New Worlds: Omphalos and Axis Mundi

Friday, January 23rd, 2026 09:08 am
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[personal profile] swan_tower
When Jules Verne wrote Journey to the Center of the Earth, he was thinking in terms of a hollow planet. There's another sense in which we can think about the center of the earth, though -- a more spiritual one.

We can approach this in two dimensions. Horizontally, the center of the world can be called the omphalos, from the Greek word for "navel." The Greeks had a myth that Zeus loosed two eagles from the opposite ends of the earth which, flying at equal speed, crossed each other's paths at Delphi, thereby proving it to be the precise middle of existence. A stone sculpture there -- the original of which may now be in the museum at Delphi, or that may be a later replica -- served as a sacred object to mark the spot.

I should note in passing that this idea can also be executed on a smaller scale than the whole world. The Roman Forum contained the Umbilicus Urbis or "navel of the city," the reference point for measuring all distances to Rome; Charing Cross has served the same function for London since the nineteenth century. That's a very pragmatic purpose, but not incompatible with a spiritual dimension: the Umbilicus Urbis may also have been the above-ground portion of a subterranean site called the Mundus or "world," which was a gateway to the underworld.

Which brings us to the (sort of) vertical dimension. Axis mundi as a term was coined for astronomical purposes, but it's been extended as a catch-all for describing a widespread religious concept, which is the connection point between different spiritual realms.

An axis mundi can take any form, but a few are noteworthy for cropping up all around the globe. One of the most common is the world tree, whose roots extend into the underworld and whose branches reach into the heavens. The exact type of tree, of course, depends on the local environment: the Norse Yggdrasil, one of the most well-known examples, is usually said to be an ash (though some theorists hold out for yew), while the Maya saw theirs as a ceiba, and in northern Asia it might be a birch or a larch. Depending on how flexible you want to be with the concept, you might see as a world tree anything that connects to at least one other realm, like the oak at Dodona whose roots supposedly touched Tartarus, without a corresponding link upward.

Mountains are the other big motif. Olympus, Kailash, Qaf, and Meru are all singular and stand-out examples, but anywhere there are impressive mountains, people have tended to think of them as bridges between different spiritual realms. They more obviously connect to the heavens than the underworld, but especially if there are caves, their linkage can extend in both directions.

Approach it broadly enough, though, and an axis mundi can be basically anything vertical enough to suggest that it transcends our mortal plane. The folktale of Jack and the Beanstalk? It may not be sacred, but that beanstalk certainly carried Jack to a different realm. The Tower of Babel? God imposed linguistic differences to stop humans from building it up to the sky. Even smoke can be an ephemeral axis mundi: ancient Mesoamericans, burning the bark paper soaked with blood from their voluntary offerings, are said to have seen the smoke as forging a temporary connection to the heavens above and the deities who dwelt there.

These two concepts, omphalos and axis mundi, are not wholly separate. While the latter term can apply to anything that connects the realms, like a pillar of smoke, a really orthodox axis mundi -- the axis mundi, the fundamental point where many worlds meet -- is often conceived of as standing at the center of the universe, i.e. at the omphalos. (In a spiritual sense, if not a geographical one.) It's the nail joining them together, the pivot point around which everything turns.

And it does occasionally crop up in fiction. In Stephen King's Dark Tower series, the eponymous tower toward which Roland quests is a canonical axis mundi, linking many realities together. That actually makes the conclusion of his quest a difficult narrative challenge . . . because how do you depict the literal center of the cosmos in a way that's going to live up to its significance? (Without going into spoilers, I'll say that King provides two answers to that question. Many readers find both of them unsatisfying, but to my mind, they are just about the only way you can answer it. Neither one, of course, is a conventional denouement.)

Even without journeying to the fundamental center of creation, however, I think there's unused room for this concept in fantasy. Plenty of stories send their characters between planes of existence via some kind of gateway or portal: an arch, a ring of standing stones, or something else in that vein. I want more beanstalks! Maybe not literally a humble crop plant on steroids, but more vertical transitions, where you feel the effort of the characters climbing up or down to reach a heavenly realm, the underworld, or an alternate reality -- one that, by the climbing, is implied to exist in a certain spatial relationship with ordinary reality. Make them go on a long journey to reach that point of connection, or undergo more effort than a bit of chanting to create a structure imbued with the capacity to carry them across those boundaries.

