A Memory Called Empire

by

Hardcover, 464 pages

Published March 26, 2019 by Tor Books.

ISBN:
978-1-250-18643-0
Copied ISBN!
OCLC Number:
1031915717

View on OpenLibrary

(4 reviews)

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.

9 editions

reviewed A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

enjoyable + carried by exceptional worldbuilding

a fun read with beautiful, full worldbuilding and compelling politicking, and plenty of space opera to keep you from putting it down. for me, I didn't find it very striking as a plot or character book, though there's plenty of both, and didn't get much out of it as an ideas book (compared to other SF I've read that plays with self, empire, and language) that said, I do love books that know how to interact with language! linguist-me was left satisfied!

reviewed A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine (Teixcalaan, #1)

Review of 'A Memory Called Empire' on 'Goodreads'

On of the best sci-fi novels I've read in some time. Accomplishes the stellar feat of making a story which takes part almost entirely within a single city feel like it has galaxy spanning consequences. Reads as much like medieval court intrigue as it does full on space opera, and is all the better for it.

The last big space opera I read was Saga of the Seven Suns, and while that is a huge story full of fantastic imagination, I enjoyed the writing style of this novel so much more.

Can't wait to read the followup, and hopefully many more to come. Bravo.

reviewed A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

An absolute joy

I'm so pleased with A Memory Called Empire. It's rare to have a pairing of both a really rich, engrossing world and characters that I cared about so much. It felt like not a decision or phrasing was done without careful consideration. I could feel the pull Mahit felt between her home and the empire, and her exhaustion as the book stretched on. An absolute force and I can't wait to read the next one.

avatar for suddzzjr@bookwyrm.social

rated it

Lists