A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
When ambassador Mahit Dzmare from the little but fiercely independent mining Station arrives in the heart of the multi-system Teixcalaanli Empire, she learns that her predecessor, the previous envoy, has passed away. However, no one will acknowledge that his death was not an accident or that Mahit could be the next to pass away, especially at a time when politics are tumultuous at the imperial court’s topmost echelons.
Mahit now has to figure out who is responsible for the murder, free herself, and protect her Station from Teixcalaan’s unrelenting expansion—all while navigating an alien culture that is all too alluring, getting involved in her own intrigues, and concealing a deadly technological secret that could either lead to the destruction of her Station and her way of life or save it.
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
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This fascinating adult science fiction book called A Memory Called Empire has a lot to say about language and society. The story revolves around a woman named Mahit who resides in Lsel Station but has always had a fascination with Teixcalaan. When the final Lsel ambassador inexplicably passes away and they seek a replacement, she finally has the chance to travel.
When she gets there, she starts looking into what happened to the last ambassador, Yskandr, right away. She does not believe that it was an accident, despite what everyone else says.
In addition to this, Teixcalaan may be going through one of its most unstable periods ever, forcing Mahit to not only wrap up a murder investigation but also defend her home and herself from a potential Teixcalaan expansion.
The world-building and how well done it was were two of the aspects that stood out to me the most when reading this. This is set on a planet that differs greatly from our own in a number of respects, including how evolved their means of sustenance and reproduction are. Observing how these developments have impacted this world was incredibly fascinating.
Although politics play a significant role in the plot, they are not the only element. As I indicated earlier, Yskandr is dead, and the question of whether he died naturally or was murdered—and if so, by whom and for what reasons—is at the centre of a murder mystery. I was really into this since I love a good murder mystery plotline, and I thought it was handled pretty nicely. It didn’t seem to detract from the plot in any way; rather, it served as an addition to it…
