Science fiction · Fantasy · Adventure
Empire of Silence
The first of a far-future saga, told as the memoir of Hadrian Marlowe, a man now cursed across the galaxy for burning a sun. He recalls how a young scholar's son was pulled into an empire at war.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2018
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 800
- Format
- Book 1 of 7 in The Sun Eater
Read this if you like long, ornate space opera with a guilty narrator and a feudal, religious empire.
Skip this if you want brisk plotting, since the voice is formal and the story takes its time.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about Empire of Silence
- What is Empire of Silence about?
- The first of a far-future saga, told as the memoir of Hadrian Marlowe, a man now cursed across the galaxy for burning a sun. He recalls how a young scholar's son was pulled into an empire at war.
- Who should read Empire of Silence?
- Read it if you like long, ornate space opera with a guilty narrator and a feudal, religious empire. Skip it if you want brisk plotting, since the voice is formal and the story takes its time.
- How long and how fast is Empire of Silence?
- It is a slow-paced, long read of about 800 pages, first published in 2018.
- Does Empire of Silence have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, War, Death.
- Can I borrow Empire of Silence for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Empire of Silence; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Empire of Silence?
- Readers who liked it often move on to Dune, The Name of the Wind, Hyperion.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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Because you might love it
If you loved Empire of Silence
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Dune
Shares the mix of feudal houses, a zealous church and an interstellar empire, with a similarly grave tone.
-
The Name of the Wind Also a famous man telling his own story in retrospect, with the same ornate, confessional voice.
-
Hyperion
A literary, many-voiced space epic with a similar sense of ancient dread behind the politics.
Science fiction
