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On The Imperium’s Secret Service (Imperium Cicernus Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Christopher G. Nuttall (Author), Pacific Crest Publishing (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 1,360 ratings
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The Imperium; a million worlds, trillions upon trillions of humans and aliens, an empire that dominates half the galaxy...an empire that is falling into chaos, revolution and civil war. Only a handful of people are struggling to keep the Imperium together, knowing that the brutality of its rule is infinitively preferable to the chaos of its fall. This is their story. Mariko and her sister were independent shippers and ace pilots, until they ran afoul of the law on a minor planet and ended up jailed and enslaved. Their new owner, Lord Fitz, seems to be nothing more than another harmless aristocrat with more money than sense – and besides, at least they can keep flying spacecraft. But Fitz isn't all he seems. He works for Imperial Intelligence, attempting to track down and destroy the Secessionist Movement before it launches a plan that threatens the very heart of the Imperium – and Mariko and her sister have just become his latest tools. But as they are drawn deeper into the seedy underside of the Imperium, one question comes to dominate their minds... Does the Imperium even deserve to survive?
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  1. Book 1 of 2
    Imperium Cicernus
  2. Print length
    401 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    May 14, 2014
  6. File size
    4544 KB
  7. Page Flip
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  8. Word Wise
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Christopher G. Nuttall has been planning science fiction books since he learned to read. Born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, he studied history, which inspired him to imagine new worlds and create an alternate-history website. Those imaginings provided a solid base for storytelling and eventually led him to write novels. He’s published thirty novels and one novella through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, including the bestselling Ark Royal series. He has also published the Royal Sorceress series, the Bookworm series, A Life Less Ordinary, and Sufficiently Advanced Technology with Elsewhen Press, as well as the Schooled in Magic series through Twilight Times Books. He resides in Edinburgh with his partner, muse, and critic, Aisha. Visit his blog at www.chrishanger.wordpress.com and his website at www.chrishanger.net.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00KCLJ39G
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (May 14, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 14, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4544 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 401 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 1,360 ratings

About the author

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Christopher G. Nuttall

Christopher G. Nuttall

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Christopher Nuttall has been planning sci-fi books since he learned to read. Born and raised in Edinburgh, Chris created an alternate history website and eventually graduated to writing full-sized novels. Studying history independently allowed him to develop worlds that hung together and provided a base for storytelling. After graduating from university, Chris started writing full-time. As an indie author, he has published fifty novels and one novella (so far) through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.

Professionally, he has published The Royal Sorceress, Bookworm, A Life Less Ordinary, Sufficiently Advanced Technology, The Royal Sorceress II: The Great Game and Bookworm II: The Very Ugly Duckling with Elsewhen Press, and Schooled in Magic through Twilight Times Books.

As a matter of principle, all of Chris's self-published Kindle books are DRM-free.

Chris has a blog where he published updates, snippets and world-building notes at http://chrishanger.wordpress.com/ and a website at http://www.chrishanger.net.

Chris is currently living in Edinburgh with his partner, muse, and critic Aisha.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
1,360 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Alex V
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story, very well written characters
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2014
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This is the best book in its genre that I've read in a long while. The story line and the universe is on par with other good books -- the story is original and convincing and the text is well-written, although the book is not necessarily special in that regard. What sets it completely apart from the others is the depth of characterization. The motives of the characters appear to be both complete and complex, and, as is the case in the reality, not always obvious. A few months after reading the book I am still thinking about the ultimate motivation of the main characters. Were they (lest I spoil the plot) on the imperium's service because they genuinely considered it to be the right thing to do, or were they morally rationalizing a rather diabolic course of action because it was ultimately in their own best interest? I'm still thinking.

Additionally, this may be the first sci-fi book I've read that has a realistic representation of the female characters. In most other sci-fi books, women appear to be essentially written as men and have the lady parts attached as an afterthought. In this novel, the women have a realistic touch of femininity them, which is apparent in their relationship with each other, men, violence and not least sex. They are by no means depicted as girlish and squeamish or anything like that, but I still appreciate that they read like real females.
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Roger The Rhino Ross
4.0 out of 5 stars James Bond in Spaaaaaaaaaaace
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2014
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I generally enjoy Chris' work very much, but when I read the synopsis of this one my initial thought was, "Pass".

I was wrong.

Turned out to be an engaging, fun, spy romp. I think Chris was going for James Bond in Spaaaaaaace and it worked well.

Th fact that the heroes know that they are working for a broken system that should fall by the wayside added a nice bit of moral conflict. Talk about "too big to fail".

Don't want to get into spoilers but you need to go into this with the same expectation that you would go into a Bond flick. There will be over the top action, cool gear and scheming villains. Icould easily see Fitz being played by a young Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan's bastard son.

Rhino Approved for an evening's read with popcorn and a beer.
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Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Why I wouldn't buy the next volume
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2014
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EDIT: As of 6/16/14 I've added back a couple of stars. Mr. Nuttall (see his comment below) indicates there is more to come on the issue of slavery.

ORIGINAL REVIEW: Ok, I await each of Mr. Nuttall's books. Most are excellent. The writing in this one is pretty good, too. As is the characterization. Why don't I like it? Because the hero and the two heroines are on the side of the bad guys, IMHO. The imperium is run exclusively for the benefit of rich humans and rich corporations. There are thousands of worlds and hundreds of different types of aliens. As far as we can tell all of the aliens (with a few trivial exceptions, such as the Snakes in their little corner of the Universe), are subservient to the rich humans / corporations. So too are most of the humans.

