Stories From the Empyrean

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

When mankind traded Earth for the Heavens, there were a thousand lesser bargains made. We traded safety for freedom, comfort for change, and our humanity for divinity. When we left behind skin, bone, steel, and stone, we found power beyond power in silver, silicon, and steel. We knew unimaginable beauty and we knew untold horror. The Empyrean embraced us just as we embraced it. All the glory of the Heavens was ours, and it only cost us everything.

Stories From the Empyreanis an anthology that follows multiple characters through their lives in the Empyrean (human-colonized space) at a distant point in Humanity's future. More than narrative, it aims to explore characters, themes, moods, and aesthetics associated with Science Fiction.

Author Note: The first story, "Scorched", is written in second-person, which is atypical for the greater work. It is not strictly canonical to stories that follow, but it is included because it was the first story written in the setting, and provides meaningful context for the framework upon which later stories were built.

Currently updates twice a week, Mondays and Fridays.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: hiddenRythms

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.5/ 5.0
Followers: 8
Views: 2,307

Chapters(8 total)

Reviews

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Community Reviews(2)

Lost RainRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Stories from the Empyrean seems to be a dystopian anthology all set in the... you guessed it, Empyrean. Can see the world-building and development at play, and am excited to look into it more.
So far so good! The first chapter was a bit wonk since it was second person, but after I got used to it it was quite good. Just a bit out of my comfort zone since second-person stories are quite rare. It goes to the third person next chapter though, which is a bit more comfortable.
I quite enjoyed reading the story, though there isn't much out at the moment. I am looking forward to the day there are many chapters to read!
Keep up the good work!
RandomSyllablesRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
For those of you who enjoy stories that aren't long epics, but smaller fragments of a greater whole, Stories From the Empyrean has promise to deliver. The main focus of the two current short stories are the integrated pilots, who are hooked into their ship.
But what the author delivers is a greater examination of the experience of becoming one with a ship. Lives are cheap, and nervous systems can be rented. The writing focuses heavily on the sensations and introspection brought on by unusual stimuli, while giving a peek into a dark, sci-fi world.
I will warn that the descriptions are not for the weak hearted, or rather, weak stomached. There is plenty in here to make one's skin crawl, yet it somehow does not come off as gratuitous, as it helps to build the experiences of the main character's struggles.
The first 'short story' is in a second person perspective which I found disconcerting at first, but in later reflection, I felt it was an invitation about coming and experiencing the world woven by the author.
The plot, so to speak, is a bit hard to piece together and much is left to the reader's imagination. Which is its strength and its failing. I am interested to see what further stories from the Empyrean will do to further illustrate this world.