A Desolation Called Peace: Arkady Martine with Sarah Gailey

Martine talks about continuing the spectacular saga of Teixcalaan and Mahit Dzmare in the sequel to her Hugo Award-winning A Memory Called Empire.  

In her debut novel, A Memory Called Empire, Arkady Martine delivered an unputdownable page-turner that was equal parts space opera and political thriller. In A Desolation Called Peace, an alien armada lurks on the edges of Teixcalaanli space. No one can communicate with it, no one can destroy it, and Fleet Captain Nine Hibiscus is running out of options. In a desperate attempt at diplomacy with the mysterious invaders, the fleet captain has sent for a diplomatic envoy. Now Mahit Dzmare and Three Seagrass face the impossible task of trying to communicate with a hostile entity. Their failure will guarantee millions of deaths in an endless war. Their success might prevent Teixcalaan's destruction—and allow the empire to continue its rapacious expansion.

Arkady Martine discusses her return to the empire of Teixcalaan and the issues of imperialism, colonialism, xenophobia, and cultural memory that its story explores. 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
 Arkady Martine is a speculative fiction writer and, as Dr. AnnaLinden Weller, a historian of the Byzantine Empire and a city planner. Under both names, she writes about border politics, rhetoric, propaganda, and the edges of the world. Arkady grew up in New York City and, after some time in Turkey, Canada, and Sweden, lives in New Mexico with her wife, the author Vivian Shaw. Martine's debut novel, A Memory Called Empire, kicks off the Teixcalaan series. You can find her online at www.arkadymartine.net and on Twitter as @ArkadyMartine.

 Sarah Gailey (they/ them) came onto the speculative scene in 2015 and has since become one of the sharpest, funniest voices in pop culture  online, going viral frequently for their stories and joie de vivre. They are a regular contributor to multiple websites, including Tor.com, where their Women of Harry Potter series won a Hugo Award for Best Related Work. Gailey's nonfiction has appeared in Mashable and The Boston Globe, and their short fiction in various popular outlets. Their highly anticipated 2019 debut novel, Magic for Liars, garnered cross-genre acclaim. 

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Arkady Martine © Karen Osborne