies to help save the United States. Malich is ordered to retrieve his operations report created at the Pentagon. While there, his secretary betrays him, shooting him in the eye and killing him before his Secret Service escorts could react. Coleman escapes only to be pursued by more mechanized warriors and hover-bikes. They are eventually repelled by Apache gunships dispatched by the President.
The new National Security Advisor, Averell Torrent is one of Malich's former professors. He sends the Jeesh (Malich's Special Forces buddies and Coleman) out to discover information about the Restoration group responsible for Malich's death and the subversion of the United States of America.
Upon finding the Progressive Restoration's lair, the Jeesh, led by Coleman, reconnoiter the Washington mountain hideout. They invade and take its leader prisoner. With the defeat of the Progressive Restoration, the current president steps down, and Torrent is elected in a landslide victory.
Towards the end of the novel, Reuben's wife Cecily begins to suspect Torrent's involvement in instigating the entire conflict in order to ascend to power. She discovers many of the key rebel leaders were taught at some point by him. From the notes Reuben left from his classes with him, she uncovers Torrent's obsession with the transition between the Roman Republic and the Empire, and that the US was in the same stage. The book ends with Cecily and Coleman, whom she reveals her suspisions to, wondering whether this is truly the case. No indication is given as to how Torrent will use his power, setting the novel up for a possible sequel.
Film adaptations
The rights to a film version of Empire have been acquired by Joel Silver and Warner Bros.[2]
Trivia
Most of the story is set with events that occur on and after a Friday the Thirteenth in the month of June. This will occur in 2008 and again in 2014. Evidence of the year 2008 is noted in a reference to national party conventions, which are held in presidential election years, currently in years divisible by four.
Footnotes
- ^ Card, Orson Scott (November 28, 2006). Empire. Tor Books. ISBN ISBN 0-7653-1611-0.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help) - ^ "Movies Rights acquired by Joel Silver and Warner Bros". Retrieved 2006-12-01.
External links
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