A debut novel of grand scope and elegant complexity, Arkady Martine’s A Memory Called Empire is an immersive, slow-burning space opera weaving themes of cultural identity, legacy, memory and linguistics into a tight story of courtly intrigue. Growing up on the remote Lsel Station, Mahit Dzmare always dreamed of visiting the vast, sophisticated Teixcalaani Empire, but when she finds herself sent to Teixcalaan as Lsel’s new ambassador she’s thrown into imperial politics at a uniquely dangerous moment. Tensions in the empire are high, the future of Lsel’s autonomy from Teixcalaan is at stake, and Mahit’s predecessor is dead – likely murdered. At risk, with no allies and carrying – in secret – a dangerous, but malfunctioning technology, Mahit must adapt quickly if she wants to survive and thrive in the empire.
Mahit’s overarching task is to find ways to save her own culture from being absorbed by the empire, but the one advantage she should have – the stored memories of her predecessor, accessed via neural technology – has failed, and for all her studies and shared humanity, to Teixcalaanli natives she will always be seen as an alien…a course barbarian at odds with civilisation. In an inspired piece of world building, Teixcalaanli politics is shaped by literature, poetry and melodrama, which for Mahit means constantly adjusting to think in a complex, stylised second language built around literary and poetic allusions. It’s a brilliant concept which beautifully represents the inevitable culture clash, that sense of being alien and isolated, looking from the outside in at a dangerous new world.
It’s a fish-out-of-water story and a tense mystery at the same time, set to the backdrop of a grand sweep of space and the tension between an expansionist and ever-hungry empire, and a tiny but fiercely independent colony. Instantly engaging and relatable, Mahit has a frank, self-aware tone of voice with an edge of dry humour, especially with her occasional mental passenger. She has idolised the empire from afar her whole life, but is now having to quickly learn its realities; isolated and alone, she needs friends, or at least allies, but doesn’t know who to trust. Driven and determined, she grows in confidence throughout the book, forming unexpected bonds and refusing to be overawed by everything that’s happening to and around her.
She’s constantly at risk, with occasional instances of overt peril – as simmering tension boils over and rival factions within the empire move from propaganda through to outright violence – interspersed with quiet moments where she recognises how out of her depth she is surrounded by people who have been playing these political (and linguistic) games their entire lives. Hers is a perfect viewpoint on the empire, its culture, nature and dangers – in her eyes the people of the empire are alien, but she’s just as strange to them. In their own ways both cultures are founded on concepts of heritage, lineage and preservation, deeply affected by the weight of history and the desire for the future to be safe and stable – just interpreted in different ways.
Even for space opera this is ambitious, exploring a rich and vibrant setting via intrigue, mystery and a thought-provoking clash of cultures. It’s a beautifully written and constructed story, which starts off slow and eases through the gears, and while the linguistic complexities sometimes require a fair bit of thought to fully (or even vaguely) process, the effort is richly rewarded. Think of them like the science in a hard sci-fi story, adding texture and veracity even if you don’t quite understand everything, and they never overshadow the momentum of the story or its emotional heft. Overall it’s a powerful story with a brilliant protagonist, which draws you in, immerses you in a compelling world and an intense moment, and leaves you feeling bruised but somehow uplifted.
Many thanks to Tor UK and Arkady Martine for an advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Click this link to buy A Memory Called Empire (or here for the audiobook version).