A Memory Called Empire

By: Arkady Martine

Narrated by: Amy Landon

Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel

'I absolutely loved it' – Ann Leckie, author of Ancillary Justice

In a war of lies, she seeks the truth. An epic, queer space opera, A Memory Called Empire is the astonishing debut novel from Arkady Martine.

Ambassador Mahit Dzmare travels to the Teixcalaanli Empire’s interstellar capital, eager to take up her new post. Yet when she arrives, she discovers her predecessor was murdered. But no one will admit his death wasn’t accidental – and she might be next.

Now Mahit must navigate the capital’s enticing yet deadly halls of power, to discover dangerous truths. And, while she hunts for the killer, Mahit must somehow prevent the rapacious Empire from annexing her home: a small, fiercely independent mining station.

As she sinks deeper into an alien culture that is all too seductive, Mahit engages in intrigues of her own. For she is hiding an extraordinary technological secret – one which might destroy her station and its way of life. Or it might save them from annihilation.

A Memory Called Empire is the first in the Teixcalaan duology. It is followed by A Desolation Called Peace.

‘Contender for debut of the year’ - SFX Magazine

Shortlisted for the 2020 Arthur C. Clarke Award

Shortlisted for the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards

Perfect for those who loved Ann Leckie's epic space opera Ancillary Justice, Tamsyn Muir's Gideon the Ninth and Iain M. Banks’s Culture novels.

Critic reviews

Stunning sci-fi debut. An ambassador from a small space station has to survive in the capital of a galactic empire where everyone seems to want her dead. Add in a great will-they-won’t-they wlw romantic interest. Awesome (Rick Riordan)

A Memory Called Empire perfectly balances action and intrigue with matters of empire and identity. All-round brilliant space opera, I absolutely loved it (Ann Leckie, author of Ancillary Justice and Translation State)

Arkady is one of the best new voices in speculative fiction (Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Lords of Uncreation)

A cutting, beautiful, human adventure about cultural exchange, identity, and intrigue. The best SF novel I’ve read in the last five years (Yoon Ha Lee, author of the Machineries of Empire series)

An intricate, layered tale of empire, personal ambition, political obligations and interstellar intrigue. Vivid and delightfully inventive (Aliette de Bodard, author of A Fire Born of Exile)

An elegant and accomplished example of the subgenre of subtle scheming with a background of stars. A delightful read. I couldn’t put it down (Jo Walton)

An exceptional first novel recommended for fans of Cherryh, Leckie, Banks, and Asimov (Elizabeth Bear)

A cunningly plotted, richly imagined tale of interstellar intrigue that does something new with space opera (Ken MacLeod)

In A Memory Called Empire Arkady Martine smuggles you into her interstellar diplomatic pouch, and takes you on the most thrilling ride ever. This book has everything I love: identity crises, unlikely romance, complicated politics, and cunning adventurers. Super-fun, and ultra-fascinating (Charlie Jane Anders)

A Memory Called Empire is a murder mystery wrapped up in a political space opera, and deeply immerses the reader in a unique culture and society. I very much enjoyed it and look forward to what Martine does next (Martha Wells)

A Memory Called Empire is both deeply thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining . . . I can’t wait to find out what happens next (James Oswald)

Exquisite and smart as hell (Fran Wilde)

Arkady Martine’s first novel is a thrillingly smart space opera with grand scope. Everything’s here: plots and counterplots, political manoeuvring, great writing, and brilliant ideas on language and empire. Like Iain M. Banks, she’s created a universe that can spawn a hundred books. Hop on now, people (Daryl Gregory)

Gorgeously crafted . . . Martine allows the backstory to unroll slowly . . . walking delicately upon the tightrope of intrigue and partisan battles in the streets to safely bring the tale to a poignantly true conclusion. Readers will eagerly await the planned sequels to this impressive debut (Publishers Weekly starred review)

Simply glorious space opera

Great narration, a thought out narrative suuported by interesting characters and a penchant for city design. I came for the space empire, I left wanting to know more about The City.

A galaxy of imagination

I am in awe of the scope of the world Arkady Martin’s has created in this fascinating novel. The development of the main characters and the environments in which they move and interact is stunning. A most enjoyable read. Highly recommended.

I love Sci-Fi But....

This is very well written, but endless poetry, prose and explanations as to their purposes quickly became old.

The names also became a bit jarring, One Lightning and Six Seagrass for example...

It was well executed but I honestly struggled to care about the characters.