Summary

A Memory Called Empire is the first book in a series by an author I have not previously read. I enjoyed the book, and I think they did a good job balancing the need for a “completed story” within this book against the needs of world building for a larger series. By the end I still had a lot of questions about the world and things happening in it, without the feeling of a cliffhanger ending. I would describe this book as a solid character-driven sci-fi story.

——— Spoiler Warning ———

Full Review

The story focuses on the experience of a newly appointed ambassador from a small nation traveling to the neighboring empire for the first time. I really enjoyed the author’s usage of poetic / narrative self determinism as a defining characteristic of the empire. The idea that citizens of this empire sort of “self-select” into character roles previously defined in their societies’ collective literature, and how this expectation to “follow the narrative” can become self-destructive. They also do a really good job illustrating how a society can build values around somewhat arbitrary things. In the case of Teixcalaan it’s poetry. This is a perfect fit within the context of a society so focused on narrative beauty, but it’s important to keep in mind that throughout all of this we are interacting with the Teixcalaanli nobility.

The story does not really do much to address what life is like for the more ordinary citizen of Teixcalaan, and maybe it doesn’t need to. But I think it’s worth remembering as you read through this book that what we are seeing is not the “norm”, but the “ideal”. The Teixcalaan we see is the story that the empire tells itself: The idealized concept of what every Teixcalaanli “should be”.

The protagonist, ambassador Mahit does not fit easily into this Teixcalaanli narrative of self-determination and achievement. Like most of her people she has an “Imago machine”. A brain implant: with what amounts to an AI built from the recorded thoughts of her predecessor. Unusually the goal of this implant is not to act as an embedded assistant, but to be gradually integrated into the “host” until they reach the point of being a single gestalt personality. For the ambassador that would only be a single generation, but that seems to be the exception rather than the rule. With some “Imago Lineages” going back 15 generations or more.

The story spends a lot of time dealing with the nuance of what a device like that could mean for the definition of the self, how such a device could be misused, and how societal norms and expectations define our values around such things. To Mahit the idea of an Imago is not only “normal”, but desirable: something she has dreamed of. While to the Teixcalaanli it is either repugnant, or a way to bypass the normal social order.

Overall I thought the book discussed some really interesting ideas, and I am looking forward to reading the second.

Summary

The Library at Mount Char is a hugely fun read, and I absolutely recommend it. The story is fast paced, and the author has a remarkable ability to get you immediately invested in characters as they appear. Creating a sense that your understanding of the protagonist is as much a part of the plot as the protagonist’s own growth within it.

Review

This book took me on a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Most of the characters are, to be blunt, monstrous. I spent the first half of the book legitimately hoping the protagonist would fail.

Throughout the story all the characters do horrific things. It is almost overwhelming at the beginning. There really does not seem to be anybody to “root for”, and the more you learn about each character the less you want any of them to succeed. But, as you learn more about the world in which they exist it starts to feel much less random. Maybe not the individual actions of the characters. A lot of that does not start to make sense until the end. But the characters themselves make sense. Who they are, and why they are the way they are.

In my opinion this is ultimately a story of necessity. A sort of re-asking of “do the ends justify the means” under the most extreme of circumstances. I found it to be a hugely compelling read. If upsetting at times to work through. In the end I found the decisions to be understandable. Unpleasant, Disagreeable, and even Painful to consider. But also compelling. If you assume that the characters in the story are not missing obvious solutions that we as the reader see from the outside. It’s hard to say that they are wrong.

Why a Blog

The biggest appeal of blogging to me, is as a tool for learning. Most obviously for writing as a skill itself. Which requires a lot of practice to improve at. But also for other subjects. There is famously a saying that, if you can’t explain it you don’t understand it. I strongly agree with this. Writing short essays on a subject is known to be one of the best ways to study a subject. Synthesis is key to understanding, and retention. I am entering a period of my life where a lot of my time and energy is going to be spent learning new things, and writing essays on them. Why not make those available to the public. Which leads me to my second point.

Contributing to public knowledge. This can be a somewhat contentious issue in the modern era of LLMs, and funnily enough. In the previous incarnation of this website. I had a few articles that were niche enough that their contents were actually served back to me. But I stand by my belief on this one. That ultimately contributing to the collective body of human knowledge, in any way. No matter how small. Is always a good thing. If that happens via LLM, well then so be it. I’m not happy about a corporation making money off my work, but to be honest. This was never a money making endeavor for me, so I’m also just not that bothered by it.

Lastly, it builds a record of work. Whether for job applications, college course placement, or as a simple gallery of personal accomplishment. Having a record of the things you have done, and lessons you have learned is awesome. For me making it public, and open to comment is motivating. It opens the door for spontaneous collaboration, and learning for others who are doing similar work.

My Goals for this Website

• Creative Writing Crucible: My writing skills are abysmal. I know this, and it is something I genuinely want to improve. What better way than knowing that the public can actually read what I have written.
• Project Logs, and Subject Synthesis: For the next year, my focus is going to be on starting college. This requires me to pick up a lot of new skills, and to be honest. Relearn my high school level Math and Science. Essays, and project logs are going to be a major part of my learning plan.
• Finding My Voice: I have struggled in the past to find ways of expressing myself. I studied art heavily for several years, had two pieces shown in galleries, and have even sold my work. I eventually moved away from art because I felt like I didn’t “have anything to say”. I have always enjoyed teaching, and I love helping others. My hope is that by framing expression as contributing to a greater body of knowledge will help me find my creative “voice”.