The Last Emperox by John Scalzi Book Review

 The Last Emperox 

(The Interdependency #3)

By John Scalzi 

Published Year: 2020 [Tor Books]

Page Count: 350 pages 

Medium Used: Paperback 

Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Hard Science, Space Opera, Philosophy, Stored Consciousness, Court Intrigues, Game for Throne, Thriller, 2026-read. 

Rating :5/5 😀😀😀😀😀

Link to book 2, in the series,review is here: 

The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi Book Review

Link to book 1 is here: 

The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi Book Review

I wrapped up this final(as of now, based on what the author has commented) installment in the Interdependency series by John Scalzi and I am filled with mixed emotions. I want the series to have atleast one more book because it is so good. Also I felt all that needs explaining in the story/plot hasn't been satisfactorily done - so needs one more book. I got fully invested in the political, social and economic conditions of the twenty billion inhabitants of the Interdependency that I want to know which of them make it to the End and survive. On the other hand, to explain why this could be the last book, this narrative has given me succulent shots of adrenaline rush that I doubt some sequel to it would manage to surpass the effect. 

Nadashe Nohamapetan is still alive even if she is a fugitive. As long as she takes breath, she will be plotting to take down Grayland ii - the emeprox to the Interdependency - and her nature hasn't changed much in this book. Deran Wu is the current and sole managing director of the mercantile operations of the house of Wu. Nadashe manages to kill him (like she has done to her brother in book 2) and thus get the attention and endorsement of Proster Wu. She employs him to convene with the families of the members from nobility, parliament and church who have been thrown into jail by Grayland ii, for treason and attempted coup (in book 2). Kiva Lagos, the new member of the executive committee, uncovers this plot and intimates Grayland ii. Cardenia alias Grayland ii realizes that no matter how many times she might evade a coup or assassination attempt, she will always have to contend with a new one. 

Marce Claremont, the imperial time keeper and science advisor to Grayland ii discovers something new about the nature of the Flow shoals. He suggests it might be possible to transport the huge habitats into the End system if all the twenty billion people cannot be accommodated onto the End planet. They know that putting all the people onto the planet might be destroying it because it cannot cope in terms of ecosystem or infrastructure. Its a fair point. I was kept on my toes till the end because these are seemingly unconquerable problems. And then Nadashe manages to kill off Grayland ii. Nadashe aspires to become the next emperox - the Last Emperox of the Interdependency. She offers very tempting deals to Kiva Lagos to win her endorsement but Kiva prefers prison time than joining hands with Nadashe. 

We also learn something is afoot with the Memory room and the simulations of the eighty seven emperoxes that Interdependency had had. Who they are and what has been running them in the guise of a non feeling, no ego personality is revealed in the book. Through a series of unexpected turns, Nadashe doesn't become the last Emperox. She is arrested and shipped to the End with her mother to spend the rest of their time in prison. Grayland ii, though dead, doesn't remain in that state for long. She makes someone else the Last Emperox and signs off on her presidency. Marce makes a choice of scientific expedition to a lost system for his future endeavor. 

I thought some explanation regarding what happens to the systems in the Interdependency is pending from the author. Grayland and her team - Kiva and Marce - wanted to ship all the people to the system of End. Nadashe and her minions only wanted to ship the nobility and the rich to End while discarding the common folk to their fate and slow deaths in the isolated systems. I didn't really understand how Marce solved the situation and what the future would be like. Maybe some of the systems will learn to cope with being isolated because Grayland ii has publicized all the secrets of monopolies. Maybe some will be moved to the system of End through Marce's efforts. Maybe they will realize something more from the Flow systems and how they work. Like I have mentioned, I need one more book in this franchise!! I love this series, invariably!!