The Ambassadors speak with two mouths and one mind and as such can be understood by the Ariekei (who do not recognise any other form of communication) allowing for trade in their valuable biotechnology. Few people can speak the language of the Hosts (referred to only as 'Language'), as it requires the orator to speak two words at once those humans (Terre) who can are genetically-engineered twins known as Ambassadors, bred solely for this purpose. On the planet of Arieka humans and 'exots' co-exist with the indigenous, enigmatic Ariekei-otherwise known as the Hosts.

Embassytown is a colony of a state called Bremen and its trade goods (precious metal and, especially, alien-influenced biotech), along with Embassytown's unique position at the edge of the known universe, make it a particularly important colony.Īvice Benner Cho, an 'Immerser' (a traveller on the Immer), has returned to her childhood home from her adventures in the ' Out'. It exists on the very edge of the known universe, which given its distance from everything else, is only accessible by sailing through the 'immer' (see § Style below for the meaning of Miéville's neologisms). The novel was well reviewed and won the 2012 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel.Įmbassytown takes place mostly in the city of the title, on the planet Arieka.

The plot of the novel surrounds the town of Embassytown, the native alien residents known as Ariekei, their Language, and the human interaction with them. A limited edition was released by Subterranean Press. It was published in the UK by Pan Macmillan on, and in the US by Del Rey Books on. China Miéville on Bookbits radio talks about Embassytown.Įmbassytown is a science fiction novel by British author China Miéville.

Embassytown by China Miéville