It is a far-future, science fiction epic revolving around the Teixcalaanli, a civilisation that fuses cyberpunk technology (though with a proscription against brain implants) and Aztec and Mongol cultural influences.Īs is always handy when introducing an alien new culture, our POV character is herself an outsider. Mahit's mission is complicated by a malfunctioning implant containing the memories of her predecessor (fifteen years out of date) and by an internal web of politics within the Empire which threatens to undermine Lsel's position.whilst factions on Lsel itself are interfering with her work from afar.Ī Memory Called Empire is the debut novel by Arkady Martine and the first part of a loosely-connected duology (a second book, A Desolation Called Peace, will be published in early 2021). The previous ambassador has gone silent under unusual circumstances and Mahit's job is to find out what happened to him and why he failed to return home for fifteen years prior and how he has maintained Lsel's independence. Mahit Dzmare has been appointed as the new ambassador from Lsel Station to the homeworld of the vast Teixcalaanli Empire. 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 ! 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.Ī fascinating space opera debut novel, Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire is an interstellar mystery adventure. 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.

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. ' A Memory Called Empire perfectly balances action and intrigue with matters of empire and identity. 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

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