Publishers Weekly
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Scalzi makes good use of the setting and characters established in The Collapsing Empire for a space opera sequel centered on the battle for control of the interstellar Interdependency. The ruling House of Wu clashes with the ambitious Nohamapetan family in the face of undeniable evidence of changing physics that could isolate whole worlds: the Flow, the naturally occurring interstellar travel network that forms the empire's infrastructure, is collapsing. Wildcard Emperinox Grayland II claims to have religious visions as part of her calculated attempt to save humankind. Scalzi's key players remain individually distinctive and delightfully outrageous in their interactions without becoming caricatured. A section about the exploration of a newly reaccessible world falls into a tired mode as old computers reboot and a meeting with a degraded remnant of the population feels like alien first contact, but the story brightens again when the shipbound avatar of an old king breezes in to do historical exposition. This novel sits perfectly in its second-book role, leaving the reader deeply invested in the developing story, with plenty left to tell. Agent: Ethan Ellenberg, Ethan Ellenberg Literary. (Oct.) c Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

The empire of humanity, the Interdependency, is collapsing. The Flow, which allows vessels to travel from world to world in a fraction of the time it would take even moving at near the speed of light, is slowly but inevitably shutting down. It's only a matter of time before the worlds of humanity are separated from one another by the yawning abyss of space. In this follow-up to the Hugo-nominated The Collapsing Empire (2017), Emperox Grayland II is scrambling to find a way to keep the empire from descending into anarchy, while her very vocal critics are preparing for a civil war that could destroy the empire before Grayland can save it. If you're picturing a plodding tome about intergalactic politics, think again: Scalzi writes, as always, in a lively, occasionally flamboyant style, and his characters are, despite the fact that they live in the far-flung future, as real and human as anyone you'd meet in the here and now. Scalzi once again demonstrates why he is one of the most popular SF novelists currently writing. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The buzz is growing steadily around this second in Scalzi's new series, including its selection as one of Goodreads' Most Anticipated Fantasy and Science Fiction Books.--David Pitt Copyright 2018 Booklist

Library Journal
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Humanity has spread itself across the universe, thanks to an extra-dimensional conduit among the stars called the Flow. The empire known as the Interdependency relies on the Flow to travel, but it's starting to disappear, causing star systems to become stranded and inaccessible. The leader of the Interdependency, Cardenia Wu-Patrick, known as Emperox Grayland II, will do anything to make sure her people survive. If they let her, that is: many think that the collapse of the Flow is a hoax, and the Emperox and her allies must be ousted. With battles waged among starships, business factions, and religious doctrines, Grayland, Lord Marce, and the rest of their supporters will have to use all of their experience and wits to stay ahead of their enemies and save humankind. VERDICT The sequel to The Collapsing Fire is another fast-paced romp through Scalzi's imagination, bearing hallmarks of his humorous slant on sf tropes. [See Prepub Alert, 4/30/18.]-Kristi -Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.