Series: Machineries of Empire by Yoon Ha Lee ("Ninefox Gambit")

[Ariana]

Anna wrote: "Here's the link to the audiobook on Audible.com if someone wants it but can't find it with search. I was able to get to it through my preorders.

https://www.audible.com/pd/Hexarchate......"

Awesome, thanks! Yeah, it wasn't showing up in search on the website, but it was in the app. Weird! I guess I'll know if it shows up tomorrow.

[Anna]

I just got the audio :) And I have the ebook, so yay!

[Anna]

I love how many young Jedao stories there are! Yes, they're really short, flash fiction more than short fiction, but I'm enjoying them. I think I've read most of them before, but I don't remember them so well that it matters. I'm really nervous for the new novella, since I decided not to reread the series after all. Will I remember enough about the last book?

[Anna]

I'm at 55% already :D Most of it has been things I've read previously. I'm about to start "Gamer's End", and after that I only have the main event left, which is the novella "Glass Cannon", taking place after Revenant Gun.

So, for those who've obsessively read all the Hexarchate short/flash fiction they could possibly find before, there might only be the one novella here that's new to you.

I like that it's in internal chronological order, and there's a timeline at the beginning of the book, to remind you of major historical events.

Explicit erotica warning for the story called (view spoiler)[ "Gloves" (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

Finished HexStories.


"Chameleon's Gloves" - (view spoiler)[ I love the idea of a haptic chameleon, it sounds so cool! And having your password be a feat of air-keyboarding? I wonder what unique physical talent I might be able to manage? (hide spoiler)]

I've read all the flash-fic before, but most of it was still adorable! In fact there are only three new/original pieces in this collection:

"Silence" - (view spoiler)[ Interesting to see Rodao's POV, but I wish it had been a little longer, with more about how Ro noticed Jedao change. (hide spoiler)]

"Gloves" - (view spoiler)[ I could do without the explicit sex scenes, but the last line was so sad. I wonder if this takes place before or after Shuos Khiaz raped Jedao? Around the same time anyway :( (hide spoiler)]

"Glass Cannon" - (view spoiler)[ I'm not sure I'm ready to comment on this one yet, but I see potential for a follow-up series! (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

I just checked my email and YHL has posted a Hexarchate mini game on Patreon:

From every spark a fire

[Kaa]

I've been in the car all day, and when I'm not driving I've been reading this. I only read a few of the stories after finishing the trilogy, so there is more new-to-me stuff here than I thought there might be. I am really loving (view spoiler)[getting to see so much of Jedao's back story! (hide spoiler)]

[Kaa]

I've read everything except "Glass Cannon", and have loved all of it. It's nice to re-read the stories I've previously encountered in the chronological context used in the collection, and the new/new-to-me stories are fabulous. In addition to (view spoiler)[getting to read stories from both Jedao and Cheris's earlier lives (hide spoiler)], I really appreciated YHL's comments on all of the stories, which provide additional fun/useful context about his writing approach and about the universe.

[Anna]

Kaa, agreed. I loved the flash-fic the first time I read it, and it's been nice to read it again. Twice, because I'm currently rereading this in audio :) It's such a contrast to the heavy stuff in the books (and the longer pieces), it's lovely to see the characters in their happier youth! I still want more (view spoiler)[ Kujen and Mikodez fic tho! Any length! (hide spoiler)]

There are two author notes that made me want to scream :D One is the last one, but I can't remember what the other one was. Maybe it was just "Calendrical Rot", because (view spoiler)[ I wish he'd had some kind of prologue in the first book, so that so many people didn't drop the book immediately upon starting! But I don't think that story would've helped much :D (hide spoiler)]

Knowing when some of these were written, it really shows how the focus has shifted from (view spoiler)[ all the weirdness to the characters, who've become so well developed it's a pleasure to read almost anything they get up to. (hide spoiler)]

[Ariana]

I'll probably start this tomorrow or Friday, as soon as I finish Moon Rising (it's going fast!).

[Kaa]

I really enjoyed "Glass Cannon" (although (view spoiler)[I thought the double deception at the end was a bit too neat (hide spoiler)]) and overall thought this was a fabulous accompaniment to the main trilogy.

