Empire's Birth
The Karacknid invasion of Earth has been turned back. Yet the War of Doom has only just begun. Tens of thousands of warships are amassing along the Varanni Alliance border. In one fell swoop they threaten to strike into the heart of Alliance space, conquering and devastating everything in their wake.
Meanwhile on Earth, the shadow of the nuclear holocaust the Karacknids unleashed hangs over all the survivors. Many of Humanity’s major cities lie in ruins. Her fleet has been devastated. The UN has crumbled. For the survivors, one phrase rises above all others; ‘never again.’
Against his better judgement, James finds himself thrust into taking charge of the rebuilding efforts. When political infighting and fractures threatening to split the survivors into competing factions, he is convinced something new is needed. Somehow, he must find a way to forge Humanity into a weapon that can turn back the tide of the Karacknid war machine. Somehow, out of the ashes of destruction a Human Empire must rise to take its place among the stars.
Empire’s Birth continues the story of James, Christine, Gupta and all the others as the struggle to protect their species against the Karacknid threat.
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D. J. Holmes
D.J. Holmes doesn’t write science fiction so much as he builds star empires one battle at a time. With a steady hand for military realism and a sharp eye for political intrigue, Holmes has carved out a loyal niche among fans of space opera and tactical warfare in deep space. His Empire Rising series, a sweeping twenty-one-book saga, charts humanity’s expansion into the stars through the eyes of Royal Space Navy Commander James Somerville—a character as principled as he is battle-worn.
Empire Rising
In a future shaped by starships and shifting alliances, Empire Rising delivers a galaxy on the brink—and dares readers to step into its war-torn heart. This expansive military sci-fi series begins not with glory, but with the quiet tension of a commander burdened by duty. At its core is James Somerville, a Royal Space Navy officer navigating the fine line between loyalty and survival as humanity stretches its reach across the stars.
Empire Rising consists of twenty-two books — considered a complete series. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
