Political and interdimensional challenges confront the Taran Empire in a new series that continues DuBoff’s Cadicle Universe SF saga.

Jason is a scion of the Sietinen Dynasty, which rules the galaxy-spanning Taran Empire. Blessed with telepathic and telekinetic abilities, he works in the Taran Selective Service, headquartered within Earth’s moon. One day he learns that a salvage ship, the Andvari, has been attacked by what appears to be a “transdimensional space kraken.” Worse, the attack happened near the Rift—a “spatial tear” left over from the end of the Bakzen War, 30 years before. Jason’s father, TSS High Commander Wil Sietinen, reveals that the Tarans have been accused of violating an ancient treaty with two alien races—one being the Gatekeepers, the other an unknown quantity. The Tarans don’t know how they violated it, but the Gatekeepers warn that the unknown beings are seeking retribution. Did the malicious, now-deposed Priesthood leave behind clues on Morningstar Isle, the Tarans’ former home, which can help alleviate the crisis? Meanwhile, on the Outer Colony of Duronis, the Sovereign People’s Alliance plans to sow chaos for the ruling family, and Lexi Karis has infiltrated the group to learn the fate of her missing friend, Melisa. DuBoff successfully accomplishes the tricky balancing act of acknowledging the massive Cadicle Universe narrative while also pushing forward into new territory. New readers will definitely feel like they’ve missed a few happenings that comprise the series’ fabric, such as the battle against the Priesthood. Fortunately, for much of the novel’s first half, the most compelling drama remains personal, such as Jason’s breakup with his lover, Tiff. When tragedy eventually strikes, the consequences are immense, as they provide an answer to the adventure’s biggest mystery and bring Earth into the Taran fold. Meanwhile, Raena, Jason’s twin sister who rules Morningstar Isle, weighs in on cultural politics: “There’s such a focus on uniqueness and differences that it’s divided people more than bringing them together.” By the end, a rattled status quo hints at an intriguing sequel.

A smartly executed jumping-off point for new readers in a complex SF saga.

A.K. DuBoff’s Cadicle Space Opera kicks off with Empire Reborn in the Taran Empire Saga Series. She has created a space opera reminiscent of the works of E.E. Smith. Take a step into the Cadicle Universe where Tarans are the dominant race and humans are their genetic offshoot. Jason Sietinen has worked hard to become a Tararian Selective Service officer in his own right and has gotten used to his parents occupying important positions in the TSS. Jason is assigned to investigate a mysterious attack on the salvage hauler Andvari. Further investigation reveals a tentacled leviathan was responsible for the attack—creatures made from ethereal energy and without physical form. A shadow faction of the Taran Empire has opened the Gates in an attempt to disturb the peace. As war looms, Jason must find a way to unite the worlds and restore peace.

As a new space opera, Empire Reborn puts emphasis on the game of space politics. But it is a political allegory that goes beyond escapism, as it points your consciousness to contemporary cultural politics and how it might undergo changes in the far-off future. Empire Reborn counters the grand expectations of optimism in the age of great advancement. It may sound cynical, but inequality appears to persist as those who reside within the Outer Colonies are in want in affecting change. I like how the TSS Agents are gifted with telekinetic and telepathic abilities, which in its own way has a political purpose, as they use it to leverage their traction in the hierarchy. The plot has a perspective that fixates on re-envisioning privilege and hierarchy. Perhaps this is why the book has such a sense of narrative richness. It is a story that balances dialogue and characterization, as we get to know more about the cosmic threat based on every interaction, and you believe the danger as it lurks. Discovering its resolution will make you want to read the next installment.