Ironically, this is a place where science fiction sometimes winds up preserving more of a folkloric feeling than its sibling genre does. Space elevators are absolutely an axis mundi rendered in literal, mundane terms -- complete with placement at the center of the world, since the lower end of the cable would need to be near the equator for the physics to work. Mind you, a space elevator doesn't extend into the underworld (. . . not unless somebody writes that story; please do!), but as we saw above, sometimes the concept is applied to one-sided connections. It's close enough for me!

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(originally posted at Swan Tower: https://is.gd/bzQCUD)

In God We Trust, In Sweden We Tap

Friday, January 23rd, 2026 08:00 am
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Posted by Not Always Right

Read In God We Trust, In Sweden We Tap

Me: "Right! That'll be 393 kronor."
Tourist: *Hands me three 200-kronor bills.* "Keep the change, son!"
Me: "How generous! But I'm afraid we don't accept cash. Sorry. Do you have a card?"
Tourist: "What? Why?"

Read In God We Trust, In Sweden We Tap

Choices (19)

Friday, January 23rd, 2026 08:35 am
the_comfortable_courtesan: image of a fan c. 1810 (Default)
[personal profile] the_comfortable_courtesan
Quite the most beneficial thing 

It was necessary, in the service of this contrivance, to introduce Janey Merrett – la, Vicky could not go be formal over one that was not merely an old schoolfellow of 'Sina’s but her dearest beloved! – to Lady Lucretia so that they might present plausibly as friends when entering the coven around Lady Venchall.

This created some perturbation in Lady Lucretia’s bosom – o dear, one hears she is quite an immense bluestocking – a most learned lady – and the daughter of Lady Jane Knighton that is so exacting –

She wrung her hands.

Fie, have you not seen her in company? Quite the easiest of manners –

And always dressed in the crack of fashion!

Vicky concealed a smirk at this tribute to 'Sina’s skills. Also, she said, very noted for her talents as an actress.

Lady Lucretia sighed.

So came the appointed day for Janey’s call, and they were in the library when Mrs Geoffrey Merrett’s card was sent in, and Lady Lucretia was at home to her, but no other callers to be admitted –

And entered Janey most exceeding stylish, and shook hands, and looked around the room with appreciation, and took in the book that was on the table beside Lady Lucretia’s chair –

Oh, The Count of Monte Cristo! is it not thrilling? – how far have you got? – I will not venture on a discussion lest I reveal some secret you have not yet encountered –

Lady Lucretia’s face lit up – one apprehended she had not anticipated that Mrs Merrett would relish thrilling adventures – and she said indeed one wondered how all would turn out – such mysterious happenings –

Indeed, said Janey, 'tis quite marvellous that the author could keep it all in his head – pray excuse me, do I see a fine library the like of this I am magnetically drawn to examine it – Vicky did not tell me the half –

Lady Lucretia said very self-deprecating that 'twas her brother Peregrine – that now succeeded to the title Talshaw – had previously been in hopes of a fellowship at Oxford – that had selected the volumes –

A very nice taste! And in friends too, I fancy – Geoff – my husband Mr Merrett – is most prepossessed with young Mr Smithers that I apprehend was in his set at college –

Tea and cake-stands showing off Miriam’s abilities arrived.

By now Lady Lucretia was discoursing of the archaeological excavations that were being undertook at Worblewood and one saw that the two ladies were on the road to becoming quite bosom-companions.

In due course and after some divagation into remarks upon Zipsie Rondegate’s latest compositions, matters proceeded to plotting.

Janey confided that it did not matter in the least that Lady Lucretia had no particular skills at cards, indeed, all the better, would make these vultures suppose they had a pigeon for the plucking. Now, she doubted not that when they heard who her own husband was, there would be badgering for the details behind his famous cases, and she fancied letting out what seemed an indiscretion or two would provide distraction.

Vicky grinned. 'Twas all falling into place –

But, said Janey, you are not at present on calling terms with these ladies? That was your sister Lady Iffling?

Vicky cleared her throat. Why, she said, 'twould be entire in order for Her Ladyship to approach her sister and ask her to make an introduction –

Lady Lucretia groaned.

