The Accidental War: A Novel

Blending fast-paced military science fiction and space opera, the first volume in a dynamic trilogy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Praxis, set in the universe of his popular and critically acclaimed Dread Empire’s Fall series—a tale of blood, courage, adventure and battle in which the fate of an empire rests in the hands of a cadre of desperate exiles.

It’s been seven years since the end of the Naxid War. Sidelined for their unorthodox tactics by a rigid, tradition-bound military establishment, Captain Gareth Martinez and Captain the Lady Sula are stewing in exile, frustrated and impatient to exercise the effective and lethal skills they were born to use in fighting the enemy.

Yet after the ramshackle empire left by the Shaa conquerors is shaken by a series of hammer blows that threaten the foundations of the commonwealth, the result is a war that no one planned, no one expected, and no one knows how to end.

Now, Martinez, Sula, and their confederate Nikki Severin must escape the clutches of their enemies, rally the disorganized elements of the fleet, and somehow restore the fragile peace—or face annihilation at the hands of a vastly superior force.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Praxis, the first novel in a new trilogy set in the universe of his popular and critically acclaimed Dread Empire’s Fall series—a tale of blood, courage, adventure, and battle in which the fate of an empire rests in the hands of a cadre of desperate exiles

It’s been seven years since the end of the Naxid War. Sidelined for their unorthodox tactics by a rigid, tradition-bound military establishment, Captain Gareth Martinez and Captain the Lady Sula are stewing in exile, frustrated and impatient to exercise the effective and lethal skills they were born to use in fighting the enemy.

Suddenly the ramshackle empire left by the Shaa conquerors is shaken by a series of hammer blows that threatens the foundations of the commonwealth. The result is a war that no one planned, no one expected, and no one knows how to end.

Now, Martinez, Sula, and their confederate Nikki Severin must escape the clutches of their enemies, rally the disorganized elements of the Fleet, and somehow restore the fragile peace—or face annihilation at the hands of a vastly superior force.

“Readers who enjoyed Ann Leckie’s award-winning Ancillary Justice and its sequels will find similar pleasures here. Williams lays out the slow-burn decline of an empire with supreme confidence. It’s a masterful piece of space opera.” - B&N Reads

“Williams is consummate writer. His worldbuilding continues excellent, his characterization is solid and believable, and his attention to detail while juggling a complex story of intrigue and financial disaster is deeply, impressive. Well-paced, tense, and deeply compelling, The Accidental War is a very entertaining work.” - Tor.com

“Dread Empire’s Fall is space opera the way it ought to be: fast-paced, colorful, inventive, epic in scale, chock full of intrigue, derring-do, balls and battles, secrets and revelations, heroism and heartbreak, deft plot twists and poignant human moments. . . . Bujold and Weber, bend the knee; interstellar adventure has a new king, and his name is Walter Jon Williams.” - George R. R. Martin on Conventions of War

“A spectacular far-future space opera.” - Locus on Conventions of War

“Walter Jon Williams is one of my favorite writers in the genre, with great ideas, worldbuilding, characters, and always a captivating story.” - Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of The Saga of Seven Suns

“Williams’s prose is distinguished by a no-nonsense confidence.” - New York Times on The Praxis