Praise for

The Risen Empire

“Westerfeld spins a dramatic tale that never flags in pace or imagination, nor in its abundance of original vision abandons narrative in favor of didactic digressions…a strong and vibrant story.”

—Interzone

“Contains a great story with interesting subplots, cool technology, and engaging characters. I found Risen a fun read full of intriguing ideas and reminiscent of Iain Banks’ Culture novels in breadth and scope…. The Risen Empire is the first of a two-part series…a build-up for what promises to be a great ride. Do yourself a favor and get on board.”

—SFRevu.com

“The action moves with the pace of a well-executed military operation; a fascinating clash of supertechnologies. This story has everything: combat, intrigue, politics, and even an undead cat collection.”

—John C. Wright, author of Null-A Continuum

“Far future, military science fiction—with a deft hand, a conscience, a wry look back at us, and poetic flair. I know this may seem like a stretch, but think Wells.”

—Paul Levinson

“Scott Westerfeld brings the characters, ships, and worlds in his epic into laser-sharp focus, adding microscopic details on a canvas as vast as a star-empire. I am in awe of his realism, his pacing, and his people.”

—Kevin J. Anderson, coauthor of Paul of Dune

Title Page

Copyright Notice

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Dedication

TO SLK

for years of summer

A Note on Imperial Measures

One of the many advantages of life under the Imperial Apparatus is the easy imposition of consistent standards of infrastructure, communication, and law. For fifteen hundred years, the measures of the Eighty Worlds have followed an enviably straightforward scheme.

There are 100 seconds in each minute, 100 minutes in an hour, and ten hours in a day.

• One second is defined as 1/100,000 of a solar day on Home.
• One meter is defined as 1/300,000,000 of a light-second.
• One gravity is defined as 10 meters per second squared acceleration.

The Emperor has decreed that the speed of light shall remain as nature has provided.

Contents

1 Hostage Situation

2 Rescue Attempt

3 Decompression

4 High Gravity

Epilogue

1

Hostage Situation

There is no greater tactical disadvantage than the presence of precious noncombatants. Civilians, historical treasures, hostages: treat them as already lost.

—ANONYMOUS 167

Pilot