– offering a what they call a douceur.

Because, said Janey, much amuzed, ladies do not give bribes. But say on, Vicky, I fancy you have been studying at the feet of one noted for contrivance.

Vicky blushed. After all, it was very much Lady Bexbury’s intent to take down these harpies.

Now, she went on, as she too is in mourning 'tis hardly the time for her to make a jaunt to Town, though I fear that cannot be forever avoided –

Lady Lucretia sighed. Indeed, mayhap once she is out of black, next year –

– but I have in mind an offer you can make. A fitting at that most crack modiste establishment, Mamzelle Bridgette. Here you are, have a secretary that is own sister to the famed Miss Thomasine –

Vicky! cried Janey, have you spoke of this to 'Sina?

Of course, said Vicky. Has also been approved, with much sarcastic commentary, by Mr Maurice.

One may quite imagine! Now, so as not to look particular, I should go at least leave my card on Zipsie –

She is, said Lady Lucretia, very like to be having a little sleep at this hour –

Ah, said Janey, I understand you. The news has not been generally broadcast.

They parted with mutual civilities, and Lady Lucretia turned to Vicky saying how very amiable a lady was Mrs Merrett – not in the least as she had expected –

The late Admiral Knighton, Vicky responded, had considerable charm – a warmth of nature –

Th next matter was to proceed to writing to Lady Iffling. That, Vicky had been given to understand, should be managed in a very diplomatic fashion. That the letter should commence with the excellent intelligence that Lady Lucretia was able to obtain her sister’s preference to an appointment at Mamzelle Bridgette, something most exceeding sought-after. And only then, after some expatiation on what a very crack modiste establishment that was, mention that Her Ladyship found time hanging heavy, and recalled those genteel card parties Rina used to frequent, that might beguile the hours, especial given the very generous pin-money she commanded, might Rina provide an introduction to those ladies?

So the letter was sent, and Lady Iffling replied with unusual expedition, and shortly after there came a message from Lady Venchall indicating that she would be quite ecstatic to see Lady Lucretia and any friend of her at their little gatherings, when they resumed at the end of summer –

Vicky gave a little snort and said, fleecing country-house parties at present no doubt!

Janey, that was in attendance, said, did Lady Lucretia recall any of the other company at these sabbats? She glanced down, blushed a little, and said, her lawful wedded Geoffrey had in bygone days been somewhat notorious for his consoling of discontented wives. Wondered whether any of 'em might be in that circle.

How embarrassing, cried Lady Lucretia.

Janey gave a little grin. Mayhap, but I think they will fancy that I am now the neglected wife, and pity me, and perchance go be condescending – no, 'tis a role, Cretia – by now they were on first-name terms – and will not suppose the truth.

So that was all under hand, and they were practising play, and occasional had Leda Hacker come to show 'em how they might spot trickery.

Vicky was feeling pleased with herself, but then she was summoned to a convocation with Mr Grigson, that gave her to feel a little anxious.

But he seemed in amiable mood, so far as one might tell. The matter he opened was whether it would be advisable for his wife to go out of Town for a while for the good of her health – had considered Carlefour Castle but heard from his uncle and mother that was still in great turmoil on account of the election. Mayhap she might join the Trembournes and her mother at Worblewood?

Why, that might answer, Vicky agreed, but I understand that now she attains to such a friendship with Mrs Merrett, there is talk that perchance she would care to go rusticate a few weeks at Knighton Hall when Mrs Merrett does so? Will be very quiet – a party of ladies – Lady Jane Knighton would be the hostess – opportunities for riding – also boating

Mr Grigson looked exceedingly gratified. A most agreeable thing, he said. Could have no objections at all.

He folded his hands on the desk before him and looked at Vicky. Really, Miss Jupp, your advent has been quite the most beneficial thing for my wife –

Vicky blushed and cast down her eyes.

– might I hope that you would consider this post as a permanency? I fancy the library still requires attention – your services as secretary quite invaluable – your understanding of Society and its niceties exemplary – and moreover, I observe that Lady Lucretia has taken to you exceedingly, treats you in the capacity of a, shall we say, confidante?

