Vous voulez voir cette page en fran�ais ? Cliquez ici.

Quantity:

More Buying Choices

6 used & new from CDN$ 12.61

Have one to sell? Sell yours here

See larger image

Share your own customer images

Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

Empire: 8 CDs [Audiobook] [Unabridged] (Audio CD)

by Orson Scott Card (Author)

3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

List Price:	CDN$ 43.95
Price:	CDN$ 27.69 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 39. Details
You Save:	CDN$ 16.26 (37%)
	o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Usually ships within 6 to 10 days.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca. Gift-wrap available.

4 new from CDN$ 12.61 2 used from CDN$ 59.46

Frequently Bought Together

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Hidden Empire

by Orson Scott Card

CDN$ 20.05

First Meetings: In the Enderverse

by Orson Scott Card

3.9 out of 5 stars (19) CDN$ 8.99

A War of Gifts: An Ender Story

by Orson Scott Card

4.0 out of 5 stars (1) CDN$ 6.99

Children of the Mind

by Orson Scott Card

3.5 out of 5 stars (151) CDN$ 9.99

Ender in Exile

by Orson Scott Card

4.2 out of 5 stars (4) CDN$ 9.99

› Explore similar items

Product Details

Audio CD
Publisher: Macmillan US Audio; 1st edition edition (Nov 28 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1593979800
ISBN-13: 978-1593979805
Product Dimensions: 14.5 x 13.2 x 3.3 cm
Shipping Weight: 250 g

Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

When the United States stands on the brink of civil war between "blue states" and "red states," Maj. Reuben Malek and Capt. Bartholomew Coleman use their special ops training to maintain the country's unity. With the president and vice president assassinated within minutes of each other, and New York City taken over, the two must figure out who has planned this and how to prevent the growing tension between left and right. Unfortunately, Card's conservative bias seeps into this tale with repeated jabs at "liberal media" and even a guest appearance by Bill O'Reilly helping out the good guys. These juvenile assaults distract from Card's keen storytelling skills. As a co-narrator, Card sticks mostly to the superfluous job of reading chapter introductions, saving his passion for his afterword, where he lambastes both the left and the right for their extreme and exclusionary acts. Rudnicki makes this audiobook worth attention. His deep sturdy voice provides the rich and engaging narrative that pulls in any listener. He reads the book smoothly, adding energy, characterization and authority to all aspects of the story. Without Rudnicki, this empire crumbles.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From AudioFile

In a departure from the science fiction and the historical re-creations for which hes known, the ENDERS GAME scribe explores what might happen if a civil war were to break out in early-twenty-first-century America. The battle lines this time are drawn not along North and South, but between liberal and conservative. Stefan Rudnickis hypnotic bass voice reflects both Cards cynicism and his guarded optimism as he narrates the story of Major Reuben Malek and Captain Bartholomew Coleman, who find themselves in the middle of a coup mounted by a thinly veiled George Soros. The author adds to the experience by reading chapter epigraphs and the insightful afterword. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

See all Product Description

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

(What's this?)

Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)

ender wiggin(1)

orson scott card(1)

What do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item?

	69% buy the item featured on this page: Empire: 8 CDs 3.8 out of 5 stars (5) CDN$ 27.69
	12% buy First Meetings: In the Enderverse 3.9 out of 5 stars (19) CDN$ 8.99
	12% buy A War of Gifts: An Ender Story 4.0 out of 5 stars (1) CDN$ 6.99
	5% buy Ender in Exile 4.2 out of 5 stars (4) CDN$ 9.99

Explore similar items

Customer Reviews

5 Reviews

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

3.8 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I hate to prove his premise -- but this is right wing fantasy, Jan 3 2007

By	johnrobe (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Empire (Hardcover)

In the afterward for this novel, the author rails against all that is wrong with politics in America today, and I agree with everything he says. To summarize, his belief is that right vs. left, red vs. blue is far too simplistic, and that it lumps people into groups where they usually do not agree with everything that the group stands for. Very true, very astute. So why do I feel like the novel itself ignores this?

The heroes of the book are very right-wing, and the storyline itself is very anti-left. There is perhaps one strawman right-wing crazy who doesn't seem to do much, and an entire left-wing conspiracy that is dismissed and demonized in the thoughts of the protagonists at every turn. The one "liberal" protagonist doesn't do a or express a liberal thought in the novel, leaving us with one perspective, which one must assume is the author's opinion. I'm willing to admit that perhaps Card is clever enough to have done all this on purpose just so the reader will have the reaction I did, and prove his point -- but I don't think that is what was intended. Just as Card challenges us to examine our own beliefs and biases in the afterward, I feel like he ignored his own advice in the writing of the thoughts of the protagonists of the novel.

Politics aside (which is very difficult to say or do when it comes to this book, it is about a Civil War after all), the book is a bit unfocused. It is part military thriller, part mystery, part political commentary, but spends not enough time in any mode, and when it is all done, you are left with a plot that started with a very plausible premise and ended up with an extremely implausible resolution and a "mystery" that most would predict from practically the very beginning.

