Of Empires Vapid and Grand

Dean Marden

Aug 2012 · Veiled Void Publishing

About this ebook

Lord of the Flies and The Hunger Games meet Age of Empires and Civilization in this epic saga stretching from ancient times to our own. History may suffer!

CHOSEN to partake in a government initiative known only as 'the Program', Cawdor High's graduating students are quick to find their old rivalries and alliances playing out on a scale grander than any one of them could have ever imagined. Given control of fourteen ancient civilisations within an immense virtual world, the hundred teenagers must engage their foes, protect their allies, and safeguard their own interests leveraging all the powers of human history.

In high school, Lex Ryerson had never been outgoing, outspoken or even remotely popular, but as a member of the fledgling Blue faction, he finds himself emerging as a powerful player in a world forged by the capricious nature of the teenage psyche. The Blues rise to early prominence as they and their neighbouring nations find themselves embroiled in political intrigue and worldwide conflict that could spell doom at any moment for one or all.

Spears and swords make way for cannons and guns, with warships and nuclear power thrusting the Program down an increasingly hazy path of warfare and politics. In a world birthed by the collective consciousness of a hundred teenaged minds, how many will be able to tread its narrow paths between sweeping glory and utter decimation?

For its enablers, the answer will weave a web of empires both vapid and grand.

Originally published as Final Education: A Novel of Empires Both Vapid and Grand in 2012 by Adophicution Multimedia.

Ratings and reviews

Unique premise, with its historical world sure to entice if your interests lay that way (like mine). Its story/scope/setting/whatever is BIG. While it’s not really that long, it definitely FEELS a bit long because of the scope, especially with the heavy pace towards the end. My favorite thing was its non-stock characters. The 'in' crowd are sidelined early on by picking fights and losing too much too soon to grow enough. That let more unusual classmates step up. The main trendsetter wasn't a primped popular girl but an academic sportswoman. The greatest general wasn't a quarterback but a grumpy fuzzy-haired outcast girl. The best politician wasn't the debate captain or the man's man but a lisping hairy-lipped girl whose legs couldn't touch the floor when sitting on chairs. I couldn’t relate much to the shuttered Lex and Mark (the male leads), but I REALLY connected with the many unconventional and strong girls of the book: Sammy (the female lead), Meg (the DOMINATOR), Sparky, Kim, and many others. My fave character was Diane Sternin: the Tyrannus Victoria! She should have been introduced earlier but I guess it helped keep things fluid and me guessing. Kudos on the use of non-straight leading characters too: Exact preferences are hard to apply (like with Lex and Meg) which is right for the age group.

Feels a bit drawn out but the ending was satisfying. Author really likes the word flapdrabble.

Wholly unique and compelling. Could have been shorter, but was still satisfied in the end.

About the author

Dean Marden lives in the Australian capital of Canberra. Dean operates as truculent public servant by day and frantic private scribbler by night, with writing serving as his creative outlet and much-needed sanity stabiliser.