Leda Hacker had remarked that Grigson was a sharp one! and Vicky quite agreed. She made a little moue and said, why, here was Lady Lucretia had no sisters or female relatives about the household to confide in – went about to make friends but those ladies were oft very took up in their own affairs –

Quite so.

The matter proceeded to business-like discussion of compensation – very generous! – and she perceived that Mr Grigson quite saw the advantage in Vicky pursuing her scholarly acquaintance with Lady Jane and Janey –

Also, sure you reside at no great distance, but I was minded to have a chamber set aside for you, for occasions when you are obliged to work late – or during those times of year when night falls very early and the streets are dark –

Vicky folded her hands in her lap and said, was very prepossessed, but must of course talk it all over with her parents. And also, though she did not voice that, Lady Bexbury!

Opening the matter to her father and Sophy, she could see that they were relieved that she had found a very advantageous occupation, since attending the women’s college, that would at least have delayed consideration of the question, had turned out not to answer.

Lady Bexbury smiled and said, entirely the thing. And advised to convoke a little with dear Leda.

Dear Leda, that was practising card-tricks, looked up and grinned and said, La, must make an introduction to Bert Edwards! That is quite the, what is the word, doyen of social secretaries, at Raxdell House. Up to all the tricks and dodges.

So Leda arranged for her to meet Mr Edwards in a tea-shop that had excellent private nooks where one might hold discreet converse. He was a pretty-faced fellow very neatly dressed, the greatest gentility of manner –

Why, I fancy 'tis somewhat of the same thing that it was with the Raxdells, that were provincial gentry that never supposed they would inherit – here is Grigson, very anxious to do the correct thing – and one hears Lady Lucretia did not obtain the elder-sisterly guidance one might have hoped from Lady Iffling –

La, you may ever call upon my advice.

Leda dug her elbow into his ribs and said, and are you very helpful mayhap she will introduce you to her sister Miss Thomasine.

Mr Edwards blushed.


New possessions

Friday, January 23rd, 2026 08:18 am
rmc28: Rachel in hockey gear on the frozen fen at Upware, near Cambridge (Default)
[personal profile] rmc28

I don't think I mentioned getting a new phone last month. I very much enjoyed my tiny Jelly Star for a long time: it was very good for making it unsatisfying to scroll while out and about, and instead listen to more music and pay more attention to where I was. But eventually it started to be actually annoying and I did some thinking and looking at different phones, and ended up with a Motorola Razr folding phone. Still small by default! Still easy to prioritise music over scrolling! But much easier to do messaging, emails, etc when I need to.

As a surprise bonus, I have found that having a decent camera and a screen I can clearly see the results on means I'm taking more photos. It also has a neat timer function, and the folding phone is easy to set up to take photos at distances longer than my arm.

Here is a result taken this morning: me wearing another new possession, my CUIHC fleece. It is soft and cozy and I adore it, I've had it since Monday and love it unreasonably. I want to wear it all the time.

Exchanges!

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026 09:52 pm
sholio: airplane flying away from a tan colored castle (Biggles-castle airplane)
[personal profile] sholio
I don't think I posted about Amperslash when it revealed, but I got a lovely gift!

The Ties that Bind Us (Biggles, slightly ambiguous Biggles/EvS)
A very fun, sensual fic in which they are trying to squirm out of ropes tying them together, while also talking about Feelings.

And I got THREE gifts in Holiday Airdrop, the Biggles exchange I run! This time around, all are gen and Algy & EvS-focused.

Soft Landings, a wonderfully well realized, hurt/comforty AU in which Algy is the first person on the team to encounter Erich during Buries a Hatchet.

A Silver-Topped Cane is a lovely little post-Terai bit of comfort and bonding, in which Erich offers advice and maybe a little commiseration while Algy is healing.

Forge is deliciously iddy and visceral h/c in which EvS and Algy are handcuffed together in the desrt.

Between the two exchanges, I wrote five fics, including some pairings I don't normally write! I'm looking forward to getting to 'fess up to them.

