If you loved
A Desolation Called Peace
Arkady Martine · Book · 2021
If you loved A Desolation Called Peace, you likely crave stories where complex political stakes collide with the profound challenge of communicating with the unknown.
Films on the same thread
Dune
Denis Villeneuve · Film · 2021
Shares 2 threads with A Desolation Called Peace: Political Intrigue, Space Opera.
Just as A Desolation Called Peace explores the tension of empire, this film mirrors that scale by examining how destiny and colonial conflict shape the fate of entire civilizations.
2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick · Film · 1968
Shares a thread with A Desolation Called Peace: Space Opera.
This classic shares the philosophical weight found in A Desolation Called Peace, focusing on the existential awe and human vulnerability that emerge when we finally encounter truly alien intelligence.
Project Hail Mary
Phil Lord · Film · 2026
Shares a thread with A Desolation Called Peace: First Contact.
The intellectual rigor of A Desolation Called Peace is matched here, as both narratives prioritize the scientific and linguistic effort required to bridge the gap between two different species.
Arrival
Denis Villeneuve · Film · 2016
Shares a thread with A Desolation Called Peace: First Contact.
If the linguistics and communication themes of A Desolation Called Peace resonated with you, this film provides a similarly intense, focused study on the difficulty of understanding an alien consciousness.
Series on the same thread
Peacemaker
James Gunn · Series · 2022
Explores: Anti-hero redemption, Dysfunctional team, Government conspiracy.
The moral ambiguity and complex team dynamics that defined the characters in A Desolation Called Peace appear here as a gritty, cynical exploration of what happens when ideology meets violence.
The Expanse
Mark Fergus · Series · 2015
Shares a thread with A Desolation Called Peace: Space Opera.
Much like A Desolation Called Peace, this series excels at balancing sprawling geopolitical conspiracies with the personal stakes of individuals caught in the crossfire of an interstellar power struggle.
House of the Dragon
George R. R. Martin · Series · 2022
Explores: Succession, Power Struggles, Dynastic Conflict.
The intricate dynastic power struggles in A Desolation Called Peace find a fantasy equivalent here, focusing on how tradition and succession crises inevitably lead empires toward their own eventual destruction.
Halo
Kyle Killen · Series · 2022
Shares 2 threads with A Desolation Called Peace: Military Science Fiction, Space Opera.
The military tension and focus on interspecies conflict in A Desolation Called Peace are mirrored in this depiction of a desperate, high-stakes war between humanity and an alien threat.
Podcasts on the same thread
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Explores: societal collapse, power dynamics, cyclical history.
Readers drawn to the political theory within A Desolation Called Peace will appreciate this analytical deep dive into the cyclical patterns of revolution and the inevitable collapse of established systems.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2025
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
This podcast echoes the historical and geopolitical contemplation found in A Desolation Called Peace, challenging your perspective on civilizational power and the inherent moral ambiguity of human leadership.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is A Desolation Called Peace a standalone novel?
No, A Desolation Called Peace is the sequel to the Hugo Award-winning novel A Memory Called Empire. It continues the story established in the first book, focusing on the Teixcalaanli space empire and the mysterious alien armada encountered at the edges of their territory.
What order should I read A Desolation Called Peace in?
You should read A Desolation Called Peace after finishing A Memory Called Empire. Because it is the direct sequel to Arkady Martine's debut novel, reading them in publication order ensures you understand the established context of the Teixcalaanli space opera setting.
Did A Desolation Called Peace win any awards?
A Desolation Called Peace is a spectacular space opera that follows the success of its predecessor. While the first book won the Hugo Award for Best Novel, the sequel continues the acclaim for Arkady Martine's work within the science fiction genre.
What is the main conflict in A Desolation Called Peace?
The primary conflict in A Desolation Called Peace involves an unidentified alien armada that has appeared on the fringes of Teixcalaanli space. The central challenge for the characters is that no one within the empire is currently able to communicate with this mysterious force.