The Consuming Fire

by John Scalzi

Paperback, 316 pages

English language

Published Aug. 5, 2018

ISBN:: 978-0-7653-8897-1
OCLC Number:: 1055567862

(14 reviews)

"The second, thrilling novel in the bestselling Interdependency series, from Hugo Award-winning author John Scalzi. The Interdependency, humanity's interstellar empire, is on the verge of collapse. The Flow, the extra-dimensional conduit that makes travel between the stars possible, is disappearing, leaving entire star systems stranded. When it goes, human civilization may go with it--unless desperate measures can be taken. Emperox Grayland II, the leader of the Interdependency, is ready to take those measures to help ensure the survival of billions. But nothing is ever that easy. Arrayed before her are those who believe the collapse of the Flow is a myth--or at the very least, an opportunity that can allow them to ascend to power. While Grayland prepares for disaster, others are preparing for a civil war, a war that will take place in the halls of power, the markets of business, and the altars of worship as much as …

2 editions

Thomas Christensen reviewed The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi (The Interdependency #2)

Review of 'The Consuming Fire' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Jeg var så glad for John Scalzis Interdependency Book 1, at jeg hoppede direkte ind i bog 2, som forsætter hvor den første stoppede (minor spoilers på vej...). Vores elskede Emperox (en fokusgrupper valideret og godkende kønsneutral udgave af Emperor), er kæmper videre for at beholde magten (og hovedet), alt i mens imperiet truer med at falde sammen om ørene på hende.

Tempoet er stadigvæk højt, men i mellem alt balladen og banderiet er der også plads til lidt spirende kærlighed og at lære noget nyt om hvor The Interdependency kommer fra. Jeg er så godt underholdt og er hoppet direkte videre til bog 3

Duckus@bookwyrm.social reviewed The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi (The Interdependency #2)

Better Than The First

4 stars

All my concerns from the first novel are addressed in Scalzi's second 'Interdependency' novel.

The politicking is a lot stronger, more detailed, and very clever. There's some nice action pieces, and the world is developed further.

Emperox Grayland II starts to uncover the history of her nation, and because she's not been raised by the familial dynasty, she has fresh eyes that helps her recognise patterns others might not otherwise see. She grows as a leader and a character, and whilst there are some leaps in logic, it makes sense how she'd get there, but because we have seen her journey I sometimes find that the character we see here doesn't connect strongly with the character we saw in the first novel. Still, the author leans into her nervous and emotional-focused inner monologue often enough to show us that she is the same person.

Scalzi adds a character from waaaay …

All my concerns from the first novel are addressed in Scalzi's second 'Interdependency' novel.

The politicking is a lot stronger, more detailed, and very clever. There's some nice action pieces, and the world is developed further.

Scalzi adds a character from waaaay outta left field, and he's a great character that's fun, and in the audiobook I listened to Will Wheaton does a wonderfully terrible French accent. He's a great personality, and there's some shenanigans that make it clear that there's a "bigger picture" happening, we just aren't privy to it yet.

And, also, Keva. She's awesome. I'd read it just for Keva.

Simon reviewed The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi (The Interdependency #2)

Review of 'The Consuming Fire' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This is quite a different book to the first of the series. Less space opera, more politics.

It's not immensely subtle or nuanced - it's still an easy read, which is good - but it works well as a middle book in a trilogy and along the way it offers some views into our own time: of an extreme version of the post-war world trade paradigm, where every nation is so intertwined with every other that nobody wants to make overt war; and into short-termism in the face of impending disaster, which is something everybody on Earth knows all too well.

I'll be interested to see how the third book pans out.

Jon PENNYCOOK reviewed The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi (The Interdependency #2)

Review of 'The Consuming Fire' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Disappointing. About a third is sex and court politics. Another third is about religious doctrine. There's a short part that is interesting, where a link to a lost colony is found. The part that I enjoyed could be squeezed into a short story.

Frank Burns reviewed The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi (The Interdependency #2)

Review of 'The Consuming Fire' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I do love this series. Scalzi always reads very smoothly, in an engaging and direct manner. This book also didn't suffer from the 'middle of a series syndrome'. It was well paced and I felt that indefinable 'can't put it down'. Plus more Kiva Lagos, total win.