Friday's Comic

Friday, January 23rd, 2026 05:27 am

The Lord of the Rings

Friday, January 23rd, 2026 03:58 pm
lucymonster: (sam potatoes)
[personal profile] lucymonster
I've been "rereading" by way of the audiobook narrated by Andy Serkis. He's a brilliant narrator, with two caveats:
  1. His singing is juuust bearable when he's doing a very low voice (like for Aragorn) but excruciating otherwise. I've had to skip past some of the poetry on these grounds.
  2. Or really 1a: his singsong Tom Bombadil voice captured the character in his purest essence, which is to say, it's so smug and jolly that the first sound of it made me want to punch something. I'm not a habitual Bombadil skipper (though admittedly that's more due to stubborn pride than any real appreciation for Tolkien's vision in those chapters) but Serkis' Bombadil defeated me utterly.

As of writing this post I'm about an hour off the end of The Fellowship of the Ring, with the sundering of the fellowship poised to come crashing down on my head. Legolas has been my favourite character since before the movies made him hot, but this time I'm finding myself caught up in the story of Frodo like never before. His yearning for the Shire and desperately reluctant acceptance of his calling have really touched me this time through. I've been especially caught on the moment, small as it is, when having been incapacitated by the Nazgûl blade he endures his agony in silence as his friends carry him to safety, so mindful he is already of the burden and danger he's causing them. When I first read The Lord of the Rings I was too young to know what war was, and I've been reading it my whole life the way I first read it then, as first and foremost a fantasy adventure, full of elves and magic and great quests. For some reason this time it is finally coming home to me how much this is a story of the Great War, and how much Frodo embodies the ordinary conscript: terrified, untrained, barely able to comprehend the grand events unfolding around him but determined to do his duty and empowered through unthinkable ordeals by the deep love and loyalty he has for his friends.

LotR was my second foray into transformative fandom, after getting hooked on fic via Harry Potter and Mugglenet. I haven't been active in the fandom since I was fifteen or so, and fortunately my "contributions" were all published on dead or forgotten sites under a different username - I remember writing one or two "tenth fellowship member" self-inserts, and something godawful about Legolas having a doomed romance with a mortal OC, and something even more godawful about Haldir (for some reason???) battling anorexia nervosa. (Edit after a pause and some googling: Oh god, the whole site that hosted all my teenage dreck has been re-archived on AO3. It's all still out there! Some of it still getting kudos and comments! The internet truly is forever.) Most of the fic I was reading back then is probably of a kind and thus better forgotten, but I'd like to link a couple of old favourites that have stuck with me over the years.

While the Ring Went South... by Thundera Tiger is a scrupulously canonverse fic slotted into the two week journey between Rivendell and Caradhras. It's genfic, full of adventures and largely centred on the rivalry/developing friendship between Legolas and Gimli. I reread some of it not that far back and it lived up to all my fond memories. The sequel, During a Journey in the Dark, doesn't seem to have made it to AO3 but is still available on Stories of Arda.

Celebdil-Galad and Tinlaure wrote a large volume of intensely smarmy, whumpy Legolas & Aragorn torturefic. I have not reread any of these since my teens, and I don't intend to, since I doubt my adult self will be able to reconnect with the emotions they once provoked even if they turn out to have been brilliantly written masterpieces. More likely, they were written by kids a couple of years older than me at the time and with commensurate skill. But I still remember them fondly.

A Tale Of Two Cities

Friday, January 23rd, 2026 04:00 am
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Posted by Not Always Right

Read A Tale Of Two Cities

Guest: "Did they name the town Boston after the city in the USA to honour the American servicemen?"
Friend: "Uh, Boston is a ninth-century town."
Guest: "So? That doesn't answer my question."

Read A Tale Of Two Cities

Tragic

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026 10:39 pm
james_davis_nicoll: (Default)
[personal profile] james_davis_nicoll
Canada denied spot on the Bored of Peace.

This is roughly on par with being denied a lifetime supply of dogshit popsicles.

(no subject)

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026 09:51 pm
marginaliana: Love (Love)
[personal profile] marginaliana
Why can't I be into the gay hockeys? Why must I be tortured by a tiny fandom that was in its prime 10 years ago? And yet the heart wants what the heart wants.

Iceberg (1075 words) by marginaliana
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Sorted (Website) RPF
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: James Currie/Ben Ebbrell
Characters: James Currie, Ben Ebbrell
Additional Tags: The Last Bite special, bow ties
Summary:

The Last Bite live weekend special: Saturday night, the Community Case Files segment. Drinks before dinner - Kush has made Bloody Marys and given them a ridiculous name. Ben unfastens his bow tie. James has an emotional revelation.

