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A Memory Called Empire

Book 1 in the series:Teixcalaan

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In the book 'A Memory Called Empire' by Arkady Martine, Mahit is a young diplomat from a small space station who is sent to a colonizing empire after the mysterious death of her predecessor. Equipped with a brain implant that contains her predecessor's memories, Mahit finds herself immersed in palace intrigue and political complexities, struggling to navigate a world obsessed with language and cultural nuances. The story unfolds as Mahit questions her loyalty to her own people while trying to uncover the truth behind her predecessor's death and the empire's hidden agendas.

'A Memory Called Empire' is a complex science fiction saga that delves into themes of political intrigue, cultural identity, and personal relationships. The book follows Mahit's journey as she grapples with the complexities of the Teixcalaanli Empire, where every action and conversation holds deeper meanings, and trust is a scarce commodity in a world of shifting allegiances and hidden motives.

Characters:

Characters are well-developed and depict a variety of motivations, with the protagonist embodying the struggles of cultural identity within an imperial system.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is elegant and introspective, with a focus on cultural nuances and poetic language that enhances the themes of identity and memory.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around a young ambassador navigating political intrigue and cultural assimilation in a vast empire, uncovering mysteries and exploring identity.

Setting:

Set in a sprawling empire with rich cultural influences, the story unfolds primarily in the imperial capital city, a hub of political intrigue.

Pacing:

Pacing varies, starting slow with detailed world-building and increasing to a fast-paced climax filled with political intrigue.
And from behind the curve of the large gaseous planet at coordinate B5682.76R1, the Emperor Twelve Solar-Flare arose on the bow of her ship, and she was a radiant blaze flooding all of the void. The r...

Notes:

Arkady Martine's debut novel, A Memory Called Empire, won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2020.
The story is set in the Teixcalaanli Empire, which is inspired by Aztec and Byzantine cultures.
The protagonist, Mahit Dzmare, is an ambassador from a small space station, Lsel, to the much larger Teixcalaanli Empire.
Mahit possesses a neural implant called an 'imago machine' that holds the memories of her predecessor, giving her insights into navigating Teixcalaanli culture.
The novel explores themes of cultural imperialism and the struggle for identity against the backdrop of an expansive empire.
Martine uses poetry as a mode of expression within the Teixcalaanli society, making it integral to their culture and politics.
The book features a subplot involving a same-sex romance between Mahit and her cultural attaché, Three Seagrass.
The narrative includes a murder mystery involving Mahit's predecessor, which is intertwined with political intrigue and the potential annexation of her home station.
Martine's writing includes an in-depth examination of the implications of memory, identity, and cultural assimilation in interstellar politics.
A Memory Called Empire is the first book in a planned duology, with the sequel, A Desolation Called Peace, also receiving critical acclaim.

Has Romance?

The book features a medium level of romance, specifically a slow-developing Sapphic romance that is secondary to the main political intrigue.

From The Publisher:

Winner of the 2020 Hugo Award for Best Novel

A Locus, and Nebula Award nominee for 2019

A Best Book of 2019: Library Journal, Polygon, Den of Geek

An NPR Favorite Book of 2019

A Guardian Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Book of 2019 and "Not the Booker Prize" Nominee

A Goodreads Biggest SFF Book of 2019 and Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee

"A Memory Called Empire perfectly balances action and intrigue with matters of empire and identity. All around brilliant space opera, I absolutely love it."-Ann Leckie, author of Ancillary Justice

Ambassador Mahit Dzmare arrives in the center of the multi-system Teixcalaanli Empire only to discover that her predecessor, the previous ambassador from their small but fiercely independent mining Station, has died. But no one will admit that his death wasn't an accident-or that Mahit might be next to die, during a time of political instability in the highest echelons of the imperial court.

Now, Mahit must discover who is behind the murder, rescue herself, and save her Station from Teixcalaan's unceasing expansion-all while navigating an alien culture that is all too seductive, engaging in intrigues of her own, and hiding a deadly technological secret-one that might spell the end of her Station and her way of life-or rescue it from annihilation.

A fascinating space opera debut novel, Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire is an interstellar mystery adventure.

"The most thrilling ride ever. This book has everything I love."-Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky

And coming soon, the brilliant sequel, A Desolation Called Peace!

Ratings (82)

Incredible (20)
Loved It (35)
Liked It (14)
It Was OK (6)
Did Not Like (6)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (220):

Read It (79)
Currently Reading (2)
Want To Read (105)
Did Not Finish (10)
Not Interested (24)

1 comment(s)

Liked It
1 year

Interesting world, politics, language and poetry

 

About the Author:

Arkady Martine is the Hugo Award-winning author of A Memory Called Empire. She is a speculative fiction writer and, as Dr. AnnaLinden Weller, a historian of the Byzantine Empire and a city planner. Under both names, she writes about border politics, rhetoric, propaganda, and the edges of the world. Arkady grew up in New York City and, after some time in Turkey, Canada, and Sweden, lives in New Mexico with her wife, the author Vivian Shaw. A Memory Called Empire is her first novel. You can find her online and on Twitter!

 
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