Review: This Part Of The Empire Palls
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 08 6, 2013
I have read and enjoyed Mr. Nuttall's other 4 books in his "The Empire's Corps" series, and admire his creation of an interesting and believable universe, and managed to even enjoy his lessons in economics.  But this episode, about a young woman who escapes an appallingly restrictive society and plays a major role in saving a sector of the Empire from falling into barbarism, is simply not as good as the others.  It is well written, and full of interesting insights about the need for something as simple as spare parts to keep a technology-dependent society alive, as well as good portraits of the space-based trader "clans," and the space station Madagascar which serves as an intermediary for trade throughout the sector.  But the characters, including the heroine, are flat and uninteresting, and the entire book is lifeless.  Yes, there is a plot, and yes action happens.  But it doesn't engage.  And besides that, Nuttall seems to have fallen into the "character 101" cliche, so that, at least 50 times the heroine "scowls."  One more scowl and I would have been howling.  In fairness, Nuttall isn't the only author to do this; one well-known military SF author uses "snort" to wretched excess.  Anyway, this book doesn't put me off the series, and I hope he will revisit his universe, but in a more engaging manner, as in the first 4 books.  And he seems to have set up a sequel where the Avalon of 3 of the books will ally with the "Trade Federation" of this one, which is something I would like to see.