The Goblin Emperor
by Sarah Monette · first published 2014
80% recommend20% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Gentle, character-driven court fantasy about a half-goblin emperor learning statecraft; readers praise its formal social detail, warm tone, and the way it treats politics as a matter of everyday manners and diplomacy.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"The youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed in an 'accident,' he has no choice but to take his place as the only surviving rightful heir. Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and the sure knowledge that whoever assassinated his father and brothers could make an attempt on his life at any moment. Surrounded by sycophants eager to curry favor with the naîve new emperor and
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The Goblin Emperor is incredible. I read it when it came out and I can't believe how little I see it mentioned.
on “Ask HN: What are some of the best books you have read in 2022?” ↗…https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/543957/american-war... - Riot Baby https://publishing.tor.com/riotbaby-dbtmp1144773/97812502147... - On Fragile Waves https://www.workman.com/products/on-fragile-waves#:~:text=On... * Will Make You Feel Good - The Goblin Emperor https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765365682 - Murderbot (series) https://publishing.tor.com/themurderbotdiaries-marthawells/9... - The Interdependency (series) https://us.macmillan.com/series/theinterdependency/…
on “The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of the Past Decade” ↗The Goblin Emperor by Sarah Monette (writing as Katherine Addison) is a secondary world fantasy that uses you/thou as a way of incorporating formality. It's interesting way of helping understand the whole manner/formality…
on “Did English ever have a formal version of "you"? (2011)” ↗…porn" (think Project Hail Mary/The Martian but not necessarily solving engineering problems). On top of PHM, I read Sixteen Ways to Defend A Walled City (great dark satire despite the shit ending) and The Goblin Emperor (more on the social engineering side of things, so better characterization than something like The Martian)
on “Ask HN: What are some of the best books you have read in 2022?” ↗…which I learned that Chuck Tingle actually writes the stories, not just the title, and they're ... actually not terrible and pretty funny and very meta. Katherine Addison "The Grief of Stones". Sequel to Goblin Emperor/Witness for the Dead. Murder mystery in an extremely engaging industrial-era fantasy world. Alix E. Harrow "A Spindle Splintered" and sequels. Fairy tales encounter the multiverse. C L Polk "Witchmark"…
on “Ask HN: What are some of the best books you have read in 2022?” ↗…The Calculating Stars because I didn't think The Lady Astronaut of Mars did either). Looking at the post-2009 shortlists I think at least Anathem, Ninefox Gambit (and, frankly, both its sequels), The Goblin Emperor and Too Like the Lightning (even if the series ended poorly) were Hugo-winner-quality and The Dervish House was borderline (I appreciate that that that's two for 2015).
on “Glasgow 2024 Hugo Awards Statement – 22 July, 2024” ↗…were amazing works. I disagreed with the hectoring pro-Human Spaceflight messaging of The Calculating Stars, but as a book, I again thought it was good. I was a fan of Anathem, Ninefox Gambit, and The Goblin Emperor (which was my preference to win that year) as well; could not get into Too Like the Lightning at all (but had no doubt that it belonged).
on “Glasgow 2024 Hugo Awards Statement – 22 July, 2024” ↗…fantasy. The Works of Vermin. Exceptionally well written. Not an ounce of flab anywhere. The Carryx series, 2 books so far. Best villains ever. Tainted Cup and sequel. Sherlock Holmes meets Godzilla. Goblin Emperor The Prophet (Gibran) Los Alamos (Kanon) Hyperion (reread) Finally, a shout out to the best book I read in 2025: Terra Ignota. Yes, the whole series.
on “Ask HN: What are you reading?” ↗…winning would seem fair, nominations possibly not? The list was: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2015-hugo-awards/ The Three Body Problem, Cixin Liu, Ken Liu translator (Tor Books) The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (Sarah Monette) (Tor Books) Ancillary Sword, Ann Leckie (Orbit US/Orbit UK) Skin Game, Jim Butcher (Orbit UK/Roc Books) The Dark Between the Stars, Kevin J. Anderson (Tor Books)
on “Science fiction authors were excluded from awards for fear of offending China” ↗Starting Goblin Emperor based on your recommend.
on “Ask HN: What are you reading?” ↗