Beyond Reality discussion

Post here with your thoughts about A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine - spoilers ahead!

I think this novel deserved to win its Hugo. The world building is terrific, giving us the highly erudite and urbane Teixcalaanli Empire in contrast with the more practically minded Lsel Station. I am sometimes impatient with stories that hold back key information from the protagonist but, in this case, the damaged implant provides a believable excuse. The nuanced politics and loyalties make this book entertaining from start to finish.

I read this in a different book group a few months ago, and we had a long discussion about whether we would want an implant. Clearly there are benefits to be had from the knowledge and experiences of a previous host. But there seem to be some risks, too, if the implant becomes too dominant.

My Teixcalaanli name is Nine Codex. What's yours? Here are the rules: https://www.torforgeblog.com/2020/02/....

Following. I agree with Chris; it completely deserved its win. I feel like it was one of the most innovative books (and consistent) that I've read in a long time.

I read this last year and enjoyed it. I look forward to the discussion.

I think I am “Eight Knife”

Did anyone else think that the use of the unique naming system obscured the gender of the characters? I found that it was a plus not remembering/knowing the gender of the characters when they were simply referred to by their Tleixcalaani name.

I agree with Chris about it earning its Hugo. And MadProfessah, I loved that the naming system obscured gender, and that sexual preference was just not noteworthy in any way.

I admit that I felt that Mahit trusted Three Seagrass and Twelve Azalea a little too readily, and I was a bit disappointed that Nineteen Adze wasn't more treacherous. Not sure why.

Did anybody read up on the origins of the Tleixcalaani language?

Good to hear that it was not just me that thought this was a strong feature of the book (Tleixcalaani naming algorithm obscuring gender and thus sexual orientation).

I didn't find it a strong feature - in most cases, characters were described as men or women. Pronouns also indicated gender. Names not being gendered is different from most cultural naming conventions, and that's fine, but I didn't find it particularly noteworthy. The naming conventions are noteworthy for other reasons, such as the sort of "feeling" that the number imparted to the person, and the connection with a common noun.

I admit that I was charmed by the Teixcalaani practice of having political discourse via poetry. It reminded me of my favorite Star Trek: NG episode, 'Darmok,' where the aliens speak only in metaphor, which eludes the universal translator.

Overall, maybe the worst recent Hugo winner.
The novel has everything I like - space empires, court intrigue, great characters, and yet I was not able to get immersed.

It seems that the author has not mastered the art of the info-dump, so any expositions did not seem natural. I don't mind being lectured on the world, as long as it's being done artfully (i.e. Neal Stephenson). I don't mind either being dumped in medias res, and having to rely on my questionable wits to get the environment (i.e. Hannu Rajaniemi). However, this has some middle-of-the-road approach, that did not work for me.

Also, I think the most annoying thing was the naming - too many too long words, that after a while I stopped even reading and were getting from context. And emperor One Direction fighting it out with general Six Flags did not help the matter at all. I mean, I get it, it was supposed to show a different and strange culture, with (to us) weird customs. But it might have been too weird for my taste - it distracted me from the plot and the action.

However, once I was able to get somewhat immersed, the plot is great and while medium-paced, full of action and consequence. The ending is particularly apt and nicely executed.

Chiming in several months late, because I had to wait months for the library loan to come through. I just loved this. I agree with the statements above that I appreciate the lack of importance attached to gender or sexual orientation. I thought the contrast between the Lsel and Teixcaanli cultures was well-drawn, beyond the obvious surface cultural differences - from the difference in how they smile to their attitudes towards the idea of neurological modification. I had trouble following the political intrigues at first, but once I got used to the world I got sucked in.

I will definitely be reading the sequel when it is published!