A Memory Called Empire

Compare and contrast the Teixcalaanli language with Armenian. What message is being sent through this parallel?

Compare and contrast the Teixcalaanli Empire and Lsel Station’s treatment of memory. What are the ethical concerns of these approaches, if any?

From Emperor Six Direction’s aged body to Yskandr’s corpse, the novel often describes bodies. What role do these descriptions play?

From Yskandr, Nineteen Adze, and the Emperor’s intimate relationship to Three Seagrass’s flirtation with Mahit, sexuality and politics interact throughout the novel. Pick one relationship and explore its effect on politics and vice versa.

Choose a royal mentioned in the novel. What role do they play in the plot and what drives their actions? What do their relationships with other royals say about the Empire as a whole?

Overall, how does the novel operate as both historical fiction and science fiction? How does this mixing of genres support one of the novel’s themes? How does this mixing tie into Mahit and Yskandr’s relationship?

AI plays a central role in the City, as it guides and guards citizens. How does the novel treat technology in terms of morality?

The Empire sees itself as civilized and sophisticated. How does its use of war complicate this vision? How does Mahit view the Empire by the end of the novel?