Our hero wants to uphold the Imperium because if it breaks up billions of people will be hurt or die in the economic chaos that follows. The "enemy" is the secessionists, who believe in equal rights for aliens and local government (each planet for itself). And the rich don't get to rule just because they are rich.

In America this is like being for the South IF the South were also the dominant economic power in the American Civil War. That is, pro slavery and pro-monopolies. Or for preserving the British Empire with all the privileges that white Englishmen had in about 1910. Great if you're rich and white and male; not so hot for everyone else. I kept reading hoping the heros would have a change of heart. They didn't.
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Dave Withe
5.0 out of 5 stars If you like historical romances and space opera buy this book
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2014
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Another excellent story from Chris Nuttal. This one is somewhat of a segue away from his Imperial Marines series, not exactly a prequel but set in an earlier time frame. The story itself is more of a Sci-Fi spy novel wrapped around the classic historical romance template of intrigue during the heyday of the British Empire. The aristocratic hero saves two exotic sisters from a sadistic minor crime lord's son and then they're off. The action spans an entire galatic sector and romance blooms. No spoilers here, but if you like historical romances and space opera get this book.

As I've said before Chris is one of the most prolific Sf authors I know. I don't know how he turns out so many completed novels in a year; but I like the results. There are occasional minor typo's and some stylistic things that I would take issue with(probably due to his British English correctness); but his sheer story telling power makes them irrelevant.

Note to Chris: I'll contact you in private with some of my general observations and other suggestions. In general Bravo on another excellent read.

Write on bro.

Newburydave

Note to
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MWG
4.0 out of 5 stars Good story
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2014
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This has the making of a great series, and I really enjoyed reading it. But with that said it would have been better if you understood what the Imperium is and what the problems are instead of getting bits and pieces along the way. Lord Fitzgerald would have been better as the main character and established his role first and then brought the other characters in not the other way around. I liked some of the tip of the hats to some of the super heroes. Our group gets in and out of some narrow escapes but it was almost too many and to easy. I gave it four stars for the whole concept and I might read another book with the Imperium secret service stories it's worth the price.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Guy Marc GAGNE
4.0 out of 5 stars Off to a good start
Reviewed in Canada on September 4, 2014
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Right, now were on sound ground here in terms of past achievements
However, he concept and desire to collaborate with others will flavour this series
Whether for the better ...
Proof is in the pudding
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A. Butler
5.0 out of 5 stars James Bond, perhaps Matt Helm in outer space!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 15, 2015
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On The Imperiums Secret Service by Christopher G Nuttal

I first started to read CGN's books when I found the Ark Royal trilogy. A piece of classic space opera and military scifi combined. I'm not sure how I found this book to be honest, I think it was actually an amazon suggestion based on other books I'd read.

Anyway, about the book ...

It's basically a kind of James Bond in outer space (with a touch of Matt Helm thrown in for fun). A spy thriller with aliens, new worlds, gigantic spaceship battles etc.

The story is written from the perspective of a young woman who, along with her younger sister, has decided to make her own way in galaxy as starship pilot with their own freighter. Sadly the over protected upbringing leads to disaster on the planet Dorado, a more infamous hive of scum and villany ...

Anyway, they get rescued by an aristocrat who wants them pilot his ship as he's royalty and therefore incapable of holding his own cup of tea it would seem.

I'll not spoil the story, because it's actually rather good. I was gripped from the first two words, "Hey, bitches!" Yep, they caught my attention too, I don't think I've read a book that used such a dramatic introduction before.

There are three main characters, Mariko and Mai, the two sisters and the aristocrat, Lord Fitzgerald <lots more names follow> but gets known as Fitz for the rest of the book thankfully.

Each is quite nicely drawn with nice touches to describe their mannerisms and behaviours. They make mistakes, the try and learn and being quite human, often fail to learn which brings about a lot of the action of the book.

Yes, there is action. A decent amount of it too. And that's nicely described, not obtrusive, not obsessive and doesn't sacrifice the flow of the story either. Between action scenes we have life abord a starship type passages, which give hints and insights into technology without becoming a technical manual. I felt I had just enough understanding of technology to see things without having to become a physicist to actually get it all.

And this is what I wanted from such a space opera/spy thriller. It was fun, involving, complicated and not linear. There were plot twists and turns, evil people, really evil people and just common-or-garden socially confused and inept people in a nice mix that made things easy to follow and pleasant to read.

The overall pace was good, no long lingering, boring passages of irrelevant details, the narrative style, third person centred on Mariko, was involving and fluid.

I really liked this novel, alongside the other books I've read by this author, it has become a new favourite for me. If you have a kindle, go get a copy, it's not very expensive!
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Ndoc
1.0 out of 5 stars Gute Idee schlecht ausgeführt.
Reviewed in Germany on July 22, 2014
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Grundidee der Geschichte und Weltraumsetting sind ok, der technische Teil also ganz gut. Die Personen benehmen sich nur recht merkwürdig, Dialoge zum Teil vollkommen unpassend. Den (zwischen-) menschlichen Teil kann Herr Nuttall nicht.
Das war mein erstes und letztes Buch von ihm.
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Warwick P. Dent
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
Reviewed in Australia on July 13, 2014
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Yet again, Nuttall has given us a well written and carefully constructed story. If can't wait for the next instalment. Well worth reading and well worth reading.
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Michael White
3.0 out of 5 stars quite good
Reviewed in Canada on December 9, 2014
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Very good writing, great story, nice characters and all together very worth the purchase! Thanks for the great work you did.
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