Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy read for A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine starting on February 3, 2024.


Happy Reading!

I said I wouldn't do a re-read... but watch me... I probably will :)

LOL I really want to try and cram in a first read... Is this a done duology, or are more books expected later?

1. A Memory Called Empire (Feb 3)
2. A Desolation Called Peace (March 3) [link]

audio: no global subscription/library copies available.
ebook: Both are on KU

I don't know... I haven't read #2... but I think it's a larger series... but the author is relatively new and quiet about what they're working on, I think?...

EDIT: never mind, I found an answer on reddit... #2 is an ending to the character/storyline from #1, but the author hopes to write more in the setting in the future, about different characters... novella and book plans exist...

Shiny, thank you for that!

Thanks, Yanique! :)

Ohh boy, I hope I can finally read this!

Was thinking of joining this as a re-read, despite what I said in the planning thread initially... now I'm not sure, as I'm super overbooked in February...

I’m in on this one. Already got it from the library.

trying to be better about commenting on all the threads I plan to participate in (new series / standalones, at least... ignoring continuations, for the most part)...

One of my friends gave me his old copy, and he described this book as "very enjoyable considering nothing happened." Not exactly sure what to make of that review, but I'll keep an open mind. :)

Jenna wrote: "One of my friends gave me his old copy, and he described this book as "very enjoyable considering nothing happened." Not exactly sure what to make of that review, but I'll keep an open mind. :)"

LOL that sounds like my kind of book actually...

Are there plans to read the next in the series as well?

RachelG. wrote: "Are there plans to read the next in the series as well?"

We don't have a date yet, but I already have the second book, so I am planning to continue!

I’m a couple of pages in and I’m really fascinated by the idea of the imagos. Like, I think about all the implications that technology would have in terms of how society would approach learning, and what would innovation look like if you were constantly being fed other people’s knowledge? Would it squash creativity? Would it squash social progress?

I mean, just think what it would mean for our society if everyone was getting mainlined with the knowledge, worldview and perspectives of decades ago. It would be huge.

I’m about 20% in. I love the initial set up. The technology sounds fascinating. But something about the character interactions just isn’t holding my attention. It’s an ok book but I can def put it down and go to bed at any time. I’m hoping things get moving a bit more soon.

Jenna wrote: "RachelG. wrote: "Are there plans to read the next in the series as well?"

We don't have a date yet, but I already have the second book, so I am planning to continue!"

I'd say schedule it... whole reason I'm here (for a 3rd or 4th time) is to finally read the sequel...

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "I’m about 20% in. I love the initial set up. The technology sounds fascinating. But something about the character interactions just isn’t holding my attention. It’s an ok book but I can def put it ..."

Maybe that's why re-reading has never quite gotten me to book 2 solo?... it's not a really big commitment to read 2 medium-sized books...

Timelord Iain wrote: "I'd say schedule it... whole reason I'm here (for a 3rd or 4th time) is to finally read the sequel..."

Any timeline that works for you (and anyone else continuing)?

March 3rd?... it's my birthday ;)

We can do later if that's too soon... I just assume monthly for most things...

I am good with any date. I already put the second on hold at the library.

In Chapter 4 I feel like I missed something: (view spoiler)[ Is there a significance to being sunstruck? Three Seagrass wanted to take Mahit to a temple but I don't understand what happened. (hide spoiler)]

So far I am enjoying the story. Very interesting with all the political goings on

Chapter 2... I forgot alot about this, but it's slowly coming back as I listen...

Busted out laughing at 36 ATTV tho :D

I'm enjoying my re-read, but don't have much to say...

Through Chapter 11: (view spoiler)[this is basically an amnesia mystery / politics hybrid, except it's sci-fi amnesia, since the MC doesn't have the implanted knowledge she expected to have, and that was after being hampered by the 15 year knowledge gap from the start of the book...

She's pretty much setup to fail, by her faction's leaders, and thrown to the wolves, and we watch her stumble her way through Empire society... and be a bit more trusting than seems prudent, with her closest helpers... but everything seems to work out neatly for her in the end, which is a bit convenient... (hide spoiler)]

I’m about 70% though. I’ve started listening to it on 2.2x speed instead of my usual 1.75x. I’m just so bored. This is a good book if you like politics, space tech, more politics, strange names, even more politics, and the action equivalent of a dry textbook. This is def not the book for me but I’m this far through and I might as well finish it.

