A Memory of Empire

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planted: 16/03/2020last tended: 27/11/2021

– Arkady Martine

Enjoyed this. It's written well, and it's fun. At first I didn't find so much to sink my teeth into, ideas-wise, but I think maybe it's just ideas I'm not so familiar with. Empire, colonisation, displacement, culture clash and culture shock all feature heavily.

Plot-wise, it's a little bit of murder mystery, but mainly kind of like court politics and the machinations of power.

Couple of interesting sci-fi-y ideas. The imago machines, where current generations incorporate the personalities of individuals from previous generations directly via neural implants. The AI city in Teixcalaan - theme there of how a neutral algorithm is not as neutral as you may be led to believe, which is very relevant to present day.

At first it felt maybe a little slow to get going, but I definitely was gripped the more I went along with it.

Finished January 2020.

1. Elsewhere

1.1. In my garden

Notes that link to this note (AKA backlinks).

1.2. In the Agora

1.3. Mentions

Recent changes. Source. Peer Production License.