The siege of burning grass

This haunting and insightful examination of the human capacity for violence and mercy from Nebula Award winner Mohamed (the Rising trilogy) chronicles a brutal intergalactic war. The Varkallagi Empire vows to fight to the last man in their decades-long power struggle with the Meddon. The Varkallagi have harnessed wasps to administer medication and have the tech to grow back amputated limbs, but their technology pales compared to the Meddon's floating cities. Blind rage and sadism drive Varkallagi Corporal Qhudur as he gleefully tortures his own countrymen--his favorite victim being Alefret, the leader of a pacifist group and a mountain of a man whose deformed face frightens all who see him. With two million Varkallagi dead, military intelligence official Verl hatches a plan to send Qhudur and Alefret to infiltrate the Middon's last floating city. The idea is for Alefret to make a connection with the enemy's own pacifist faction, negotiate a surrender, and end the war. But is Alefret compromising his beliefs just by agreeing to the mission? Readers will need to give Mohamed's challenging commentary on human nature a slow and careful reading to glean her insights into this chilling and demoralizing war. This is not for the faint of heart. Agent: Michael Curry, DMLA. (Mar.)