Science Fiction & Fantasy Award Winning Book Group discussion

Welcome to this month's discussion of A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. This novel won the 2020 Hugo Award and was nominated for several more awards. The sequel A Desolation Called Peace won the 2022 Hugo award and we'll read that one in March.

Other novels on the 2020 Hugo shortlist include The City in the Middle of the Night, Gideon the Ninth, The Light Brigade, Middlegame and The Ten Thousand Doors of January.

I've read three off of the shortlist and The Light Brigade is easily my favorite.

This is so different from last month's read! As soon as you open the first page it's all jumpships and wormholes. :D

I must have missed the notification of what we are reading - maybe while I was trying to rebook my canceled SW flight? Anyway, I'll just be starting.

I'm really enjoying this one. It's such a well-structure political thriller and I like all the main characters, as well.

I am only about a third of the way in. When I started, I was so lost and afraid that with all the unpronounceable names and new words that I was going to have a hard time. But I now realize it is intentional to let you feel as lost and alone as Mahit. I like the characters and the politics as well.

Deb, sorry to hear that you got stuck in that SW fiasco! Luckily we didn't do any traveling this holiday season.

Nick wrote: I'm really enjoying this one. It's such a well-structure political thriller ...

I originally read this a couple of years ago and I forgot that one of the threads in the story is a murder mystery. We've read a couple of those recently.

Deb wrote: When I started, I was so lost and afraid that with all the unpronounceable names and new words that I was going to have a hard time.

I'm enjoying this much more the second time around and I think this is why. I think I've mentioned before that sometimes I have problems following along if there are too many characters and/or the names are difficult to separate. So much easier this second time which allows me to follow along and enjoy the story.

I should finish tonight or tomorrow. Looking forward to reading the sequel in March.

Everything is complicated in this book - the names, the politics, the intrigue, the titles. But if you stick with it, the worldbuilding is amazing. The author does a great job of making you feel like you don't belong, don't understand the language well enough, don't understand the culture enough, and are far from home in unfamiliar circumstances. Who to trust and who to avoid? There is a lot going on. This book has a great plot, great names - Twelve Azaelia - and an appropriate ending (with twists and turns along the way.) Looking forward to sequel.

What are we reading in February? I didn't see anything listed. Am I missing it?

No you haven't missed anything, I'm just running behind getting things up! I'll post something today.

I also really liked the naming convention, and I'm glad that the names were translated into English words. Aztec words are so instantly recognisable on paper, but I've never tried to pronounce them!

In my mind, I was pronoucing the series name "Teixcalaan" as 'texi - ka - lann' which I now realise is completely wrong since the 'i' is in the wrong place.

Deb, do you want to take a turn picking the book of the month? We just take it in turns, but 12 months divides nicely into 3 as well, if you want to do every third month?

Nick wrote: "Deb, do you want to take a turn picking the book of the month? We just take it in turns, but 12 months divides nicely into 3 as well, if you want to do every third month?"

I can do that if you would like - if that is ok with everyone. I see there is a list of TBR books. Just tell me what to do...

Yeah, I think it'll be good! If you're reading then you can pick too! I'll maek you a moderator.

Jon is doing the 2nd Teixcalaan book in March, so you do want to start from April? Like this:

April: Deb
May: Jon
June: Nick
July: Deb
August: Jon
September: Nick
etc. etc.

What do you think Jon?

Sounds good to me!

Nick, you sent me a message a long time ago that explained the process that I printed and still refer to occasionally. Maybe you can copy and paste it and send to Deb?

Nice to see that we all enjoyed this month's pick.

Nick wrote: "Yeah, I think it'll be good! If you're reading then you can pick too! I'll maek you a moderator.

Jon is doing the 2nd Teixcalaan book in March, so you do want to start from April?"

Yes, that would work. I'll try to keep up.

Done! Let me know if it doesn't make sense, Deb.

Nick wrote: "I'm really enjoying this one. It's such a well-structure political thriller and I like all the main characters, as well."

I came across an article from Tor books for Space Opera Week that is about the book. You can find it at TOR dot com under
2023/02/07/a-memory-called-empire-and-the-echoes-of-cultural-imperialism . A Memory Called Empire: Echoes of Cultural Imperialism

It talks about Imperialism, and made me think differently. I think as an American, I feel differently than someone from India or some other countries. Very interesting.

Thanks for posting the link Deb - the colonial nature of the Teixcalaan empire is an interesting aspect of the story.

The political intrigue around the colonisation was important to the plot, but Mahit Dzmare is so well-respected and accepted by her Teixcalaan acquintances that I didn't feel like the oppressive or supremicist nature of colonialism was really explored. Maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention?

Nick, I think you are right - about the colonization not being explored that much. I really wasn't even thinking of it in those terms. The sequel will be interesting.