Review: A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
Published by Tor Publishing on March 26, 2019
ISBN: 9781250186454
Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Space Opera, Action & Adventure
Pages: 320
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
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A Library Journal Best Book of 2019A Guardian Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Book of 2019 and “Not the Booker Prize” NomineeAn NPR Favorite Book of 2019A Polygon Best Book of 2019A Den of Geek Best Book of 2019A Goodreads Biggest SFF Book of 2019 and Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee"A Memory Called Empire perfectly balances action and intrigue with matters of empire and identity. All around brilliant space opera, I absolutely love it."—Ann Leckie, author of Ancillary JusticeAmbassador 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.
A fascinating space opera debut novel, Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire is an interstellar mystery adventure."The most thrilling ride ever. This book has everything I love."—Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

A Memory Called Empire is by far the cleverest and poignant debut I have had the pleasure of reading.  It’s the type of read that leaves you trying to find the remnants of your scrambled brain.  Your senses are scattered, the books only made it through by the skin of its teeth – you gripped it so hard, it’s in danger of being strangled! In order to love a book, you need something that speaks straight to your heart, it drew out unbreakable connections, the electricity snapping between us.  The book feels like a breathing entity, it knows how you tick, how you operate and moulds itself into everything you want, right when you need it.

This is not the kind of book that you can read a few chapters of here and there.  Your attention will be rapt and to fight against it is a futile struggle.  Space.  A murder mystery.  Awesome brain modifications.  Political action.  Galactic relationships.  Prose that was like liquid gold, smooth and valuable.

Arkady Martine is an author that is at one with her story.  She has brought it to life with such a glorious 4k dimension to it.  She has found the secret formula for crafting the perfect Science Fiction and then improving it beyond the realms that anyone thought was possible.  My brain wanted to explode- I felt my brain trying to find the smallest crack in my skull.  It was expanding, my imagination expanding like the universe.  The sublime prose brought the world-building to life.  I was living it.  I was loving it! 

Mahit Dzmare is the newly appointed Ambassador within the Teixcalaanli Empire.  Her arrival has ensconced her in intrigue and layer upon layer of deceit.  It should have been a straight forward take over, however, her implant should have made everything plain sailing.  It should have gave her all the political and cultural insight she needed but Yksander didn’t acclimatise to Mahit’s system correctly.  One small problem, the technology has been hidden and developed away from the Teixalaanli prying eyes.  Without it, just how will she be able to navigate the extremely murky waters of the political unrest that is on the cusp of blowing. 

So much of who we are is what we remember and retell.

Our protagonist has to find ways push forward and deal with the implications and the unrest of civil war and rebellion.  The discourse between military, communities and empirical governance play a dramatic role in this space opera.  The setting, the opening chapter, the creeping shadow of desolation and me invested immediately.  Forget toilet, rest and food breaks…I couldn’t attend to these basic needs until I closed the final page.  This is wholeheartedly a race-to-the-finish Sci-Fi masterpiece. 

The author has created a perfect cadence of a highly addictive plot that has a plot that punches in you in the throat and leaves you gasping for air.  The characters show unbreakable strength and resilience with a hunger to change. 

A Memory Called Empire is something entirely new and exciting.  The prose deals in laser precision and hits the target every time.  It just completely rolls off the pages.  This book has irrevocably strengthened the science fiction genre.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Arkady Martine is a speculative fiction writer and, as Dr. AnnaLinden Weller, a historian of the Byzantine Empire and a city planner. She is currently a policy advisor for the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department, where she works on climate change mitigation, energy grid modernization, and resiliency planning. Under both her names she writes about border politics, rhetoric, propaganda, and the edges of the world. Arkady grew up in New York City and, after some time in Turkey, Canada, Sweden, and Baltimore, lives in Santa Fe with her wife, the author Vivian Shaw. Find her online at arkadymartine.net or on Twitter as @ArkadyMartine.

Arkady Martine