@Anna: What about the last author's note made you want to scream?

re: Calendrical Rot: I don't feel like (view spoiler)[this would have been particularly less cryptic than the actual first chapter, although I have to admit that I love that chapter and liked that there wasn't a prologue. (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

100% agree about "Calendrical Rot" - (view spoiler)[ This was the most confusing story of the bunch, and I've read the series several times! I enjoyed being thrown straight into the weird end, but I know many people who gave up because of that. I think some of them might've enjoyed the series, if they'd had a chance to get into the story. (hide spoiler)]

re: "Glass Cannon" Author's Note - (view spoiler)[ The last paragraph! I want those scenes/stories! It's not cool to tease your reader in this cruel way! (hide spoiler)]

I have a question about "Gamer's End" - (view spoiler)[ How is Jedao an instructor in the Shuos Academy when Mikodez is Hexarch? Is he a sim or something? It doesn't really matter I guess, but I feel like I'm stupid for not getting this? (hide spoiler)]

[Kaa]

"Calendrical Rot"(view spoiler)[/NG first chapter: Fair! We should create a version with an alternate beginning (or even, *gasp*, an optional prologue!) to help our friends learn to love this series as much as we do. (hide spoiler)]

"Glass Cannon" Author's Note: ah, yes, completely agree. (view spoiler)[Maybe someday they'll show up on his Patreon? (hide spoiler)]

"Gamer's End": (view spoiler)[I was confused by the timeline for this story as well. My best guess was that it takes place after the end of RG, when Jedao has been recruited by Mikodez to design ethics curriculum for the Shuos. Considering that the story was published before any of the novels, it may also be a slight AU? (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

"Gamer's End" - (view spoiler)[ I was also thinking AU, but I couldn't figure out what it was really supposed to be. I didn't think of the other option tho! That it's moth-Jedao. Considering Jedao Two doesn't remember anything after Shuos Academy. I think I'll go with AU :D (hide spoiler)]

"Glass Cannon" author's note - That would be sweet! ^_^

[Kaa]

Anna wrote: ""Gamer's End" - [spoilers removed]"

Doesn't Jedao (view spoiler)[basically even describe this AU at some point in the books? Like, "in another universe, I would have been an instructor" (hide spoiler)]?

[Anna]

Hmm, you could be right. I'm shocked to say this, but I don't remember! :o

[Kaa]

Oh no, must be time for another re-read!

[Anna]

Indeed! :D

[Anna]

I finished my audio reread while prepping cabbage, green onions, etc. and eating a delicious rice dish.

"Glass Cannon" - (view spoiler)[ As always, my favorite things are the little jokes and other funny things. A kettle of foxes, Kujen dancing, Jedao the kitten, Hemiola! And Cheris calmly mentioning that maybe Kujen isn't dead?! Bring Kujen back! Let the next trilogy be the adventures of (moth-)Kujen, Mikodez and moth-Jedao! Cheris can bake pastries for them when Kujen gets bored of flatbreads. And Hemiola will plan parties where Kujen will perform magnificent dance numbers. Zehun will play with their kitties, and sometimes zoom away to visit their grandkids. They will all be a lovely poly-family, and make sure that Mikodez occasionally eats a vegetable. This is the state of the Hexarchate in my head <3 (hide spoiler)]

[Silvana]

Coming late, I plan to start today.

The whole collection seem to be in a huge Kindle discount except for this one. I have all the trilogy books in print and Kindle so I can lend to people and induct them to the Jedao fanclub.

[Silvana]

39%
Reading the comment on 'Gloves'
As well as the chronology, I don't remember
(view spoiler)[Jedao was raped once. Was it a big deal in the trilogy? I am in a sore need of a reread, I guess. (hide spoiler)]

And boy that chapter... *fans self*

[Anna]

Silvana, yes. (view spoiler)[ It was very traumatic for Jedao. Mikodez even surgically altered someone to look like Khiaz to freak him out in book one. So what I'm thinking is that this story takes place before the rape, Khiaz is making sure this is Jedao's kink, so she can make full use of it in public.

https://machineries-of-empire.fandom.... (hide spoiler)]

[Silvana]

Thanks, Anna!

I only have Glass Cannon to read now. Can't wait since this is after RG.

Loving the flash fics, including POVs from the family members. I too think the Calendrical Rot would not be helpful as a prologue.

YHL seems to be have an eclectic taste based on their author notes.

[Silvana]

Thanks, Anna!

I only have Glass Cannon to read now. Can't wait since this is after RG.

Loving the flash fics, including POVs from the family members. I too think the Calendrical Rot would not be helpful as a prologue.

YHL seems to be have an eclectic taste based on their author notes.

[Silvana]

I want to cry. Oh man this collection is so good. My only critic is probably that I need more??!

On Gamer's End
(view spoiler)[I don't think it's AU. It could be happening any time between Mikodez' ascension to the events in Ninefox. I mean, why not? He was anchored several times by Kujen so it did not mean he was not out doing other jobs when needed.

