Machineries of Empire

Machineries of Empire

Cover art for Ninefox Gambit, the first book in the series
Ninefox Gambit Raven Stratagem Revenant Gun Hexarchate Stories
Author	Yoon Ha Lee
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Science fiction
Publisher	Solaris Books
Published	14 Jun 2016 (Ninefox Gambit) 13 Jun 2017 (Raven Stratagem) 12 Jun 2018 (Revenant Gun) 25 Jun 2019 (Hexarchate Stories)
No. of books	4

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.

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

Plot

Ninefox Gambit

The hexarchate is a galactic government led by six factions: Shuos, Kel, Nirai, Vidona, Rahal, and Andan. A seventh faction, Liozh, was destroyed for advocating democracy, which was deemed a heresy. The power of the hexarchate is linked to a calendar system, where citizens' adherence enables the use of exotic technologies that defy traditional physics.

Approximately 400 years before the events of the novel, General Shuos Jedao suppressed a heretical rebellion, but in doing so, caused the deaths of over one million people. His consciousness was preserved in a device called the black cradle for future use.

When heretics take control of the Fortress of Scattered Needles, soldier Kel Cheris is assigned the task of reclaiming it. She is implanted with Jedao's consciousness to assist in the mission. Together, they breach the fortress’s defenses, leading a military assault. During the operation, Cheris discovers that a human civilization called the Hafn is invading hexarchate space. Kel Command, fearing Jedao's influence, withholds this information. It is later revealed that Vahenz afrir dai Noum, a high-ranking heretic, is a Hafn operative.

After several battles, Cheris gains control of the Fortress, but is betrayed by Kel reinforcements who use an exotic weapon to destroy Jedao. However, Cheris absorbs his memories, merging their consciousnesses. She then learns that Jedao orchestrated his preservation in the black cradle with the intent of eventually destroying the hexarchate. In the end, Cheris kills Vahenz, steals her ship, and decides to overthrow the hexarchate.

Raven Stratagem

In Raven Stratagem, General Shuos Jedao takes control of the body of Kel Cheris after the events of Ninefox Gambit. Using Cheris’s identity, Jedao hijacks control of the Kel army's swarm and initiates a new campaign. Kel Command sends General Kel Khiruev to stop him, but she is quickly subverted by Jedao’s tactical genius and ability to manipulate her troops, who are conditioned to obey commands.

Jedao sets out to prevent an invasion by the Hafn, a foreign enemy threatening the hexarchate, but his true motives remain unclear. While using the Kel army to defend against the Hafn, he also carries out ruthless strategies. His unpredictability leaves both his allies and enemies unsure of his ultimate plan.

Throughout the novel, factions within the hexarchate maneuver for power, and Jedao continues his manipulation, leading to significant casualties on both sides. Meanwhile, Kel Command grows increasingly desperate to stop Jedao, deploying all available forces in an attempt to neutralize him. However, he manages to consolidate his power by taking control of the Kel fleet. After defeating the Hafn invasion, he executes a coup by against Nirai Kujen, one of the immortal hexarchs who controls the hexarchate’s calendar system. By doing so, Jedao disrupts the power balance within the hexarchate.

Rather than immediately using his newfound control for obvious military or political gain, Jedao’s next moves are ambiguous. He doesn't reveal his full intentions but indicates that his long-term goal is to overthrow the entire hexarchate. His actions signal a direct threat to the established government, leaving the hexarchate in a vulnerable position.

Revenant Gun

Jedao, without full knowledge of his past actions, is placed in command of a fleet with orders to subdue rebel factions and restore the status quo. Meanwhile, Kel Cheris, still harboring some of Jedao's memories, continues her mission to dismantle the hexarchate. As the two Jedao figures move closer to a confrontation, various factions within the hexarchate struggle for power and survival, complicating the political landscape. The novel explores themes of identity, loyalty, and governance as the characters navigate shifting alliances and power struggles.

Two versions of Shuos Jedao — the resurrected Jedao without his memories and Kel Cheris who has absorbed the original Jedao's memories — confront each other. The amnesiac Jedao struggles with his lack of knowledge about his past actions and his role as a tool for Nirai Kujen, while Cheris is still determined to dismantle the hexarchate.

In the final battle, Cheris outmaneuvers Kujen, who is trying to maintain control of the hexarchate using the calendrical system. Cheris uses her tactical and mathematical expertise to destabilize Kujen’s grip on power. As Kujen’s influence wanes, the resurrection technology that supports him is also destroyed, ending his rule.

Cheris, now firmly in control of the situation, decides to rebuild a new system to replace the hexarchate, one that doesn't rely on the oppressive calendrical technology. The series ends with Cheris setting the foundation for this new order, marking the fall of the hexarchate.

Major themes

Aidan Moher of Reactor praised the way in which Ninefox Gambit explores identity and personality. Moher writes that it is "impossible for [Cheris and Jedao] to share responsibilities and, literally, a body, without bleeding into one another. It’s a keen examination of the way personalities can warp around the people surrounding you." Moher further notes that much of the novel is "about exploring truth, what you believe about yourself, what you believe about the world around you, and this leads to some fascinating moments between Jedao and Cheris, who see the world very differently from one another."

Reception

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. Writing for The New York Times Jing Wei praised the worldbuilding and thematic content. Wei noted that "Mathematics is often lauded as a universal language, but this is blatantly untrue; for universality to work, adherents must believe in the same basic truths... Lee’s quasi-religious treatment of mathematics, and Cheris’s need to simultaneously exploit and rely on Jedao, both serve as metaphors for colonialism." The review concludes with a positive recommendation for the novel, stating that "readers willing to invest in a steep learning curve will be rewarded with a tight-woven, complicated but not convoluted, breathtakingly original space opera." Aidan Moher of Reactor praised the way in which Lee takes the tropes of military science fiction and uses the concept of the calendar "that is beyond our understanding of physics—rendering it, essentially, magical." The same reviewer wrote that "Ninefox Gambit might not work for everyone, but for those itching for dense worldbuilding, a riproaring plot, complex relationships, and military SF with a deep imagination, it’ll do just the trick... This is military SF with blood, guts, math, and heart."

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations for Machineries of Empire

Book	Year	Award	Result	Ref.
Ninefox Gambit	2017
		Arthur C. Clarke Award	Shortlisted
		Hugo Award for Best Novel	Nominated
		Locus Award for Best First Novel	Won
		Nebula Award for Best Novel	Nominated
Raven Stratagem	2018
		Hugo Award for Best Novel	Nominated
		Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel	Finalist
Revenant Gun	2019
		Hugo Award for Best Novel	Nominated
		Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel	Nominated
Machineries of Empire	2019
		Hugo Award for Best Series	Nominated