Empire of Man
Encyclopedia
The Empire of Man is a series of science fiction
books by David Weber
and John Ringo
published by Baen Books
. It combines elements of space opera
and military science fiction
.
The series tells the story of Prince Roger and his personal guard, the Bronze Battalion of the Empress's Own, as they cross the hostile and alien world of Marduk where they have been marooned.
Roger is the spoiled younger son of the Empress of the largest polity in the galaxy, the Earth-based "Empire of Man". Roger, third in line to his mother's throne, is described at the start of the series as an over-handsome, but essentially useless fop
. Part of this description comes from a reputation he owes to the acts and status of his father, the Duke of New Madrid, who is estranged from the empress.
Roger and the Bronze Barbarians (his marine bodyguards) travel across Marduk in order to find their way to an enemy controlled spaceport where they plan to steal a ship and return to civilization. Along the way Roger and his group are forced to make alliances with a succession of local polities of various societal archetypes ranging from hunter-gatherers to early gunpowder civilizations. Roger and a slowly dwindling number of bodyguards supported by a growing group of Mardukan allies eventually find their way to the spaceport and off the planet, but not before Roger learns that his siblings (and their families) have been killed and the galaxy at large believes that Roger himself was responsible.
In fact, Roger's father, the Duke of New Madrid, and his ally, Lord Jackson Adula, have framed Roger, whom they believe dead, and taken the Empress captive, using a combination of cybernetic tampering, sexual slavery, and drugs to control the normally ironwilled Empress. The conspirators plan to put a son of New Madrid and the Empress, grown in an incubator, on the throne.
Roger and company return to Earth, set themselves up as restaurateurs, make contact with former members of the Empress's Own, and in the end successfully launch a counter-coup. With the Empress rescued, the fetus destroyed, and New Madrid in custody, Roger must cope with his mother's steadily disentegrating condition, a half-destroyed navy, rebuilding the palace, the line of succession, and the very real threat of civil war, thanks to the escape of Jackson Adula. The fourth novel ends with Roger's ascension to the Throne of Man, and the future uncertain.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
books by David Weber
David Weber
David Mark Weber is an American science fiction and fantasy author. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Weber and his wife Sharon live in Greenville, South Carolina with their three children and "a passel of dogs"....
and John Ringo
John Ringo
John Ringo is an American science fiction and military fiction author. He has had several New York Times best sellers. His books range from straightforward science fiction to a mix of military and political thrillers...
published by Baen Books
Baen Books
Baen Books is an American publishing company established in 1983 by long time science fiction publisher and editor Jim Baen. It is a science fiction and fantasy publishing house that emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, military science fiction, and fantasy...
. It combines elements of space opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
and military science fiction
Military science fiction
Military science fiction is a subgenre of science fiction in which the principal characters are members of a military service and an armed conflict is taking place, normally in space, or on a planet other than Earth...
.
The series tells the story of Prince Roger and his personal guard, the Bronze Battalion of the Empress's Own, as they cross the hostile and alien world of Marduk where they have been marooned.
Roger is the spoiled younger son of the Empress of the largest polity in the galaxy, the Earth-based "Empire of Man". Roger, third in line to his mother's throne, is described at the start of the series as an over-handsome, but essentially useless fop
Fop
Fop became a pejorative term for a foolish man over-concerned with his appearance and clothes in 17th century England. Some of the very many similar alternative terms are: "coxcomb", fribble, "popinjay" , fashion-monger, and "ninny"...
. Part of this description comes from a reputation he owes to the acts and status of his father, the Duke of New Madrid, who is estranged from the empress.
Plot summary
Roger is reluctantly persuaded by his mother to travel to Leviathan, a focal planet producing "grumbly oil" (used in commercial products such as colognes), to represent the royal family at a local celebration. Due to sabotage during the voyage, Roger, his battalion of bodyguards, his valet, his one time tutor and now chief of staff, and a small number of small craft pilots are forced to land on Marduk, a largely unknown planet that is only loosely a member of the Empire of Man. Marduk, an extremely humid and rainy planet, is home to a race of four-armed sentient amphibians referred to as Mardukans or Scummies, as well as a large number of hostile and deadly lifeforms.Roger and the Bronze Barbarians (his marine bodyguards) travel across Marduk in order to find their way to an enemy controlled spaceport where they plan to steal a ship and return to civilization. Along the way Roger and his group are forced to make alliances with a succession of local polities of various societal archetypes ranging from hunter-gatherers to early gunpowder civilizations. Roger and a slowly dwindling number of bodyguards supported by a growing group of Mardukan allies eventually find their way to the spaceport and off the planet, but not before Roger learns that his siblings (and their families) have been killed and the galaxy at large believes that Roger himself was responsible.
In fact, Roger's father, the Duke of New Madrid, and his ally, Lord Jackson Adula, have framed Roger, whom they believe dead, and taken the Empress captive, using a combination of cybernetic tampering, sexual slavery, and drugs to control the normally ironwilled Empress. The conspirators plan to put a son of New Madrid and the Empress, grown in an incubator, on the throne.
Roger and company return to Earth, set themselves up as restaurateurs, make contact with former members of the Empress's Own, and in the end successfully launch a counter-coup. With the Empress rescued, the fetus destroyed, and New Madrid in custody, Roger must cope with his mother's steadily disentegrating condition, a half-destroyed navy, rebuilding the palace, the line of succession, and the very real threat of civil war, thanks to the escape of Jackson Adula. The fourth novel ends with Roger's ascension to the Throne of Man, and the future uncertain.
Books in the series
- March UpcountryMarch UpcountryMarch Upcountry is the first novel in the science fiction series of the Empire of Man by David Weber and John Ringo. It tells the story of Prince Roger MacClintock and his bodyguards of the Empress' Own Regiment who get marooned on the alien planet of Marduk due to an act of sabotage on their...
(2001) (read online, read online) - March to the SeaMarch to the Sea (novel)March to the Sea is the second novel in the science fiction series of the Empire of Man by David Weber and John Ringo. It tells the story of Prince Roger MacClintock and his remaining bodyguards of the Empress' Own Regiment who get marooned on the alien planet of Marduk due to an act of sabotage...
(2001) (read excerpt, read online) - March to the StarsMarch to the StarsMarch to the Stars is the third novel in the science fiction series of the Empire of Man by David Weber and John Ringo. It tells the story of Prince Roger MacClintock and his remaining bodyguards of the Empress' Own Regiment who get marooned on the alien planet of Marduk due to an act of sabotage...
(2003) (read excerpt, read online) - We FewWe FewWe Few is the fourth novel in the science fiction Empire of Man series by David Weber and John Ringo. It tells the story of Prince Roger MacClintock and his remaining bodyguards of the Empress' Own Regiment have finally made their way off Marduk and must now try to retake the Empire from a...
(2005) (read excerpt, read online)
External links
- Baen Books
- Listing on SciFanSciFanSciFan is an online database for fans of science fiction and fantasy books.The site provides detailed bibliographies, linking books together into series' where appropriate and, in turn, grouping series by universe...