The Expansion History by Pseudo-Thirteen River

Mark Rothko: thanks to Art Weekenders

Title: The Expansion History (in at least 5 books)

Author: Anon but attributed to Pseudo-Thirteen River

Publisher: Not known 

Source book: A Memory Called Empire by Arcady Martine

A Memory Called Empire (winner of the Hugo Award for 2020 - and it is a wonderful book) is about Mahit Dzmare; a stranger, a barbarian, the new Ambassador from Lsel to the Teixcalaan Empire. The Empire is obsessed with literature, particularly poetry, and much of what is said includes literary allusions or quotations. 

In The Expansion History, the historian-poet Pseudo-Thirteen River writing in the reign of the Emperor Three Perigee, uses the epithet “radiant blaze” to describe the Emperor Twelve Solar-Flare and Mahit uses the epithet to show both her erudition, and her respect for the current Emperor Six Direction. But despite her best efforts Mahit finds herself alone and beleaguered on a planet she has studied for years but finds she hardly understands at all. 

Yes, just like visiting France all triumphant with a brand new French “A” level… only to discover nobody understands anything you say, but a thousand times worse. Yup, you need to know about Les anneés yé-yé and Les Bronzés Font du Ski before you can get to grips with France. And what exactly is the difference between un an and une année? I have yet to find out. The Teixcalaan Empire sounds a whole lot more complicated.

There’s another version of The Expansion History written by Five Diadem (born Five Hat but you would change your name too if you lived in the golden age of epic historiography). It’s less about the mistaken identities and communication delays, and more about the supply lines. Yes, that’s not clear to me either. 

There are three attempts on Mahit’s life in her first week as Ambassador to the Teixcalaan Empire, and her liaison, Three Seagrass, and her friend Twelve Azalea are attacked and followed. On top of everything else it seems that Mahit may have been sabotaged by her own government.

Three Seagrass has an excellent memory. She recites the seventeen thousand line poem The Buildings to describe the City for the Ambassador. Mahit has never read this poem thinking it sounds rather dull, but hearing it recited while they actually pass the buildings it describes makes it come to life. Imagine a poem written to describe the buildings of London as you arrive on the train from Reading.

There is also Dispatches from the Numinous Frontier by Eleven Lathe (in at least five books): “we can trade truths just as well as lies”, the truth pact between the protagonist and the sworn band of aliens. This is a text Mahit has never read; and Encomia for the Fallen of the Flagship Twelve Expanding Lotus by Fourteen Scalpel.

Then there’s Gustatory Delights of the City: A Guide for the Tourist In Search of Exquisite Experiences by Twenty-Four Rose. The author recommends the thin slice of small-elk wrapped around winter vegetables at Lost Garden in Plaza North Four. Or fried lily blossoms stuffed with goats milk cheese. 

Or  what about The Secret History of the Emperors in at least 18 editions or a palace romance called Red Flowerbuds for Thirty Ribbon. I quite fancy those lily blossoms.

Mahit uses Imperial Glyphbook Standard, a dictionary of the Teixcalaan language, to create her own personal cypher. The Teixcalaan language uses glyphs, while Mahit’s language uses a 37 letter alphabet. 

Mark Rothko: thanks to Britannica