Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

Space opera fans will find much to love about this new novel by debut fiction author, Arkady Martine. Filled with intrigue, strong female characters, and LGBTQIA characters, this novel opens up an intricate galactic world which will remind readers of Ann Leckie and Yoon Ha Lee.

Lsel Station borders the Teixcalaanli Empire, chafing at the militaristic threat at their doorstep. When their Ambassador to the Empire, Yskandr Aghavn, unexpectedly dies without providing essential information to Lsel, his replacement, Mahit Dzmare, finds herself in the heart of a dangerous political situation. Soon cut off from her only source of information, Mahit must rely upon her training and few Teixcalaan allies as the body count and intrigue increase.

The world-building and the characters are top-notch in this action packed sci-fi novel. The author’s academic background is evident in the meticulous details that are ingrained in the Teixcalaanli Empire. The names and terms used in the novel are complex, which lends itself well to the audiobook narrated by Amy Landon. What makes the book standout is the fine balance it strike between presenting complex ideas such as identity and culture, with a plot that keeps the reader turning pages. Martine finds a way to interpose just the right about of world-building at any given moment without overwhelming the reader. The use of Mahit as the fish out of water helps in that respect. My personal favorite aspect of the Teixcalaan culture are the names. There is a particularly funny joke about tasteless names that is imminently relatable.

Hardcore sci-fi fans along with those readers who want to branch out will find much to enjoy in this book. It is poised to be a great entry into a series, as the second book has already been announced for publication in 2020.

Double Trouble

Two new books recently came out featuring twins as central characters by well known SFF authors.  Interestingly enough, the covers both feature a hand, which is only really relevant for one of the novels. They both explored different aspects of the bond that arises from intertwined siblings, for better or worse.  Here are my thoughts on both:

Middlegame by Seanan McGuire

McGuire is a heavy hitter in the SFF world with many Hugo nominations and awards.  Recently, her hit novella series, Wayward Children, has explored portal realms and the children who seek them out.  Middlegame builds on this premise by featuring its own story within a story, the Up and Under, which has similar tones to Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz.  If that sounds complicated, then this book may not be for you as the plot features many layers and twists that speaks to its author’s meticulous world-building.

The premise of the book is that alchemy is real and a strong tradition.  The goals of some of these alchemists include world domination by manifesting the Doctrine of Ethos that will allow them to reach the Impossible City.  After having finished the book, I’m not too certain what these allegories really mean, but that is almost beside the point.  The true draw of the book is the complicated relationship between the two main protagonists, Roger and Dodger, twins who are “created” then separated at birth.  Roger is a gifted linguist while Dodger is a mathematical prodigy.  Over the years, they find themselves entangled on a quantum level and drawn to each other despite the interference of outside forces.

McGuire doesn’t shy away from the gruesome aspects of this modern fairy tale which reminds me a lot of Neil Gaiman.  While it seems at times that the author tries a bit too hard to add allusions and piles on the fantastical concepts, the plot drives the reader to learn the ultimate fate of these twins and consequently the world. The author is known for her urban fantasy series and fans of those will find this book to be a more cerebral version that will also appeal to readers wishing to chew on concepts.

Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey

Sarah Gailey is an interesting counterpart to McGuire.  Whereas McGuire is well-established, Gailey is a recent up and comer but has also gained interest with their novellas series, River of Teeth.  This book is their debut novel which features a dark grittiness that will appeal to many fans of urban fantasy.

Many reviewers have commented that Magic for Liars is a cross between Jessica Jones and Harry Potter, though I find a comparison to The Magicians by Lev Grossman to be more apt.  Ivy Gamble is a private investigator whose solitary life is full of grief and denial. With no funds and perhaps a bit of a drinking habit, she barely makes it through the grind of tailing extra-marital affairs.  Ivy finds herself confronting her past when she is asked to investigate a suspicious death at a private magical school at which her twin sister, Tabitha, happens to teach.  As Ivy delves deep into the secrets of the teachers and students at Osthorne Academy, her feelings of resentment and longing threaten to overwhelm her and her investigation.

Through Ivy’s eyes, readers learn about both a mystical and mundane magical world coexisting in plain sight.   Gailey does a great job in describing a magical world that is grounded and yet just slightly baffling.  The characterization of the students and teachers is well-developed. Ivy Gamble is the type of anti-hero who is flawed and sympathetic.  I enjoyed how Gailey every so gently pokes fun of some of the tropes that abound in YA fantasy, with some pointed nods at Harry Potter.  Some of the plot points are very predictable, but Magic for Liars is a great novel that combines both fantasy and mystery in a satisfying method.