Oh, and the book spells "Hari Seldon" incorrectly. I usually enjoy the way Card pays homage to the things that he enjoys, even if it lets a little too much of his own perspective creep into the book, but honestly, how does a book get published with that kind of spelling error in it? I'm going to have to assume it was an editing error.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Report this

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book if the context isn't taken too far., Dec 20 2009

By	Moe Sasseville "Moester" (Montreal, QC, Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Empire (Mass Market Paperback)

I bought this book for three reasons. One I enjoyed the game it was a tie-in for and the second was that I heard it was very politically charged; and the third is that Orson Scott Card wrote it.

Card is a very talented writer who has written quite a few classics and I was looking forward to reading this one. As far as the writing was concerned I wasn't disappointed. Sure, its no Ender's game, but the writing flows, the action is punchy and the characters are relate-able. Many people complain that Card's writing is sub-par but I think what they really mean is that they don't like the politics of the book. The writing itself is at the very least decent.

Which brings me to the politics, and in a very real way the story and the premise of the plot. If taken as a very basic lefty vs. righty story; its pretty poor and if you get lost in your own political views its very easy to dislike a book who's characters are oriented strongly on one end of the political spectrum. What really hurts this novel is that its contemporary. If the novel was set in a place called "United Endoria" in some far away time like typical sci-fi; nobody would really raise a stink. But as it is, everyone is missing the point.

The fact of the matter is, the overwhelming majority of heroes in any time of military fiction are right wingers. While Rube is a paladin for the right wing; its not necessarily a bad thing. The plot wouldn't advance if he or Cole had been anything less than true believers in the cause. As a matter of fact, the fact that they believe the way they do is a major factor in their being manipulated in the story. As a matter of fact, after a point, its quite obvious that both sides are being used...which to me was the whole point of the story. To believe in a cause or a side blindly and without question will let you be manipulated into doing the very things you were trying to prevent.

I don't want to give up too much of the plot, but to me the true meaning of this book is that its an indictment of the current political climate in the united states. Both sides are far too into their own rhetoric and...under the right circumstances could be manipulated.

Personally I recommend this book to someone who isn't going to roll their eyes at a "Republican" hero and a "Democrat" villain and is looking to possibly willing to admit that both sides have their flaws. That heroes and villains are typically painted in a very broad brush, and are willing to have that in a book set in "the Bush years" which does not match accepted wisdom...Then go for it. Otherwise avoid this book like the plague.

But i enjoyed it, and plan on getting the sequel.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Report this

5.0 out of 5 stars Card returns with something a little different for his readers., Nov 10 2006

By	Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Empire (Hardcover)

Captain Coleman "Cole" is assigned as the new aide for Major Reuben "Rube" Malich. However, Rube never comes into the office and never calls. His secretary, DeeNee, says she cannot help him. According to DeeNee, who has no way to contact him, Rube seldom shows at the office except to pick up messages and leave again. No one knows what Rube does or where he goes. DeeNee assures Cole that Rube knows he has arrived, but all he can do is stand around and wait for what could very well be days or weeks. Within minutes of Cole finally meeting Rube, chaos comes storming in! The Vice President is killed in an "accidental" car wreck. Only few minutes later, the President and the Secretary of Defense dies when a rocket hits the west wing of the White House, at the very section the two were in a meeting. Everyone is calling Rube and Cole "heroes". Had they not been there and acted immediately, it would have been much, much worse. But the two heroes know that Rube is being set up to take the fall.

Rube has his wife and kids move in with a relative in West Windsor, New Jersey. Before joining them, Rube and Cole must meet up with Rube's old buddies from Special Ops for some serious brainstorming. The men have not been in New Jersey with the family half a day before chaos comes stomping (literally) back in. This time it is fourteen-foot-tall, bulletproof, heavily armed globes on mechanical legs. The mechs, along with gunmen on individual hovercrafts, succeed in seizing New York City and establishing the "Progressive Restoration". They claim to be restoring the government to what it should have been and even invite other cities and states to join them. It looks as though a second American Civil War has erupted. One side has high tech weapons. The other side has militia footmen, Rube, and Cole.

***** Author David Weber is diabolical in writing books with military tactical maneuvers. Author Tom Clancy is clever in writing books with espionage. But author Orson Scott Card is brilliant in a way that is difficult to define. Card loudly attacks your physical senses, while at the same time; he silently infiltrates your mind and twists your very way of thinking. The most horrifying part is that as I read, I could detect no flaw in the strategies. It is all perfect...and very possible. I strongly recommend ordering pizza to be delivered and unplugging the phones before you even open the cover of this military/political thriller. Stellar! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Report this

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 5 customer reviews...

Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great
If you like Card's previous books, chances are you will find this an entertaining read. I was transported into the Neo-American Civil war and was constantly questioning where it... Read more

Published 22 months ago by Dr Doom

5.0 out of 5 stars Whoa! Bring on more!
Wow! A fast-paced, non-stop, thought-provoking action thriller set in the near future. I won't rehash the plot - you can read the other reviews yourself. Read more

Published on Feb 6 2008 by David W. Wildeboer