泰斯凱蘭二部曲

Teixcalaan #1-2

by Arkady Martine, 葉旻臻 (Translator)

當你要理解一個敵人，
最終極的手段就是去愛他。
但當她深愛著會吞噬家園的巨大帝國時，
你有勇氣不稱她為「叛徒」嗎？

──寫自異國卻藏著這塊土地上的危險隱喻──
──最適合「此刻我們」閱讀的雨果獎巨作──

愛上一個會吞噬我們的文化，是否是件屈辱之事，令所有種類的「愛」都褪色？

■摘下3項文學桂冠、超過5家主流媒體年度選書、榮獲12種文學獎提名
■《沙丘》瑰麗磅礡 ╳《異星入境》異種接觸╳《冰與火之歌》權力政爭
■作家展現城市規劃師、拜占庭歷史研究者、礦產及自然資源顧問的專業，
以驚人創意描繪文明、異星、語言、詩歌，城市、種族、人類、自我

一部史詩，也是人性的故事。
──《科克斯》書評

賽博龐克、太空歌劇、政治驚悚三種類型的完美結合。
──《The VERGE》書評

具有重塑類型樣貌的力量。
──《出版者週刊》書評

Genres: Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Audiobook

864 pages, Paperback

Published May 31, 2022

Reviews

[Colin Webber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved these

[s · Rating 4 out of 5]

“So much of who we are is what we remember and retell”

4 ⭑

A Memory Called Empire is, the first book in the Teixcalaan duology, when I picked up this book I never expected to like it this much, it was just that good. I instantly bought the second volume called A Desolation Called Peace, it was as good, maybe even better.
This science-fiction series is about remembering the pasts, legacy, colonialism, languages and so many other themes… I loved everything about the books and wished there was more to this series, the word-building is incredible and if you know me (I expect you don’t) you know i’m a sucker for good world-building and science-fiction I just couldn’t not love this series.
In these books we follow Mahit Dzarme, the main character from a small mining station, she’s the ambassador of her station and holds the legacy of other ambassadors. Once she arrives in the center of the Teixcalaanli Empire she meets Three Seagrass there, she is her liaison, her job is to follow Mahit and help her adapt to her new life, their relationship really expends as the series nears its end. Once on Teixcalaan she discovers the previous ambassador has died, begins the long search of trying to understand how and why he died and save her station from colonisation, which is her main mission.
The characters and their relationship are so interesting, they have real depth to them, their development is truly incredible with a touch of romance.
Arkady Martine’s writing is on point, it is so good I aspire to be as good to be honest, she tells her story with so much confidence it’s amazing..!
I could go on for hours trying to make you want to read this book but i am going to leave you the chance to experience it..!

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some intrigue, espionage, empire building, foreign relations, and cultural assimilation all wrapped up in a science fiction duology. A Memory Called Empire and A Desolation Called Peace took some cliché aspects for alien races that reminded me of a blend of several episodes of Star Trek (Next Generation) but alloyed them to a few interesting characters and dropped them into a plot (or pair of plots) that explore the machinations of diplomacy in such a singular way that took my focus off the clichés. The characters at the center of the story, Mahit Dzmare and Three Seagrass, did not win me over at first but as the plot progressed, I became more engrossed in their development. What really worked for me in these stories was the multiple perspectives on imperialism from different sides, the empire builders and those that are absorbed. I would recommend this duology to someone who prefers their sci-fi with a dose of allegory. (3.5/5)

[Laura Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read both of these books one after the other and enjoyed them. I use my own system to keep track of everything I have read and how much I enjoyed it. I pretty much only post on Goodreads if I liked a book. I don't see any reason to post criticism about books I did not enjoy. These were both surprisingly good books. I usually stick to Hugo and Nebula award winners, which mostly are enjoyable but not always. I have not heard of Arkady Martine before but I hope to hear more from this author.

[Sarah Lump]

I loved the poetic texicalanitsims, the city, and the fungus

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best sci-fi books I've read!

[Tai · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent tale, with just delightfully poetic writing, a real gem.

[Zeko Madson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has it all: Galactic Politics, hot aliens, sketchy medical procedures. 10/10.

[Nate Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

elevated gossip. catty and serious. real questions of what we delineate as civilized and un. i will be writing in italics for months.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

前段時間拖拖拉拉把第二部看完了，因為第二部加了太多新角色的視角，加上劇情總有種雷聲大雨點小的感覺。各種勾心鬥角後期看得有點頭暈，不排除是我很不會記人名的緣故（而且書裡帝國的人名系統跟現實差滿多的）。
但我還是滿喜歡這部作品的，尤其做為帝國邊陲的居民（喜歡中國文化的台灣人），真的好容易跟主角、也就是來自太空站的瑪熙特共情喔。邊陲小國努力保有自主性的掙扎，想到現在的狀況，讓我好想哭。
關於帝國、殖民、記憶的思考，內部與外部都有自我與他者的辯證；最喜歡的，其實還是這個世界完全的性別平等，更展示出多樣的親密關係，無論性別、年齡、階級、國族。
作者是拜占庭帝國研究學者，泰斯凱蘭帝國世界觀建構也相應的華麗細緻，反覆強調泰斯凱蘭語中「帝國」便等同「世界」，對應到東亞，大概便是所謂的「天下」。
最後，主角有戀愛劇情，是女同，讚。