A Memory Called Empire

Interesting premis, but slow, a drudge to read, and not nearly as smart as it thinks it is - quite the contrary. For starters, a small sovereign spacefaring nation is under constant threat of invasion/annexation by a powerful neighbor. Yet they don't even keep track of public news, to stay up to date on current politics... Secondly, why would an emissary to foreign country (particularly a potentially hostile one) have to rely on a private secretary provided by that country to even read and sent their own mail.... Running an interstellar empire by physically mailing wax-sealed usb-sticks seems...impractical... Maybe Mahit should spent more time gathering tangible facts, than trying to get to the bottom of a political intrige by interpreting poetry and facial expressions. But then again, interpreting poetry fills half the book, and most of the rest is filled with idle chatter between the three main female protagonists. IMO Chrisjen Avasrala would wiped the floor with any of them.

I really liked this! Read it cover to cover, breaking for meals. If you liked Ancillary Justice, The Goblin Emperor, & even the City of Stairs trilogy, you'll probably like this book. It has a similar sense of empathy and complexity in its world and characters, as well as a unique and intrigue-focused take on the intricacies of an intergalactic empire. Feels a bit like a spy novel. Highly recommend if you want something different, interesting, & more thoughtful than a typical "hero saves the day" story.

This is what science fiction is for! This entire book was a wonderful ride with complicated characters and a fascinating setting. Having perspective from outside of the massive galactic empire was a very nice change of pace from the normal science fiction where you see from often the tip of said empire's power. This book also excelled in the area of science ficition that is my favorite, and that is being able to ask questions and look at things without the biases we bring to real-world examples. What is it like to grow up not being a part of the all-consuming empire but still influenced by it? To love its culture and language while not being a part of it and possibly not wanting to be a part of it? How do you maintain a nation's independence from such a power you could never fight militarily and who constantly influences your culture? This book and its author do an excellent job of raising many questions and giving viewpoints while never lecturing you or bogging down the story for them