Architects of Memory by Karen Osborne is a stellar debut that explores the corruption in capitalism and what we will go through to protect the ones we love.
Salvage pilot, Ashland Jackson, just wants to finish her company indenture and get the citizenship she desperately needs to gain access to the treatment for the celestium sickness that is quickly killing her. When Ash and the crew of the Twenty-Five stumbled upon a mysterious weapon while on a salvage op, they are thrown into a world of corporate espionage and betrayals. As buried secrets and alliances become revealed, Ash and the crew must figure out who to trust and how to keep the weapon out of the wrong hands.
On the surface, Architects of Memory seems like a story we’ve seen before in the science fiction world. Humans have gone to space, corporations take capitalism to the extreme, first contact does not go well, and our hero uncovers a conspiracy. All good stuff, but nothing specifically new. And then you meet the characters…
Architects of Memory is a novel that is driven by plot, but made all the better by the characters. There is representation for PTSD, chronic illness, LGBTQ+, and more. However, what really makes it stand out is the casual nature of how the representation is brought into the story. Everyone in the story is just living their life, being who they are, without big neon signs over their heads flashing “I’m bisexual, ask me how!” The characters are just themselves and seeing these parts of who they are expressed in such a natural way brings a sense of connection and authenticity to the story that is sometimes lacking in science fiction.
Where Architects of Memory falters is the pacing. We flip flop between action-packed moments and clunky info dumps throughout most of the story. And while everything that is happening is intriguing, it’s hard to stay fully engaged when the action dies down. Stories have to have their slower moments in between the action scenes, but the transition between the two were not smooth here.
There were some good plot twists that were dropped at just the right times to keep you wanting to read more. The story is told between the points of view of Ash and the captain of the Twenty Five (and Ash’s love interest), Kate Keller, so there are more than a few chapter cliffhangers as we bounce between the two POVs. But because of the dual POVs, keeping track of the corporate espionage part of the plot can be a bit tricky.
At the end of the day, Architects of Memory is a good debut that leads me to believe Karen Osborne will definitely be taking up space on my favourites of science fiction bookcase. Her subtle way of building up characters brings them to life in ways that few authors can achieve. If you are looking for a science fiction story with authentic characters, twisty plots, a stuffed unicorn toy, and plenty of action and feels, then this is the one for you!
Architects of Memory is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 8th 2020.
Will you be picking up Architects of Memory? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Millions died after the first contact. An alien weapon holds the key to redemption—or annihilation. Experience Karen Osborne’s unforgettable science fiction debut, Architects of Memory.
Terminally ill salvage pilot Ash Jackson lost everything in the war with the alien Vai, but she’ll be damned if she loses her future. Her plan: to buy, beg, or lie her way out of corporate indenture and find a cure. When her crew salvages a genocidal weapon from a ravaged starship above a dead colony, Ash uncovers a conspiracy of corporate intrigue and betrayal that threatens to turn her into a living weapon.
