27 Jul, 2023
Miscellaneous Reviews
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Arkady Martine’s 2023 Rose/House is a stand-alone near-future science fiction novella.
As another author might have said, silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Rose House, and whatever walked there, walked alone. Underestimate Rose House’s taste for solitude at one’s own risk.
Just ask the dead man whose corpse is slowly decaying within Rose House.
31 Mar, 2022
Space Opera That Doesn't Suck
2021’s A Desolation Called Peace is the second volume in Arkady Martine’s Teixcalaan space opera series.
Alerted by neighbouring Lsel Station that an unknown alien menace is impinging on human space, the Teixcalaanli investigate. First contact between a force headed by Fleet Captain Nine Hibiscus and the aliens establishes five facts:
29 Mar, 2019
Space Opera That Doesn't Suck
A Memory Called Empire is Arkady Martine’s debut novel. It is a space opera.
Lsel Station has spent ages engaged in a careful dance with the Teixcalaanli Empire. It tries to maintain vital trade ties to the vast polity, but avoids becoming so essential as to invite annexation. The empire is a dangerous neighbour, but it protects Lsel from neighboring polities who are even worse. Hence the dance.
Mahit Dzmare is the latest ambassador to be dispatched by the Stationers to the empire. If she plays her cards badly, she may be the final ambassador to the empire.