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A Memory Called Empire - Preview Excerpt
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.
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.
- GenresScience Fiction
Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 31, 2019
The first four chapters make up this preview, and introduce both the universe (literally) and Mahit to us. In this world technology exists to have memories and knowledge uploaded and shared, which allows them to be used, for example, by ambassadors to have a full and expansive history passed down by predecessors to the current holder of the position.
Mahit only has one predecessor to learn from, and his knowledge is 15 years out of date, as the prior ambassador didn't get in contact with his home world for a long time before he vanished, and a new one was requested by the empire. Yskandr, in his memory form, is about the same age as Mahit, and they're still learning how to get along and work together.
As the blurb alludes to, this is going to be a murder mystery (but set in space), with the political complexities that come with trying to figure out who killed her predecessor without insulting anyone, getting killed herself, or causing offence. There are several cultures described to the reader that make things that could otherwise be simple, perhaps not, and then there's the whole big thing about the huge empire that isn't letting anything stand in its way just to ramp up the fun.
I'm already in love with the memory-implant idea from reading Aliette de Bodard's work and I'm thrilled to be able to read another take on it. I hope to get my hands on the rest of the book because this preview alone isn't going to let me sleep tonight. Luckily, the rest is out in a few days.
Mahit only has one predecessor to learn from, and his knowledge is 15 years out of date, as the prior ambassador didn't get in contact with his home world for a long time before he vanished, and a new one was requested by the empire. Yskandr, in his memory form, is about the same age as Mahit, and they're still learning how to get along and work together.
As the blurb alludes to, this is going to be a murder mystery (but set in space), with the political complexities that come with trying to figure out who killed her predecessor without insulting anyone, getting killed herself, or causing offence. There are several cultures described to the reader that make things that could otherwise be simple, perhaps not, and then there's the whole big thing about the huge empire that isn't letting anything stand in its way just to ramp up the fun.
I'm already in love with the memory-implant idea from reading Aliette de Bodard's work and I'm thrilled to be able to read another take on it. I hope to get my hands on the rest of the book because this preview alone isn't going to let me sleep tonight. Luckily, the rest is out in a few days.
March 19, 2019
Actual rating: 4.5 stars ⭐️
The full-length novel, “A Memory Called Empire,” is available on Netgalley, but so is this preview excerpt that includes a prelude and chapters one through four. I never got approved for the novel itself (in fact, I think it’s still pending), but it’s nearing the release date, so I decided to just go ahead and read the short preview instead since I’ve been very intrigued by this story ever since I first read the synopsis.
This is a science-fiction fantasy world like no other. It’s clearly been excellently fleshed out. In fact, there is so much information that at times I’d have to read extra slow in order to absorb what was going on or what was being clarified. The story follows Mahit Dzmare, the new Ambassador of her home, Lsel Station. The Teixcalaan Empire is massive: it spans not merely planets but entire solar systems and, as far as I’m aware, galaxies. It’s a giant, all-encompassing machine. Mahit arrives in the City, which is the name of both the planet itself and the “city” that’s the central part of the Empire, very suddenly as a replacement for the former Ambassador, Yskandr, who died very suspiciously. It doesn’t take long for Mahit to determine that Yskandr’s death was in fact murder, although she can’t really prove much yet.
I found the world-building so detailed and innovative – I was astounded. The names are wild and unique – number + inanimate object i.e. “Three Seagrass” or “Fifteen Engine” or the emperor, “Six Direction.” The people who are part of the Teixcalaan Empire are in fact “the humans” while people like Mahit are actually considered the aliens, which I thought was unusual. There’s also the “Sunlit” which are the Emperor’s special police force. Everything about this world and its inhabitants has a unique name and function. It’s GREAT – so different from most other sci-fi books I’ve read so far!
Martine has a wonderful writing style – so much of this world is new, not just the names but the planets, customs, langauge, and so on – and when something is talked about, it’s also explained quite clearly immediately after, so readers won’t have to wait long for clarification. Every aspect of the story is freshing. I liked Mahit, and I was intrigued by Yskandr, the Teixcalaan Empire, Three Seagrass, and Mahit’s overall precarious circumstances. I want to definitely read more than four chapters!!
I hope to borrow the full-length book from my library when it becomes available. The voice, characters, world-building, personalities/culture/customs, and action scenes are so unique and refreshing and fascinating to read about, I would recommend this book for anyone who loves dense, epic sci-fi/fantasy stories!
The full-length novel, “A Memory Called Empire,” is available on Netgalley, but so is this preview excerpt that includes a prelude and chapters one through four. I never got approved for the novel itself (in fact, I think it’s still pending), but it’s nearing the release date, so I decided to just go ahead and read the short preview instead since I’ve been very intrigued by this story ever since I first read the synopsis.
This is a science-fiction fantasy world like no other. It’s clearly been excellently fleshed out. In fact, there is so much information that at times I’d have to read extra slow in order to absorb what was going on or what was being clarified. The story follows Mahit Dzmare, the new Ambassador of her home, Lsel Station. The Teixcalaan Empire is massive: it spans not merely planets but entire solar systems and, as far as I’m aware, galaxies. It’s a giant, all-encompassing machine. Mahit arrives in the City, which is the name of both the planet itself and the “city” that’s the central part of the Empire, very suddenly as a replacement for the former Ambassador, Yskandr, who died very suspiciously. It doesn’t take long for Mahit to determine that Yskandr’s death was in fact murder, although she can’t really prove much yet.
I found the world-building so detailed and innovative – I was astounded. The names are wild and unique – number + inanimate object i.e. “Three Seagrass” or “Fifteen Engine” or the emperor, “Six Direction.” The people who are part of the Teixcalaan Empire are in fact “the humans” while people like Mahit are actually considered the aliens, which I thought was unusual. There’s also the “Sunlit” which are the Emperor’s special police force. Everything about this world and its inhabitants has a unique name and function. It’s GREAT – so different from most other sci-fi books I’ve read so far!
Martine has a wonderful writing style – so much of this world is new, not just the names but the planets, customs, langauge, and so on – and when something is talked about, it’s also explained quite clearly immediately after, so readers won’t have to wait long for clarification. Every aspect of the story is freshing. I liked Mahit, and I was intrigued by Yskandr, the Teixcalaan Empire, Three Seagrass, and Mahit’s overall precarious circumstances. I want to definitely read more than four chapters!!
I hope to borrow the full-length book from my library when it becomes available. The voice, characters, world-building, personalities/culture/customs, and action scenes are so unique and refreshing and fascinating to read about, I would recommend this book for anyone who loves dense, epic sci-fi/fantasy stories!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2021
good world building, interesting characters. A good all-round space opera
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews