What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedA Memory Called Empire
Arkady Martine · Book · 2019
If you loved A Memory Called Empire, start with The Expanse (Mark Fergus, 2015) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to A Memory Called Empire across media.
If you loved A Memory Called Empire, you are drawn to the precarious intersection where high-stakes political maneuvering meets the crushing weight of cultural identity.
Films on the same thread
Project Hail Mary
Phil Lord · Film · 2026
Shares a thread with A Memory Called Empire: First Contact.
Like A Memory Called Empire, this story anchors its vast scientific stakes in the internal struggle of a protagonist navigating a lonely mission while grappling with the nature of memory.
2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick · Film · 1968
Shares 2 threads with A Memory Called Empire: Artificial Intelligence, Space Opera.
This classic shares the profound philosophical inquiry found in A Memory Called Empire, specifically regarding how artificial intelligence and evolved consciousness redefine what it means to be human.
Total Recall
Paul Verhoeven · Film · 1990
Explores: Memory Implantation, Artificial Memory, Reality vs. Illusion.
Much like the identity crisis faced by Mahit in A Memory Called Empire, this film explores the unsettling dissolution of self when memories are treated as malleable, external commodities.
Ex Machina
Alex Garland · Film · 2015
Shares a thread with A Memory Called Empire: Artificial Intelligence.
This narrative mirrors the tense atmosphere of A Memory Called Empire by forcing a character to navigate a high-stakes power dynamic centered on the ethics of advanced artificial consciousness.
Series on the same thread
The Expanse
Mark Fergus · Series · 2015
Shares 2 threads with A Memory Called Empire: Artificial Intelligence, Space Opera.
You will recognize the intricate corporate and political conspiracies of A Memory Called Empire here, as disparate characters are drawn together to expose systemic truths across a vast solar system.
For All Mankind
Ronald D. Moore · Series · 2019
Explores: Space Exploration, Cold War, Technological Advancement.
If the geopolitical tension of A Memory Called Empire captivated you, this series offers a similar focus on the human cost of long-term state-sponsored competition and technological advancement.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Rick Berman · Series · 1993
Shares a thread with A Memory Called Empire: Space Opera.
This series perfectly replicates the complex political environment of A Memory Called Empire, focusing on post-war reconstruction and the delicate moral ambiguities of occupying a foreign cultural space.
Arcane
Christian Linke · Series · 2021
Explores: Sisterhood, Dystopian Society, Technological Advancement vs. Social Decay.
The clashing convictions and societal decay present in this story echo the cultural identity conflicts that define the political landscape of A Memory Called Empire.
Podcasts on the same thread
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2025
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
The analytical approach to power dynamics and civilizational collapse in this podcast provides the same intellectual satisfaction found in the historical and political depth of A Memory Called Empire.
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Explores: societal collapse, power dynamics, cyclical history.
This deep dive into the cyclical nature of revolutions mirrors the historical consciousness of A Memory Called Empire, examining how power structures shape the lives of those caught within them.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the primary conflict in A Memory Called Empire?
In A Memory Called Empire, Ambassador Mahit Dzmare arrives at the capital of the Teixcalaanli Empire to discover her predecessor was murdered. She must navigate the deadly halls of power to uncover the truth behind his death while facing the threat of being the next target.
Is A Memory Called Empire a story about political intrigue?
Yes, A Memory Called Empire follows Mahit Dzmare as she navigates the enticing yet deadly halls of power within the Teixcalaanli Empire. She must survive a war of lies and uncover dangerous truths regarding the suspicious death of the previous ambassador to her post.
Who is the protagonist of A Memory Called Empire?
The protagonist of A Memory Called Empire is Mahit Dzmare. She is an ambassador who travels to the interstellar capital of the Teixcalaanli Empire, where she finds herself in immediate danger after discovering that her predecessor was murdered and that she may be the next victim.
Does the plot of A Memory Called Empire involve an investigation?
Yes, the plot of A Memory Called Empire centers on Mahit Dzmare investigating the death of her predecessor. Although the authorities claim his death was accidental, Mahit must seek the truth behind the murder while navigating the dangerous political landscape of the Teixcalaanli Empire.