In his last author note, Lee said he was talked out of writing an AU story by his husband.....Of course it does not mean he never wrote one before, but still.... (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

Yes but, (view spoiler)[ I got the impression that the instructor looked like Jedao, which I guess would be possible now that I'm writing this. I previously only thought about the fact that if it looked like him then it had to be before he died. But obviously not, since they can alter anyone's appearance, so it could've been an anchor. I can see Shuos Academy pulling Jedao out of the Black Cradle to scare the crap out of students! (hide spoiler)]

And yes, I most definitely need more!

[Silvana]

These people were so weird and insane and had..... hobbies? Maybe I am obsessed with their stories - not just the space action and political machinations - because their favorite past times and interests (pets, furnitures, candies, whatever) make them relatable? At this point I want to read whoever doing whatever whenever.

Ok stop gushing. Um, I am just happy as well that (view spoiler)[we (kind of) got Jedao One back. I mean, Jedao Two was an interesting wreck - he reminded me with the monsters in Full Metal Alchemist - but noone could beat Jedao One. (hide spoiler)]

On Jedao and Cheris, have you seen this pic https://twitter.com/motomaratai/statu...

(view spoiler)[
I am loving their relationship and awfully glad that an alpha reader made Lee dropping the initial plan of them having some kind of sexual tensions. (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

Eww, that would've been so wrong!

[Ariana]

Anna wrote: "Eww, that would've been so wrong!"

Oh, ick, totally agree.

I finished this a few days ago, and I wasn't really into the flash fic. They were just too short and ended up feeling unsatisfying for me. Not bad, or anything, just not really my jam. The longer stories and the novella were great, though, and it was so great to be back in this world. It definitely made me want to reread the series, especially the second two which I've only read once. They're were lots of times during Glass Cannon where I wished I had Revenant Gun more fresh in my mind.

[Anna]

Yoon Ha Lee just posted on Patreon:

"I've completed "Ninefox March," an Eastern-tinged orchestral theme for my book Ninefox Gambit."

You can listen even if you aren't a patron :)

[Silvana]

Anna wrote: "Yoon Ha Lee just posted on Patreon:

"I've completed "Ninefox March," an Eastern-tinged orchestral theme for my book Ninefox Gambit."

You can listen even if you aren't a patron :)"

OMG thanks so much! this sounds like a good wake up tune.

[Silvana]

Btw, I read the above comments and completely forgot I wrote some of them before I looked at the avatar and username LOL. Maybe next year I need to reread the whole sequence.

[Anna]

I wish I could read the series for the second time! I think that was my best run? I will eventually reread it someday, but now is too soon.

[Silvana]

Did you do a straight marathon from book 1 to hexarchate stories?

[Anna]

I think so? I could check, but I'm pretty sure I read it like this:


Ninefox, Extracurricular
Ninefox, Extracurricular, Raven
Ninefox, Extracurricular, Raven, Revenant
Ninefox, Raven, Revenant, Stories

XD

[Silvana]

OK I am using the app but let's pretend.... *insert LMAO gif*

[Anna]

AI-generated hexarchate text

This is probably going to be the highlight of August for me! I've only read the first line (of the link behind the link), and I'm already gasping in amusement :D

Of the two YHL included in the intro, I am very much into "Jedao stopped and considered the effect Kujen's new smile would have on Jedao's face." <3

edit: lol, it only gets better! :D

"Yes," Jedao said. "I was already so focused on the fucking business of sleeping that I forgot how much I cared about cats."

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

LOL

[Anna]

I didn't know it was possible, but I think I might love AI-generated Jedao even more than the original :)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Hush you! You only like him because his likelihood of mentioning spring onion pancakes has gone up like 200%

[Anna]

lol, there were zero mentions of green onions on that page! It's an outrage!

(Incidentally, I just bought spring/green onions, I'll make pancakes/flatbread tomorrow ^_^ )

[Anna]

"I was already so focused on the fucking business of sleeping that I forgot how much I cared about green onions."

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

You do your Malaysian...roots? History? proud.

Fuck. Now *I* want green onion pancakes!

[Anna]

I'll load up a scoutmoth and send some your way!

All units, banner the Deuce of Green Onions!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

frisson of excitement AND salivating! a very unfortunate combo!

[Lowell]

Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear.

[Anna]

Ninefox Gambit TTRPG coming in 2023:

https://twitter.com/press_android/sta...

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

*flails*

[Lowell]

... checks wallet....

welp.... here's hoping it's just a normal publish/preorder and not a kickstarter on which I will blow *even more money* .....

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

An excellent and very good addendum.