Artifact Space
Ratings13
Average rating4.5
15
Ratings13
Average rating4.5
Out in the darkness of space, something is targeting the Greatships. With their vast cargo holds and a crew that could fill a city, the Greatships are the lifeblood of human occupied space, transporting an unimaginable volume - and value - of goods from City, the greatest human orbital, all the way to Tradepoint at the other, to trade for xenoglas with an unknowable alien species. It has always been Marca Nbaro's dream to achieve the near-impossible: escape her upbringing and venture into space. All it took, to make her way onto the crew of the Greatship Athens was thousands of hours in simulators, dedication, and pawning or selling every scrap of her old life in order to forge a new one. But though she's made her way onboard with faked papers, leaving her old life - and scandals - behind isn't so easy. She may have just combined all the dangers of her former life, with all the perils of the new . . .
Series
1 primary bookArcana Imperii is a 1-book series first released in 2021 with contributions by MILES. CAMERON and Miles Cameron. The next book is scheduled for release on 8/1/2024.
Reviews with the most likes.
Epic Space Opera does not get much more epic than this. We have giant trade spaceships, galactic alliances, criminal underworlds and alien threats all rolled into a very fun and digestible package. Miles Cameron has made his name on fantasy and historical fiction, but this first dive into SciFi is mightily impressive. His roots in historical reenactment shine through in his adaptation of historical ideas (the trade route we follow almost reads like an ancient trade route around the Mediterranean, just set in space) and naming the ship Athens is obviously a nod to his other interests. His understanding of watch keeping and proper military practices lend an air of believability to the story too. I have not seen the world ship idea done better than this though - the ship and the crew are definitely living, breathing entities that drive the story along.
Our lead character is the fallen scion of an ancient family - she had been brought up in an abusive orphanage with shady links to the underworld. For her this voyage is one of escape from her old life. Her adventures are what drives the story forward - learning the ropes of an officer position on board this mighty vessel. I have seen the story likened to ‘hornblower in space' and I can get that - it has a lot of the feel of that, but with the scifi setting
Overall, this is a masterful take on the genre - fun, fresh and enjoyable
I was pleased to receive an uncorrected proof.
I have been a fan of space operas for many years and this is one of the best that I have ever read. It's on a par with some of my favourite authors; Iain M Banks, Alistair Reynolds, John Scalzi.
Enter the world of Marca Nbara as she flees the Orphanage to become a junior officer aboard the massive, hundreds of years old, Greatship, Athens.
A roller-coaster journey across the Galaxy on a routine trading mission, that suddenly becomes fraught with danger and enemies.
Miles Cameron has created a unique, believable, universe. Great characters and their relationships are core to making this story enthralling.
I can't say more without giving too much away. Bring on the next volume of the story.
Just buy it!
