Hans Trevor Wilms, PhD’s Starlight Empires: Death is Collapsing, kicks off a thrilling space opera saga that explores humanity’s future among the stars. The story centers around Alex Fjord, the charismatic and wealthy CEO of CEC, who drops the bombshell news of humanity’s first contact with an alien race. But just as the excitement starts to build, we’re hit with a sinister twist: Fjord is haunted by a godlike entity called Death, a presence that makes him question everything, including the survival of the human race. Meanwhile, Simon Martinez, an engineer on a far-flung space station, finds his routine life thrown into chaos. He’s caught between personal heartbreak, a crumbling relationship, and the discovery of something much bigger than he ever imagined.
Right from the opening scene, I felt pulled in. Fjord’s announcement about alien contact had all the suspense and showmanship you’d expect from a space-age business mogul. But then Death shows up, and the dread sets in. Wilms knows how to build tension. The way Death speaks—cold and unwavering—makes you uneasy, and Fjord’s powerlessness is chilling. Sometimes, I wanted the conversations to cut deeper or the prose to trim some of the fat. But even with that, the eerie vibe sticks with you.
Simon’s story, on the other hand, is way more relatable and down-to-earth, which I loved. He’s this hardworking guy, crawling through ducts on a lonely space station, trying to patch up broken tech while his girlfriend, Cara, sends him an avalanche of frustrated texts from Earth. We’ve all felt that kind of helplessness in relationships, and it’s captured perfectly here. One of my favorite parts was when Simon, despite everything, finds joy in his engineering work, even customizing his prosthetic arm with a 3D printer. The descriptions of his fixes are vivid and detailed.
What really struck me were the bigger ideas floating around this book. Humanity’s future, the ethics of corporate domination—Wilms goes there, and it’s uncomfortable in the best way. The CEC’s chokehold on society is unsettling and feels all too real. At one point, Simon reflects on how CEC quietly buys up entire countries, and it’s a gut punch. Wilms does an incredible job weaving these themes into a character-driven story. Simon’s quiet moments, like playing his banjo to clear his mind, bring a touch of humanity that balances the cosmic dread.
In the end, Starlight Empires: Death is Collapsing is a complex, ambitious adventure. If you’re a fan of science fiction that digs into the human condition and explores our place in the universe, this book will get you thinking. It’s not a quick, action-packed ride but a slow burn that’s rich with atmosphere and philosophical musings. If you’ve got the patience for a story that’s equal parts existential and personal, you’ll be rewarded. Just buckle up—it’s a wild ride worth taking.
Pages: 334 | ASIN : B0DJGBMGHG
