A Memory Called Empire, by Arkady Martine

[mrissa]

Review copy provided by the author, who is a personal friend.

Arkady Martine has a lot to say about empires. Luckily for
the reader, she's very clear on the difference between an academic monograph--that's
her alter ego's job--and a space opera. A Memory Called Empire is full of
bombs, spaceships, intrigue, poisons, and neurological devices. It is also full
of thoughts about empire and its periphery, of how systems eat people and how
those people can resist--before death, and beyond it with their influence.

It's fun. It's thoughtful and action-packed and well-balanced, and there are friendships (with more than one outcome and more than one focus!) as well as a flirtation. The main character, Mahit Dzmare, is poised at exactly the line between knowledgeable and lost that's so much fun to read as she navigates a tense and dangerous diplomatic situation that's fascinating not only to her but to me. I easily tuned out hours of airport with this book. I love its barbarians and am fascinated by its empire.

Comments

[anne]

:whimper: I forgot it was out this week. The wages of procrastination is not getting to read it immediately.

[themagdalen]

This review makes me want to buy this book.

[cjsmith]

Same! I’m very intrigued now.

[mrissa]

Good, that is what I wanted.

[larryhammer]

Sounds tasty.