In 2007 Orson Scott Card, author of Ender’s Game, released a novel that followed suit with the advertisement on the cover of the book. Empire is a disturbing look at a possible future, and because of the nature of the book, it can’t be any timelier than it is.
The book stages a potential second civil war in America. There are those in the government who want to convert the American republic into a true empire. There are those who want to preserve the republic. There are even those who don’t care but they will kill to be left in peace.
America spread too far, too fast with its military actions in Afghanistan, Iraq and a middle-eastern nation that “we aren’t really in.” On the home front, the debates between left and right are getting much more volatile, unpredictable and even border on violence. Enemies of America are everywhere within the presidential administration, military, clandestine agencies, terrorist groups, various militias throughout the states and pacifists who want to institute THEIR form of change by any means necessary. That is the tone of the book.
Card is at his soapbox preaching to those who are willing to read. He is pointing out that the path America is going down may be nearing a critical point that might unravel the nation. Due to the fact that Empire features both a modern setting and a journalistic writering, the book is even darker and more desperate in tone in comparison to books like Ender’s Game, which featured war via video game and the complete destruction of another race at the hands of a child.
One of the things that Card does expertly in his books is building up heroes. Malich, Coleman and their “jeesh” (what they call the close-knit group of Special Ops soldiers that work directly with them, more properly translated “army”) are the U.S. military standard for heroes who hold true to their country, especially in its time of need. They are even willing to sacrifice themselves at a moment’s notice to ensure the safety of American lives and the preservation of the American dream. Card also does a wondrous job at hiding the traitors until the proper moment.
Empire is a must have for all readers. It doesn’t matter what side of the political spectrum they are on. This book speaks the same way to anyone who picks it up. It is a page-turning, defined warning against events that could come to pass in these increasingly unpredictable times.