Hugo Award for Best Novel. Locus Award for Best SF Novel. Finalist for the Nebula, DragonCon, Arthur C. Clarke, Goodreads, and British SF Association Awards. Best Book of the Year by Publishers Weekly, Bookpage, and Amazon.comAn alien armada appears on the edge of space in the Teixkalaan space empire. The commander of the imperial fleet is desperately trying to establish diplomatic relations with the superior forces of the invaders. Now Mahit Dzmare is faced with an impossible task - to begin communication with a hostile creature. Its failure will guarantee millions of deaths in an endless war. And success will prevent the collapse of Teikskalaan 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 strangers... every character is drawn in detail details." - Booklist "A dizzying, exhilarating, Hugo Award-winning story of diplomacy, conspiracy, and first contact... This complex and stunning space opera promises to change the genre." – Publishers Weekly