How the Stars Turned Red [Slow Sci-Fi Space Opera]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

In the latter half of the 3rd millennium CE, humanity has spread across the stars, inhabiting close to five-hundred worlds across the Orion Arm. Earth has become irrelevant, a historical has-been. The galactic map is dominated by two mega-factions, both controlling vast amounts of territories either through direct control or through their many allies and treaty signatories.

The Kingdom of Aurora is the political and economic hegemon despite consisting of only seven inhabited worlds; their strength lies in the Royal Union, an interstellar commonwealth comprising an internal market and a common defence pact. These member worlds are myriad and varied, culturally as well as politically, but they all flock to the same banner.

The Independent Systems Alliance, spearheaded by the Republic of Elysium, is the ascendant challenger to Aurora and the Union. A pseudo-federal multi-system polity, the Alliance economy and military is rapidly expanding, but at the cost of effective democratic and meritocratic involvement by its people.

However, with two superpowers as this, chafing along a common border, and with a constant clamour of polemics, both sides have become convinced the other is constantly preparing for war and are on the look-out for any perceived weakness in their opponent. The predictable result is a huge arms race and a cold war spreading across the stars, requiring only a spark to set the galaxy aflame.

Drawn into this game of high stakes are ordinary men and women, their peaceful lives, hopes, and aspirations swallowed by the vortex of conflict and distrust. This is their story.

Hope you like long chapters and adjectives.

Note: English is not my first language.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2021
Author: Mithradates Eupator

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.5/ 5.0
Followers: 298
Views: 91,298