Expecting A Stream Of Abuse

Friday, January 23rd, 2026 02:00 am
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Posted by Not Always Right

Read Expecting A Stream Of Abuse

Me: "Hi, I believe I can exchange this SodaStream cartridge for a new one?"
The employee nods but looks a bit nervous.
Employee: "You can, but it's not free. There's a discount for the exchange, but you have to pay something."

Read Expecting A Stream Of Abuse

watching heated rivalry and...

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026 08:09 pm
lannamichaels: Astronaut Dale Gardner holds up For Sale sign after EVA. (Default)
[personal profile] lannamichaels


Couldn't they possibly have, perhaps and please, cast actors who don't look so goddamn alike for Steve & Bucky, I'm sorry, I mean Scott & Kip?

If they shave or the other one of them gets slightly more facial hair, I've not even the slightest hope here. In the sex scenes, it's like whatever, if you wanted me to know who is who, you'd light it better.

Put a shirt on. Why do you have identical torsos, one of you is a professional athlete and the other one works two jobs.

Book review: A Memory Called Empire

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026 06:04 pm
rocky41_7: (Default)
[personal profile] rocky41_7 posting in [community profile] fffriday
I realized as I was approaching the end of this book that it is the third unfinished series sapphic SFF centering the machinations of an empire that I've read lately (the others being The Locked Tomb and The Masquerade). A Memory Called Empire is the first book in the Teixcalaan series by Arkady Martine (narrated by Amy Landon in the audiobook) and tells the story of Mahit Dzmare, a diplomat from an as-yet-unconquered satellite state of the Teixcalaanli Empire entering her role as ambassador for the first time--after the previous ambassador went radio silent. 

For fans of fantasy politics, I highly recommend this one. Mahit enters a political scene on the cusp of boiling over and is thrown not only into navigating a culture and society she's only ever read about, but having to piece together what her predecessor was doing, why he was doing it, and what happened to him. It's a whirlwind of not knowing who to trust, what to lean on, or where to go.

Martine creates such an interesting world here in Teixcalaan and the mindset of a people who pride themselves on being artists above all and yet exist as ruthless conquerors within their corner of space. Furthermore, Mahit herself is in a fascinating position as someone who's been half in love with this empire since childhood, and yet is all too keenly aware of the threat it poses to her and her home. Mahit does well in Teixcalaan--she loves the poetry and literature they so highly prize, she's able to navigate Teixcalaanli society and see the double meanings everywhere, and she's excited to try her hand at these things. And yet--if she plays her cards wrong, it will end with her home being gobbled up by Empire, and as Mahit herself says: Nothing touched by Empire remains unchanged.

I really enjoyed her characters too--3-Seagrass stole the show for me--and they all have believably varied and grounded views and opinions, with the sorts of blind spots and biases you would expect from people in their respective positions. There's character growth and change too, which is always fun to see, and I'm excited to see how that progresses in the next book.

If I had a complaint, and it's a minor one, it's that the prose is sometimes overly repetitive and explanatory, as if Martine doesn't quite trust her audience to remember things from earlier in the book, or understand what's being implied, which occasionally has the effect of making Mahit look less intelligent than her role would demand. However, it didn't happen often enough that I was truly annoyed, and I think the book gets better about it as it goes on.

On the whole, a fun, exciting read (although it takes its time to set up--expect a slow start!) that left me actually looking forward to my commute for a chance to listen to more. Already checking to see if my library has the next book available.

Book review: A Memory Called Empire

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026 06:03 pm
rocky41_7: (Default)
[personal profile] rocky41_7 posting in [community profile] booknook
Title: A Memory Called Empire (Teixcalaan #1)
Author: Arkady Martine
Narrator: Amy Landon
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-fi, fiction

I realized as I was approaching the end of this book that it is the third unfinished series sapphic SFF centering the machinations of an empire that I've read lately (the others being The Locked Tomb and The Masquerade). A Memory Called Empire is the first book in the Teixcalaan series by Arkady Martine (narrated by Amy Landon in the audiobook) and tells the story of Mahit Dzmare, a diplomat from an as-yet-unconquered satellite state of the Teixcalaanli Empire entering her role as ambassador for the first time--after the previous ambassador went radio silent. 

