A Desolation Called Peace
The thrilling continuation of the Teixcalaan duology
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Pan Macmillan
Published:17th Feb '22
Should be back in stock very soon
In a galaxy on the brink of destruction, communication becomes the key to survival. A Desolation Called Peace explores the complexities of diplomacy amidst alien threats.
In A Desolation Called Peace, the galaxy faces a terrifying alien threat that has emerged at the edges of Teixcalaanli space. As chaos looms, the first battle isn't one of weapons, but of communication. Fleet Captain Nine Hibiscus finds herself in a precarious position, tasked with the daunting challenge of negotiating with an unknown and hostile entity. The stakes are high, as failure could mean the destruction of the Empire and countless lives. With time running out, the captain sends for an envoy, hoping to bridge the gap between civilizations.
Mahit Dzmare and Three Seagrass, both still recovering from the recent turmoil within the Empire, are called upon to undertake this monumental task. They must navigate the complexities of diplomacy while grappling with their own doubts and fears. As they attempt to understand the motivations of the alien threat, they realize that every decision could lead to either peace or annihilation. The tension builds as they confront the possibility of a war that could change everything.
A Desolation Called Peace is the gripping sequel to Arkady Martine's acclaimed debut, A Memory Called Empire. With its intricate world-building and profound exploration of communication and conflict, this novel is a must-read for fans of thought-provoking space opera. As the characters strive to find a resolution, readers are taken on a journey that challenges the very notions of understanding and coexistence.
This is first-class space opera, with added spycraft, diplomatic intrigue and scary aliens, along with interesting explorations of perception, ways of communicating, and what makes a person -- Guardian
A dizzying, exhilarating story of diplomacy, conspiracy, and first contact in the powerhouse sequel to her Hugo Award–winning debut . . . This complex, stunning space opera promises to reshape the genre -- Publishers Weekly starred review
Martine weaves a dramatic and suspenseful story of political intrigue and alien first contact . . . each character is rendered in exquisite detail -- Booklist starred review
Culturally rich and profound . . . It is an exquisitely written book. Martine is a master at language, character building, and history, and that mastery is evident in every facet of the story -- Grimdark Magazine
A worthy successor to A Memory Called Empire. It is simultaneously in argument with science fiction’s history of empires as protagonists, in conversation with familiar ideas such as hive minds and first contact . . . while all the time managing to tell an entirely original story -- Strange Horizons
You will be endlessly surprised . . . I can’t recommend this enough if you’re ever looking for something more cerebral, tense and rich -- FantasyHive
Entertaining and intelligent speculative fiction. Martine’s fiction embraces soaring fantasy mixing imagination with politics . . . One of the best and most imaginative first contact fictions yet to be written -- FantasyBookReview
Here’s hoping Martine isn’t finished playing in this particular sandbox. Highly recommended -- FantasyLiterature
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 on A Memory Called Empire
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 on A Memory Called Empire
An intricate, layered tale of empire, personal ambition, political obligations and interstellar intrigue. Vivid and delightfully inventive -- Aliette de Bodard on A Memory Called Empire
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 on A Memory Called Empire
An exceptional first novel recommended for fans of Cherryh, Leckie, Banks and Asimov -- Elizabeth Bear on A Memory Called Empire
A cunningly plotted, richly imagined tale of interstellar intrigue that does something new with space opera -- Ken MacLeod on A Memory Called Empire
ISBN: 9781529001648
Dimensions: 196mm x 130mm x 32mm
Weight: 347g
496 pages