Empire in Black & Gold: Shadows of the Apt. Book One

Like several other reviewers, the premise of the book struck me as kind of silly, and rife with opportunity for literary disaster. I decided to read it anyway, and was completely blown away. As with all fantasy, some suspension of disbelief is necessary, but the characters are compelling and the story is engaging and skillfully told. Compared to this, much of the current fantasy market is absolute swill. I haven't read the later books, but if they are near this good, I will buy multiple copies of this book to give friends in hopes they will also be drawn in and support the author.

The basic concept seems a little weak with different bug people but the book really pulls it off. The bug differences themselves are revealed more through the personalities and cultural differences of the characters than their physical selves and this creates a very diverse spread of compelling characters. The action is well played too and the suspense is very good. Also the use of Captain Thralric's viewpoint and persepective really lends to the story and he soon becomes a favorite.

I must admit that I was originally ambivalent about giving Empire of Black and Gold a read. The back cover outlines a world where tribes of humans have taken on certain aspects of insects; with such a premise, the potential for a REALLY stupid, unbelievable story is definitely there. Finally I picked up the book and was glad that I did. Far from being silly, Tchaikivsky takes the world he creates and makes it completely believable; suspension of disbelief is no problem. Tribes of humans have developed certain aspects of insects; ant kinden are warriors with the ability to think collectively, beetle kinden are intellectuals and master builders, Mantis Kinden are great martial artists and individual warriors (different from the ants who tend to fight collectively). Spider-kinden are spies etc. The world is being threatened by the Wasp Kinden, a flying, war-like people that one cannot help comparing to the Roman Empire. It is up to a diverse group of college students representing different kinden to convince the world that the Wasps are a real threat. There's the rub. Adrian Tchaikovsky's insect world is one that has just left it's own dark ages, an age ruled by religious/mystical fanatics and their killer enforcers the Mantis Kinden. The world has moved into an age of "reason" and the new god is one of profit. And just like in our world its' many peoples are more than willing to bury their collective heads in the sand and pretend that the conquering of their neighbors by the Wasps is justified. All of this in order to maintain there lifestyles...even if that denial could potentially mean slavery and death. In the words of Pastor Martin Niemöller: When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist. When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat. When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist. When they came for the Jews, I remained silent; I wasn't a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out. Although this is a fantasy novel, the themes are human and are happening today in different disguises. Tchaikovsky tackles fear of the "other", racism and classism. I was thoroughly entertained and can't wait for the next two novels in the trilogy to be released.

Adrian Tchaikovsky shows real talent with this debut novel. Highly innovative concepts, like the insect-kinden (races of people who have evolved to incorporate insect abilities), mesh with good characterization, a wonderful and unique setting, and great writing to make this book a real success. This is easily one of the best speculative fictions novels of the year, and one of the best debuts of the last several years.