For fans of fantasy politics, I highly recommend this one. Mahit enters a political scene on the cusp of boiling over and is thrown not only into navigating a culture and society she's only ever read about, but having to piece together what her predecessor was doing, why he was doing it, and what happened to him. It's a whirlwind of not knowing who to trust, what to lean on, or where to go.

Martine creates such an interesting world here in Teixcalaan and the mindset of a people who pride themselves on being artists above all and yet exist as ruthless conquerors within their corner of space. Furthermore, Mahit herself is in a fascinating position as someone who's been half in love with this empire since childhood, and yet is all too keenly aware of the threat it poses to her and her home. Mahit does well in Teixcalaan--she loves the poetry and literature they so highly prize, she's able to navigate Teixcalaanli society and see the double meanings everywhere, and she's excited to try her hand at these things. And yet--if she plays her cards wrong, it will end with her home being gobbled up by Empire, and as Mahit herself says: Nothing touched by Empire remains unchanged.

I really enjoyed her characters too--3-Seagrass stole the show for me--and they all have believably varied and grounded views and opinions, with the sorts of blind spots and biases you would expect from people in their respective positions. There's character growth and change too, which is always fun to see, and I'm excited to see how that progresses in the next book.

If I had a complaint, and it's a minor one, it's that the prose is sometimes overly repetitive and explanatory, as if Martine doesn't quite trust her audience to remember things from earlier in the book, or understand what's being implied, which occasionally has the effect of making Mahit look less intelligent than her role would demand. However, it didn't happen often enough that I was truly annoyed, and I think the book gets better about it as it goes on.

On the whole, a fun, exciting read (although it takes its time to set up--expect a slow start!) that left me actually looking forward to my commute for a chance to listen to more. Already checking to see if my library has the next book available.

Recent Reading: A Memory Called Empire

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026 06:03 pm
rocky41_7: (Default)
[personal profile] rocky41_7 posting in [community profile] books
I realized as I was approaching the end of this book that it is the third unfinished series sapphic SFF centering the machinations of an empire that I've read lately (the others being The Locked Tomb and The Masquerade). A Memory Called Empire is the first book in the Teixcalaan series by Arkady Martine (narrated by Amy Landon in the audiobook) and tells the story of Mahit Dzmare, a diplomat from an as-yet-unconquered satellite state of the Teixcalaanli Empire entering her role as ambassador for the first time--after the previous ambassador went radio silent. 

For fans of fantasy politics, I highly recommend this one. Mahit enters a political scene on the cusp of boiling over and is thrown not only into navigating a culture and society she's only ever read about, but having to piece together what her predecessor was doing, why he was doing it, and what happened to him. It's a whirlwind of not knowing who to trust, what to lean on, or where to go.

Martine creates such an interesting world here in Teixcalaan and the mindset of a people who pride themselves on being artists above all and yet exist as ruthless conquerors within their corner of space. Furthermore, Mahit herself is in a fascinating position as someone who's been half in love with this empire since childhood, and yet is all too keenly aware of the threat it poses to her and her home. Mahit does well in Teixcalaan--she loves the poetry and literature they so highly prize, she's able to navigate Teixcalaanli society and see the double meanings everywhere, and she's excited to try her hand at these things. And yet--if she plays her cards wrong, it will end with her home being gobbled up by Empire, and as Mahit herself says: Nothing touched by Empire remains unchanged.

I really enjoyed her characters too--3-Seagrass stole the show for me--and they all have believably varied and grounded views and opinions, with the sorts of blind spots and biases you would expect from people in their respective positions. There's character growth and change too, which is always fun to see, and I'm excited to see how that progresses in the next book.

If I had a complaint, and it's a minor one, it's that the prose is sometimes overly repetitive and explanatory, as if Martine doesn't quite trust her audience to remember things from earlier in the book, or understand what's being implied, which occasionally has the effect of making Mahit look less intelligent than her role would demand. However, it didn't happen often enough that I was truly annoyed, and I think the book gets better about it as it goes on.

On the whole, a fun, exciting read (although it takes its time to set up--expect a slow start!) that left me actually looking forward to my commute for a chance to listen to more. Already checking to see if my library has the next book available.