Machineries of Empire

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Machineries of Empire
Cover art for Ninefox Gambit, the first book in the series
  • Ninefox Gambit
  • Raven Stratagem
  • Revenant Gun
  • Hexarchate Stories
AuthorYoon Ha Lee
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction
PublisherSolaris Books
Published
  • 14 Jun 2016 (Ninefox Gambit)
  • 13 Jun 2017 (Raven Stratagem)
  • 12 Jun 2018 (Revenant Gun)
  • 25 Jun 2019 (Hexarchate Stories)
No. of books4

Machineries of Empire is a series of military science fiction/science fantasy/space opera novels by American writer Yoon Ha Lee and published by Solaris Books. It consists of Ninefox Gambit (2016), Raven Stratagem (2017) and Revenant Gun (2018). A collection of short stories set in the same universe, Hexarchate Stories, was published in 2019. The main trilogy follows the young infantry captain Kel Cheris and the traitorous general Shuos Jedao in a war among factions of a despotic interstellar empire, the Hexarchate, whose esoteric technology is based on the population's adherence to the imperial calendar.[1]

The novels cover "space opera, fantasy, Korean folklore and mathematics" themes.[2] Several of Lee's short stories are prequels to the trilogy.[3]

Plot[edit]

Ninefox Gambit[edit]

The hexarchate is a galactic government lead by six different factions: Shuos, Kel, Nirai, Vidona, Rahal, and Andan. A seventh faction, Liozh, was previously destroyed for promoting the heresy of democracy. The hexarchs’ power is derived from their calendar; when more citizens follow the prescribed calendar, the hexarchate gains access to so-called exotic technologies that can defy the laws of traditional physics. About four hundred years prior to the beginning of the first novel, General Shuos Jedao put down a heretical rebellion. Jedao succeeded but killed over one million people in the process. Jedao’s consciousness was stored in a machine called the black cradle for future use as a military strategist.

The Fortress of Scattered Needles is taken over by heretics. Important characters on the Fortress include Vahenz afrir dai Noum, a high-ranking heretic, and Liozh Zai, who is attempting to revive the Liozh heresy.

Kel Cheris is a hexarchate soldier. She is tasked to formulate a plan to reclaim the Fortress. Jedao’s consciousness is removed from the black cradle and implanted into Cheris. Jedao and Cheris work together to bring down the shields surrounding the Fortress. Cheris and her fleet then commence a full-scale assault on the Fortress. Cheris learns that the Hafn, a non-hexarchate human civilization, are invading hexarchate space. Kel Command has kept this information from her, fearing that Jedao will turn traitor. Vahenz kills Liozh Zai and is revealed to be a Hafn operative.

After several military engagements, Cheris assumes full control of the Fortress and the calendar begins to normalize. Kel reinforcements finally arrive, but they attack Cheris. In this attack, they destroy thousands of their own troops. They fire an exotic weapon which destroys Jedao; Cheris absorbs his memories and they become one unified consciousness. Cheris realizes that Jedao manipulated the hexarchate into placing him in the black cradle, ensuring he would “live” long enough to destroy them. Cheris kills Vahenz and steals her ship. Cheris decides to turn on the hexarchate and replace it with a better system.

Reception[edit]

Writing for NPR, Jason Sheehan praised the worldbuilding of Ninefox Gambit. Sheehan stated that the technology is "overwhelming and jarringly bizarre ... [b]ut it is also beautiful, vast and rooted in the real..." Sheehan further stated that the "unforgiving immersion" in Lee's world made the character-driven moments resonate even more clearly with the reader.[4]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Awards and nominations for Machineries of Empire
Book Year Award Result Ref.
Ninefox Gambit 2017
Arthur C. Clarke Award Nominated [5]
Hugo Award for Best Novel Nominated [6]
Locus Award for Best First Novel Won [7]
Nebula Award for Best Novel Nominated [8]
Raven Stratagem 2018
Hugo Award for Best Novel Nominated [9]
Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel Finalist [10]
Revenant Gun 2019
Hugo Award for Best Novel Nominated [11]
Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel Finalist [12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Beautifully Alien 'Ninefox Gambit' Mixes Math And Magic". NPR.org. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  2. ^ Abigail Nussbaum, Worlds in the making, New Scientist, Volume 235, Issue 3138, 2017, Page 43, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0262-4079(17)31573-7.
  3. ^ "Yoon Ha Lee". www.yoonhalee.com. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  4. ^ Jason Shaheen (26 Jun 2016). "Beautifully Alien "Ninefox Gambit" Mixes Math and Magic". NPR. Retrieved 2 Jun 2024.
  5. ^ "SFADB: Arthur C. Clarke Award 2017". SFADB. 2017. Retrieved 2 Jun 2024.
  6. ^ "Announcing the 2017 Hugo Award Winners". Reactor Magazine. 11 Aug 2017. Retrieved 2 Jun 2024.
  7. ^ "2017 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. 24 Jun 2017. Retrieved 2 Jun 2024.
  8. ^ "SFADB: Nebula Awards 2017". SFADB. 2017. Retrieved 2 Jun 2024.
  9. ^ "Announcing the 2018 Hugo Award Winners". Reactor Magazine. 20 Aug 2018. Retrieved 2 Jun 2024.
  10. ^ "2018 Locus Awards Finalists". Locus. 30 Apr 2018. Retrieved 2 Jun 2024.
  11. ^ "Announcing the 2019 Hugo Award Winners". Reactor Magazine. 18 Aug 2019. Retrieved 2 Jun 2024.
  12. ^ "2019 Locus Awards Finalists". Locus. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 2 Jun 2024.


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