Barbarians

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

The Triumvirate has known peace for 10,000 years. Their technology dwarfs that of Man, and for almost a century now Humanity has done everything they have asked of us, in order to learn even a fraction of their secrets. With their help, we have abolished poverty, and hunger. War is now a thing of the past. We have made incredible strides in a very short time period...and yet the Triumvirate races keep us at arm's length. They see us as half-evolved apes, too violent even now to keep company with our betters.

They call us...Barbarians.

But sometimes, a Barbarian isexactlywhat you need.

(This incredible piece of artwork was a commission byHarry Rowland (@rowl_art_)...and I couldn't be more amazed at the job he's done. If you're looking for something like this, give him a yell.)

A larger version of the cover can be foundhere

NOTE: Agro Squerrilshttps://www.royalroad.com/profile/121861has my permission to make an audio version of this story

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2019
Author: HeWhoLooksSkyward

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.4/ 5.0
Followers: 1,461
Views: 1,206,446

Chapters(129 total)

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(10)

Isaac_fantasyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
It does not get any better than this!!!
The way the author describes humans and our reactions are really on point, I personally can’t find any issues or faults.
Urza IronclawRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I read this over on r/HFY when it came out. A really good read. I highly recommend it.
StellarPotatoGPURoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Only 10 or so chapters into it. Lots to read and ruminate over, a nice plot twist, plenty of action that isn't just graphic violence but actually moves the plot forward.
The pov that switches between groups helps accentuate the thought processes without holding your hand and adds to the urgency and tensity of war without drowning in detail.
The one thing I would say is that the characters aren't super well fleshed out, but the still have enough to make them relatable.
Carson6319Royal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
First off, it's good give it a go. You will know whether it is for you within the first 2 chapters as it's it's themes are dam consistent.
Onto the actual review. The story is not like other on rr in that its MC don't feel like MC. They feel like plot drivers where the history is what actually matters. Yes there are major recurring characters but it's war. They die. Legit no one is safe some will make it but you won't know who.
The story also has major time jumps at 10 and 20 years as well as ones that are a few months. Again this is not one person's story but a history.
It's entertaining.
PodVonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
A well crafted multi-PoV story with interesting races and likeable characters on all sides of the conflict. Three volumes, set decades appart, each with a different kind of war and some changing of cast as named characters actually die!
I found the last book a little weaker than the first two as some of the new characters make the book feel more 'young-adult fiction' than the previous more mature storys, but that could just be me not liking those particular characters.
FleischmannRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
There is a good way and a bad way to write Humans settling into a larger community.
Let us start with the bad way; Mass Effect simply skipped it entirely and gave no explanation for why Humans were everywhere. We just were there, got special treatment for some reason, and acted as if it was our birthright.
The good way is this story; Humans... Are not actually that popular or well known besides the fact that we are the first new species to show up in thousands of years. Our influence on the Triumvirate's culture is nonexistent, our presence limited to our own worlds and a couple of people on official business on the capital; we have been for the last few hundred years trying to suck up to the big three, trying to learn from them, and trying to get them to view us as anything other than savage youngsters. The only reason why Humans became important at all in this story, is because of extremely dangerous and unusual circumstances.
Now... Here is the real kicker. They are wrong, but they are also right.
While I can not explain everything here, I will say this. They were right, in that we needed to learn from them to be more sanguine and ready to fit in, while they were wrong about us needing to get rid of our violent nature. This you will find out pretty quickly and early on in the story, so it is not too big of a plot point.
The reason I bring it up though, is that I feel too often there is no middle ground like this between one group being right and the other being wrong. Humans are either special or Humans are savages who inflict pain and suffering (I am looking at you, My Little Pony fan fiction). While not rare, it still seems a pretty uncommon for an author to both attempt such a balance and actually strike it.
So... Full marks on that!
The characters are also rather likable, though I feel that the aliens are all a bit too much alike... Other than one group in particular who I really hope we end up becoming the best of buddies with.
The story progression did feel
Drlove73Royal Road
★★★★ 3.5
Story has lots of holes, kind of irritated.
For example, Kohonim destroyed several worlds with super vast missiles.
But they had to go fight on the surface of Guzj to destroy machines?
What about gliding in to Gzuj system in stealth mode...
Also idea that "code", actually memories, can revert reprogramed machine...
Derser713Royal Road
★★★ 3.0
As of chapter 6, I really have only one problem with this story:
It moves to fast.
I think I can follow the resoning of the chars.
The enemy (as of chapter 6 and what little I know of them) makes sense.
The running gag of promotion hasn't gotten graiding so far.
My oppinion on the admiral and the Marschal may change, but for now, I have no other problems.... Guess I edit this when something changes?
TheAngryJerkRoyal Road
★★★ 3.0
I like sci-fi space operas. I’ve read tons of them. This one did not strike a chord with me.
As is the downfall of many in this genre they never put enough effort into giving the reader something to latch on to and care about. Why should I cheer for the characters and factions in this big universe? They don’t have style, they don’t have a fan favorite character/protag that I want to care about, and their trajectory is pretty boring given how reactive everything is.
I’m out peace.
KoKoKachoRoyal Road
★★★ 2.5
This didn't quite feel like a Story written about a War rather it read moreso like a Story on War.
The premise contradicts itself more than it should for the first 30 chapters or so. The decision to show humanity's flaws before any of its strengths shines negatively on the story as a whole, which is a bit odd given their intended purpose, right? And the many, many quotes spattered across the book bog down any of its supposed meaning.
I don't expect this to reinvent the wheel but I'm not so set in my ways as to admit that it can't do more than it presents itself as. It can do much more, it just hasn't.