Chapters(60 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

ragged1Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I see similarities with David Weber's Honor Harrington. I do not see a rip off but rather a fully fleshed out universe with many of the same themes. Author has created a realistic explanation for the future history.
The first two chapters jump around quite a bit and was somewhat confusing. Three different times but after that it runs along nicely and all is explained.
The writing is very solid. Dialogue is great. I am a sci-fi fan and have not been getting my fix for sometime now. Sci-fi has turned into the sjw swamp and this is back to the roots. Space navy battles, good vs evil. Man, I am looking forward to the continuation of this.
DenxsonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
If one has looked far and wide for a story that will take one's imagination beyond the boundaries of the milky way then one will find promise with this well-crafted tale.
The language used is superb despite the author's foreign origin, while the story - now that's the meat next to the potatoes - if one enjoys stories alla Valkyria Chronicles or Final Fantasy in terms of depth and world-building with charming and relatable characters, then this is a must-read.
I would 100% recommend this to a friend (which I already have done), so don't be shy potential viewer and have a read. Trust me - it's worth it.
HephaistosRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
You may find my title exaggerating, but this story truly is one of the best I've ever read. It has the quality of a published work which is, in every main aspect (politics, society, military, characters, even architecture) meticulously thought trough.
The good:
- believable, four dimensional characters, all of them, with their own morality, goals, personality and growth.
We have: Students, aristocratic students, generals (on both sides), ship commanders (on both sides), politicians (on both sides), a princess (as of now), the admiralty, gunners (on both sides), construction workers, presidents and many more. And all of them feel like real human beings.
- an enormous, but over-viewable, universe.
- very descriptive writing, in all aspects. Many locations are memorably described. Architecture, clothes, location and societal norms are paint used by Mithradates Eupator to fill the complex canvas that is his world.
(As an example, the Royal Auroran Union military headquarters is described as being in an 19th century style with wooden inlays and Persian carpets, the officers wear "old school" military dresses while the headquarters of the Free Systems Alliance is described as a brutalist concrete abomination, with a lack of everything other than necessary. (Of course way more detailed and better written then I did here) Such is an example of the exceptional usage of environment to describe the lifes of people.)
- space aristocracy, in it's formation and continual existence, believable written.
- space combat, with context given limitations, believable written.
- knowledge of the rules of war an military doctrine.
- overall eloquent usage of words which bring me much joy.
- no stupid characters, writing or world building. Or, in other words, a very mature story.
The bad:
- sometimes, to explain why this hat, dress or doctrine is used, it is written that the designs have not changed that much since the 19th century. Which I have not a problem with, it even is somewhat reali
HonourvoirRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
What a gem, what a treat. I really didn't expect running into such a deeply engaging story on a website, which can be comfortably compared to whichever published sci-fi novel series.
I love history, particularly European history, and this series is just like the perfect endorphin boost for me. It has it all; grand politics, the vast expanse of sci-fi, genuinely excellent worldbuilding, drama (both political and personal), and an underlying love story.
I can honestly commend this series to any fan of space operas, it has everything you could possibly want as of now, with promise for a lot more to come in the future.
Style
The setting is amazingly delivered, in the first few chapters presented through the point of view of a bunch of students (who become what I assume are some of the main characters) as they learn about the post-Earth history (more like re-learn lmao) during university classes. I personally like this way of presenting the world very much. It tweaks the genre-trope of going "as you know, Bob" into something more natural, and I'm here for that.
There are so many clues to British and Western European history weaved into the story and the culture described, I cannot help but grin at some of them. I feel like the author has so much planned or mapped out that we're merely getting a glimpse of, and honestly I'm here for it.
Grammar
Apart from a few minor hiccups here and there, the grammar is overall superb, especially since the author points out that they're not a native speaker of English. The dialogue is flowing, the choice of terms and voice makes the different background of the characters stand out; it is an impressive range of voice when it comes to personification that I've found lacking among actually published authors. In addition, the vivid descriptions of the environment, locations, the technology, and especially clothing and fashion grips me.
Story
The story overall is brimmng with promise, and a few chapters has found me hankering for more. Alas,
Mew6969Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
As far as this story has come i must say it is a clear favourite of mine, and i am waiting diligently for the next chapters to come! If you're looking for a new story to grab you by the neck and keep you strapped in until the last chapter, look no further.
The writing of this story is impeccable, tho it might get a tad to exposition heavy at times (hence "only" 4.5 on style). Although this might be a more subjective pet-peeve, others might love it as it does deepen the world, that much i will admit.
On a more positive note, the way you juggle serious conflicts with bubbles of humour makes it a delight to read for anyone wanting a good sci-fi story. Giving the reader some time to "get fresh air" between the seriousness of it all makes not feel too heavy overall, even if the overaching story is rather dark (which I personally enjoy).
When it comes to the characters we're introduced to throughout the story, they come to life with the introduction of not only their outwards "persona", but also through their flaws and shortcommings, making them relateable and human. I personally have a softspot for Adea (who's with me?) and love the reference to the seleukids 😉
Overall a engaging world, relateable characters and a story to get sucked into. A must-read in my book.
PistolShrimpRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Well this is... far more than I was expecting. In a very good way!
What would you get if you took thousands of years of human history and projected it into the space age? How the Stars Turned Red, would be the answer.
For my casual history-loving, politics-debating mind, it's a bit like candy. There's plenty to dig into and interesting characters to carry the details through. If you're looking for something bold, complex, and engaging, I highly recommend this story.
I don't plan on putting this story down any time soon.
Style
A complex and detailed universe that is endlessly expanding. When building stories, many authors tend to fall flat on the worldbuilding, choosing to either haphazardly slap down some tweeked lore chosen at random from their favourite universe, or forgo the worldbuilding almost entirely in favour of another love triangle.
This story doesn't pull its punches. The universe is complex and brilliantly designed, the intertwining politics leaves you guessing at the consequences of every aristocratic slap fight, and those little morsels of lore leave you wondering at the extents of human ingenuity. There's always something more to dig into.
Character
Detailed, alive, with personalities and traits that mark each of them with just a few spoken words. It's rare to see a story with so many different characters each with unique voices.
Grammar
Beautifully written and teeming with variety. The juxtaposition between haughty nobility, nervous commoner, and chaotic battle shows enormous flexibility in the author's writing. All of this delivered via beautiful prose makes this story a pleasant read.
Story
This is where the story falls a little flat. It can get a little bogged down in the details at times which brings the story to a crawl. Fortunately, those details are not wasted as they each reveal some new and fascinating detail about the author's universe. But as much as I loved the worldbuilding, the pacing could do with a pick-me-up.
If you're looking for so
Ujwal VujjiniRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Oh boy! I knew just reading the synopsis that this would be a story up my alley. I haven't consumed too many space operas but one of my favorites is Legend of the Galactic Heroes, and this story even in the first few chapters reminds me so much of it.
Story: The story focuses on an ensemble cast as they make their way through university who I assume will end up becoming powerful figures later on. We are presented a plethora of details on the state of the world, given as naturally as can be had. In just the first few chapters alone we jump between scenes taking place hundreds of years apart to set the stage for what will ultimately be a tale for the history books.
Style: We have a mix of formal and informal, with the former being given for the lengthy expositions. While this is a small thing, I do wish the author would cut sentences a little short in certain paragraphs. Sometimes paragraphs just become too dense and it becomes hard to keep track of all the details.
Grammar: No major issues as far as I can see. A few erroneous capitailizations and maybe missing quotation marks for multi-paragraph dialogue, but it seems to be more of a style difference than anything else.
Character: There's not much I can say here, but Edward, I believe, has the hallmarks to become a great character. He reminds me much of Yang Wenli, a man who has his own proclivities, especially toward history, and while I'm only theorizing right now, maybe he'll be forced to join the future war to further his own pursuits.
All in all I'm amazed at the level of commitment to setting the stage, and look forward to what I'll read next!
AleksbaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Well done. This is a highly promising beginning and an interesting setting. I am looking forward to the continuation of this story. (Finished chapter 1). I am especially excited to see the characters you bring to life in the following chapters, as the first chapter is but a very promising start.
Side note: I really like the way you wrote this, the language in itself is both colorful and engaging.
K U W A B A R ARoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
(Originally reviewed January 3rd, 2025 06:07 PM, this is a review swap for my once-deleted fic the author did but the icon won't show up; original unedited review below)
I first read How the Stars Turned Red around July 2021, and originally followed it on and off through the years around chapter 30s' before I trailed off because of life. Since then, I decided to revisit the series a second time starting around October 2024. Although this is a review swap it is more out of my genuine interest to give a review because I've enjoyed this series and I want to see it to the end. This review is based on my second binge of How the Stars Turned Red.
If you're looking for something that's outside the norm on Royalroad (ie LitRPG, isekai), or maybe you're feeling there's a lacking amount of top-notch, good ol' sci-fi space operas, this is definitely worth an investment. There are some caveats though which I will cover a little more in depth.
Grammar and Style: The author's English and his style of writing are exceptional. The prose is perfect but some may find it as overly flowery or purple prose abundant, and there is so much purple prose for the reader to devour I simply cannot help but feel outclassed in so many ways. This has its ups and downs in the writing but you're here to read space opera and all its bells and whistles from politics to lore and gun calibers. The author has a keen eye for history and isn't afraid to show it interwoven into the very fabric of the story.
Character and Story: There are a lot of characters and at times it's a little difficult to keep track of all of them. But the author is careful enough in molding them into unique characters when given the spotlight. There is flashy action in the story but it takes more of a backseat to space politics and how these events affect people from all walks of life, so in some ways it may appear slice-of-life at times. The closet that may be considered a/the central character/protagonist, Edward Heatherland, is
MVVRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
So, this is a professional quality work. It has everything you could ask from a coming of age and space opera novels, beautifully done, and a clear grammar.
The only "but" that prevents me to give it a full 5 stars is both making it too close to Honor Harrington novels and the blatant Britannia Rules the Waves theme.
I know it is still early stages to give it a full review, and I may expand at a later date on this novel, but so far, it has gotten my attention.