The Wasteland Called the Empire of Teykskalaan

The Hugo Award for Best Novel. The Locus Award for Best SF Novel. Finalist for the Nebula, DragonCon, Arthur C. Clarke, Goodreads, and the British Association of SF awards. Best Book of the Year according to Publishers Weekly, Bookpage, and... Amazon.com. An alien armada appears at the border of the space of the Teykskalaan Empire. The commander of the imperial fleet desperately tries to establish diplomatic relations with the overwhelming forces of the invaders. Now Makhit Dzmare faces an impossible task - to begin communication with a hostile being. Her failure guarantees millions of deaths in an endless war. Success will prevent the disintegration of Teykskalaan and ensure the continuation of predatory imperial expansion. Or something completely unthinkable will be created. Martin weaves a dramatic and tense story of political intrigue and first contact with the alien... each character is drawn in the finest detail. — Booklist A dizzying, thrilling tale of diplomacy, conspiracy, and first contact, awarded the Hugo Prize... This complex and stunning space opera promises to change the genre. — Publishers Weekly