The Sword and Laser discussion

Finished reading this yesterday, then had the UK folk discord discussion. And now I've feel like I've finally figured out what this book is really about, and what the title means.

The Lsel station has the means of preserving memory far into the future, beyond the lifetime of any one person (although it's not explicitly stated, I get the impression that the impetus behind this technology is their need to carefully conserve all scarce resources, including human expertise). Whereas the Teixcalaanli Empire is obsessed with cultural history (note the constant references to ancient literature) but doesn't possess this technology. Meanwhile the Emperor Six Direction (I'm sorry but I keep wanting to call him One Direction) is worried about his own mortality and the inevitable succession crisis - hence his (view spoiler)[ interest in the imago-machine. When it becomes clear that he can't have it and preserve himself, he decides instead to publicly sacrifice himself on live TV, which serves to anoint his successor and also echoes the most ancient practices of Teixcalaan. It's deliberately invoking that cultural memory - the memory called empire - to cement the power of his successor, deny his rival any cultural legitimacy, and to paradoxically immortalise himself through his own means of death. (hide spoiler)]

It's one of the most multi-layered and brilliantly realised climactic scenes to a book I've read, bringing together all the threads both cultural and political. So great work Arkady, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Unfortunately I don't have voting rights for this year's Hugo slate, but I think this book would be getting my top-preference if I did.

What Ruth said. All of it.

That’s impressive and persuasive. I thought it was about sex.

Trike wrote: "That’s impressive and persuasive. I thought it was about sex."

😆
Well, there were some parts about sex - I did enjoy that Yskandr was kind of a slut who apparently slept with (view spoiler)[ both Nineteen Adze AND Six Direction (hide spoiler)], while Mahit was such a prude it took her (view spoiler)[ most of the book to figure out that Three Seagrass was into her (hide spoiler)]

Rick wrote: "What Ruth said. All of it."

Absolutely.

I just finished the book and really liked that ending as well. It wrapped up a lot of threads in a convincing way. It was a bit out of left field, but made sense, it may have needed a bit of foreshadowing, unless I missed it.

Ruth wrote: "Finished reading this yesterday, then had the UK folk discord discussion. And now I've feel like I've finally figured out what this book is really about, and what the title means.

..."

I clearly read it at a more superficial level (I couldn't conjure that kind of analysis if I tried!) but still found it a satisfying read. If it works on multiple levels then that's an indication of some high quality writing, surely?

I clearly read it at a more superficial level (I couldn't conjure that kind of analysis if I tried!) but still found it a satisfying read. If it works on multiple levels then that's an indication of some high quality writing, surely?

I would say so - the best books work on multiple levels and have something for - well probably not for everyone but for a lot of different people.