The Biodroid Empire is described by N.C. Nahin's novel, The Better Man, as being a nation with a population of billions of android-like beings known as the Biodroids. While not a real government, the Biodroid Empire shows characteristic of a totalitarian style union with subtle hints toward the introduction of a parliment (though representatives are appointed by the Biodroid Empire's leadership and not its citizens).

Origin of the Biodroid Empire

The term "Biodroid Empire" was originated in N.C. Nahin's work of fiction The Better Man in which a kingdom of human-esque automatons covered most of the earth after having nearly defeated humanity in a fifty year-long war. The Empire (shortened from of Biodroid Empire) was said to have been established one hundred a sixty-seven years prior to the book's events, though the narrative suggests that errors in both the Biodroids' and humans' records may add five years to the timeline, placing the existence of the Empire closer to one hundred and sixty-seven years old.

It is important to note that The Better Man rarely addresses the precise history of the Biodroid Empire, but does make mention of its line of rulers and various "historic events" that relate to the plot within the book. For this reason, how the Empire was originally established remains unknown.

>>Note: The Biodroid Empire goes by other names: the Metal Arm, the Empire, Kingdom of the Automatons, and is referred to by the character Leopold as being "the offspring of mankind ingenuity."

The Lineage of the Empire

According to N.C.Nahin's The Better Man, a line of emperors influenced the course of the Empire in various ways. There were three individuals to possess the title of Emperor of the Biodroids before the book, and a fourth who started its reign in the early chapters.


Amareck (Year ~0-55) > Amareck is said to have been the first Biodroid to have been able to establish a connection with his race on a global scale, and in some manner united all Biodroids into a singualar body (the Biodroid Empire). He proclaimed himself as the ruler of the Biodroids and managed to organize the masses into castes and centralize their government somewhere within Europe. Amareck persuaded the human governments into accepting the Empire as a self-governing party - a first in Biodroid history. He was seen as the wisest and most understanding of the Emperors, though on one occasion, he erupted before a council of human representative when the purpose of the Biodroid Empire was questioned. While Amareck vanished during a battle defending the Empire capitol of Katornac, many Biodroids believe that he is still alive and simply awaiting the time of his return. A select body of Biodroids even regard Amareck in a form of animism, thinking to be alive in all Biodroids; the degree of "involvement" depending on caste.

Yoko (Year 55-100) > Yoko was the second of the Biodroids to take the title of Emperor of the Biodroids and was said to be very hostile toward neighboring human nations. It was said that while Yoko was a just judge of her own people, she sent human diplomats heads of animals that dwelt in the Empire's territory as threats of what to expect should they seek to lay eyes upon her. According to The Better Man, Yoko was hated, even by her own race, and was forced on several occasions to seal the palace to prevent Biodroid generals from leading coups against her. Twice Yoko managed to avoid assassination, once from a human (nationality was never revealed) and a second time from a Biodroid that addressed itself as "The Messager" before finally being executed in a live feed streching across the bounds of the Biodroid Empire. It was not until Yoko announced war upon Europe that Yoko truly gained fame however. In the one hundredth year of the Empire existence, an unknown member of the Biodroid higher castes succeeded to killing her.

Brogus (Year 100-167) > There is no doubt that Brogus, the third Emperor, had the longest reign of the four mentioned in The Better Man. Where Amareck had fifty-five years and Yoko had forty-five, Emperor Brogus claimed sixty-seven years, all of which was spent in conflict with human nations around the globe. While managing to extingush the flames that Yoko attempted to fan, the tension betwenn Biodroids and humans finally erupted into war during the one hundred a seventeenth year of the Empire's existence. This war would become known respectively as the Bio-Humanity War, and would span most of the world (ninty percent as of The Better Man). Brogus earned the nickname "Lord of Destruction" because of the scale of the warfare that ensued and damage caused. It was during year one hundred and forty-eight that he admitted to the use of the private security force known as the "Lycoris" (supposed master operatives that obeyed the Emperor exclusively); this gained him popularity with lower caste citizens, but speculation as to political termination of rivals arose among higher caste members. Brogus was the only Emperor to create a council of advisors, a move widely seen as weakness on his governing abilities. Brogus was assassinated. His second-in-command was targeted as the potential killer and third-in-command disappeared soon thereafter, leaving his fourth in line, Maverick, to usurp the title.

Maverick (Year 167 - ?) > Maverick took hold of the throne following Brogus' death in Year 167 of the Empire. As of The Better Man, Maverick only just recently gained control of the title of Emperor, but his ambition was immediately recognized. Having been a subordinate of Brogus in the Council of the Empire (among which were Alaric Jha Yuka and Herzl, who disappeared after Brogus' death), Maverick was in a way an extension of the third Emperor's will to gain power over humanity and in many ways was more of a Brogus part two than a individual. However, it became clear early on that Maverick possessed a much more violent attitude than his mentor. His reign continues through The Better Man, but is hinted to having been halted by the book's end. There is no direct mention of his death, yet it is assumed in the dialogue between Alaric and Leopold: "The Emperor's reign has been halted. He is of no further hinderance."

Events That Influenced the Empire

The Unification > The Unification is in fact not part of the Biodroid Empire's history, but rather a prelude to its forming. In the pre-Empire time, the Biodroids were a scattered race, each human nation owning a percentage of the whole to be used as an army. Then Amareck, the only Biodroid to have developed a global network with the Biodroid race, sent an unheard of four billion messages (one to each individual Biodroid) calling them to relinquish their ties to human commanders and unify under a single banner. The action was an extreme success, causing somewhere between ninety and ninety-three percent of the entire Biodroid worldwide population to ally themselves with one another, refusing to attack a fellow automaton regardless of consequence. Amareck was branded by humanity as inciting rebellion. Amareck's reply was simple: "We do not die for selfishness."

Assassinations >

Bio-Humanity War >


More to Come