Yea... it kinda reminds me of The Goblin Emperor or The Traitor Baru Cormorant...

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "I’m about 70% though. I’ve started listening to it on 2.2x speed instead of my usual 1.75x. I’m just so bored. This is a good book if you like politics, space tech, more politics, strange names, ev..."

The dreaded Hurry Up listening speed... I hear ya... I've done that a few times...

I was listening to the Cycle of Galand at 3.25-3.5x speed towards the end of that trainwreck of a series... and did something similar with this standalone vampire story on Hoopla with Charlie & Siobhan a few years ago... can't remember the name of it, but town was being terrorized by vampires living in an underwater cave, when the nearby grain mill used up too much lake water and exposed the entrance to air...

I’m done! So it picked up at the end, but by then I just didn’t care. I couldn’t connect with the characters. It didn’t help that the weird names made me forget who was who. Guess this one wasn’t for me.

Timelord Iain wrote: "Yea... it kinda reminds me of The Goblin Emperor
Wow, no. What is similar between this book and The Goblin Emperor? I guess they both have politics to some extent, but there was nothing BUT politics in TGE.

Running late but planning on being here... gonna eye-read this one and still have 300pages left in current one, so maybe Friday if I'm lucky...

This book was on my TBR list for awhile. Since it was on the schedule here I decided to check it off my list. I'm kind of bored with it. I might have to listen at a faster speed. I liked the initial set up, but it can be hard to follow sometimes. I could be on a post Expanse high though. I'm really liking that series and it is distracting when I re-hash those books in my head.

Sometimes I think I only enjoy/endure through some books because I can read them so fast, at 3x listening speed... means a normal 9-12hr book is only 3-4hrs + any breaks I take... and 24-36hr tomes are only 8-12hrs, which makes them more manageable, even if they take up most of a day...

Kayzo wrote: "This book was on my TBR list for awhile. Since it was on the schedule here I decided to check it off my list. I'm kind of bored with it. I might have to listen at a faster speed. I liked the initia..."

It’s def not as exciting as The Expanse lol

It ramps up... but it's definitely, largely, a story going on AROUND the main characters, and they intersect with it a few times, to great effect...

I am taking this one slowly and reading other books in between. I so far have enjoyed it but am only on Chapter 9...

Everyone has their process... I dunno how people read 5-10 books at the same time, for weeks on end, and follow everything... but, my process is generally to read 1 book at a time, and occasionally pause and read another, if I'm not 100% in the mood, or want to read a certain book at home only, and do something simpler at work/etc...

RachelG. wrote: "I am taking this one slowly and reading other books in between. I so far have enjoyed it but am only on Chapter 9..."

I also have been taking it slow, and I haven't read enough to really add to discussion yet.

Timelord Iain wrote: "Everyone has their process... I dunno how people read 5-10 books at the same time, for weeks on end, and follow everything... but, my process is generally to read 1 book at a time, and occasionally..."

I usually have 3 books on the go at the same time - one print, one ebook, and one audiobook. Sometimes 4 if I have two print books on the go from different genres.

All I gotta say is: Desolation Called Peace is HAPPENING... I'm not reading this a 4th time next year, in an attempt to read that...

Timelord Iain wrote: "All I gotta say is: Desolation Called Peace is HAPPENING... I'm not reading this a 4th time next year, in an attempt to read that..."

Haha yes, even if I don't end up particularly liking the first one, I'm in for the second one.

I’m currently having a very silly issue where every time I hear the name of the emperor, I’m thrown totally out of the story and have to fight down the mental image of a boy band in sci-if, Star Trek-esque clothing.

Emperor Six Direction is a regal name ;)

I mean... it's no General Richard/Dick Fuchs, from The House Witch...

I was really enjoying the book up until Chapter 16. (view spoiler)[I kept thinking about the importance of self and how the imago relates to people being an individual but I don't like the turn in the story now that Yskandr is back sharing memories with Mahit. (hide spoiler)]

Ughhhhh I tried the audio again and still really hate the narrator... Will try to eye read again here soon....

I was nervous with Chapter 16 but it got back on track for me in Chapter 17.

End of book thoughts: I enjoyed the story because of the characters. Especially Mahit's friends. I would be interested in reading the next one.

yeah there was no way I could pay attention to the awful narration by itself, but pairing it with my hard copy has helped... Through Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ Enjoying the super Scifi setting! Trying to picture the city in my mind has been fun. I appreciate the details about the culture, how the naming works, how Three Seagrass was giving a guided tour in accompaniment with a poem! Very much reminded me of Imperial Radch honestly lol
The Imago is interesting if not totally unique in concept.. I'm thinking of On a Red Station, Drifting and Scalzi's Interdependency... I'm sure there are others. But I do like the concept and I'm sure she'll get back into contact with her Yksander... (hide spoiler)]

Finished my other eyebooks faster than i was expecting so am excited to finally start this today!!

Tonari no Emily wrote: "yeah there was no way I could pay attention to the awful narration by itself, but pairing it with my hard copy has helped... Through Chapter 1 Enjoying the super Scifi setting! Trying to picture t..."

Just started and through Chapter 1 myself--also loving the SF setting, and getting definite Goblin Emperor vibes too, fish out of water in court. (view spoiler)[I love the cultural setting and getting definite East Asian (especially Japanese, though it could count for Chinese and maybe Korean as easily as well) vibes--the varying levels of "you" for different people depending on your relationship, bowing, robes with wide sleeves--the fact that stationers like Mahir are taller than Teixicalaani is both a nod to growing up in low-g and can also be a call back to how Europeans are often taller than Japanese... the strict immigration rules make me think of Dejima in Japanese history, though that was much much stricter...

I also really like the idea of the imago, especially since it takes it as far as actually integrating the memories into the new person's personality, and becoming one--makes me think of Alia in Dune, actually... or Bran in ASoIaF... Penric & Desdemona, more fantasy tropes than SF... and the idea that she might come face-to-face with the real Yskandr feels disorienting to me as reader, but is normal for Mahir...

And I like starting off on a mystery--not only what happened to Yskandr, but why? And then that ominous ending to the Prelude... another, bigger empire coming in conflict... (hide spoiler)]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Chapter 2... I forgot alot about this, but it's slowly coming back as I listen...

Busted out laughing at 36 ATTV tho :D"

Through Chapter 2. 36 ATTV! Hah! That was pretty funny--and actually, again, making me think of (view spoiler)[Japanese and Chinese names--especially Japanese... with the combination of kanji and readings, you can pack a lot of double meaning into a name, and the government recently is considering (not sure if it passed) a law which would limit kanji name readings to common ones and reduce made-up ones...

The whole poetry cipher thing and the Imperial Exams are also making me think of Japan and China--the Chinese Imperial Exams were largely being able to quote classics from memory, and in Heian Era Japan, poetry games and were the highest form of art... wouldn't be surprised if there were similar ciphers back then.

I wasn't entirely surprised--but very curious--to discover that the Empire doesn't know about the Imago... when it was first introduced I was guessing it might be a secret... but how would the Stations keep it so, when it seems such a normal part of life? My immediate answer was ah, imperial arrogance--they probably don't bother to study other cultures... I wonder if they even send ambassadors to the stations at all. When Mahir saw the corpse in Chapter 1, and thought on how the only version of Yskandr was now in her memory... that was an interesting view... and just the idea that people REALLY live on in imago, in memory... (hide spoiler)]

The story, and cultural information, is actually reminding me a lot of the Foreigner series--I would be very curious if anyone reading this book now (or having read it) joins us for the BR next month...

Lol the 36 ATTV was hilarious... the naming convention in general is super fascinating... i wonder if anyone entirely rejects the culture and names their kid something like "Todd" 😂
Although im gathering the stick it to the man move would be something more like 36 ATTV

Through chapter 4, im super into this right now! (view spoiler)[ i was also noting the nods to East Asian culture, I always like a non European/American imagining. I tjink Lsel was able to keep Imago more of a secret because it seems like theres a lot of barrier to travel between the civilizations... Talk of bans of Empire ideals and cultures, all the travel to Station Space requires the Ambassador approval.. It is hard to think how an adbanced space-faring age could be too isolationist though. Id imagine theres a lot more black market exchange in information and goods...

Okay but I was NOT expecting a frickin bomb though! A lot more overt action... Loving how Mahit is handling her situation though. I also like Three Seagrass's personalilty coming to life.. i thought she would have been more stuffy... I hope shes okay. Also gonna say that her accidental shock wasnt so accidental...
Excited to find out more! (hide spoiler)]