Seven Surrenders (2017)

Seven Surrenders is the second novel in a science fiction quartet called Terra Ignota, written by the American author Ada Palmer. It was published on November 28, 2017. It was a finalist for the 2018 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. It is preceded by Too Like the Lightning (2016) and followed by The Will to Battle (2017) and Perhaps the Stars (2021).

The Earth of the Terra Ignota quartet has seen several centuries of near-total peace and prosperity. Set in the year 2454, Seven Surrenders is the second half of a fictional memoir written by self-confessed unreliable narrator Mycroft Canner, a brilliant, infamous, and paroled criminal who often serves the world's most powerful leaders. He has been commissioned by several other characters to write the "history" that the series is presented as.

Seven Surrenders describes the final three days of Mycroft's history of the "seven days of transformation", March 27–29, 2454. What began as an oddly obvious minor crime turns out to be a revenge plot thirty years in the making, which threatens to unravel the global system of government. The centuries-long golden era has been propped up by sanctioned assassinations, the death of a few for the good of the many. But as the Hives begin to fall, everyone will have to choose a side in the impending global war.

Setting

Advanced technology has led to the advent of a near-utopian golden age. However, there are still tensions among political groups, such as distribution of land, citizens, and income. Rather than geographic nations, people can voluntarily join Hives based on values or remain Hiveless, choosing only a minimum set of laws to adhere to. There are seven Hives: the Humanists who value achievement; Cousins, philanthropy; Masons, logic; Gordians, intelligence; Europe, national identity; Mitsubishi, land and business; and Utopians, the future. There are three groups of Hiveless who each adhere to the White, Gray, and Black laws. Each Hive has its own capitol, form of government, and favored language. All are allotted representatives in the Universal Free Alliance Senate.

Gendered language

By default, almost all characters use gender-neutral language, with "they/them" the predominant pronoun used. Mycroft, the primary narrator, finds his world's obsession with gender-neutrality oppressive, so often uses gendered pronouns to refer to other characters, assigning genders based on the characters' personalities and roles, as they relate to traditional Western gender roles. For instance, Chagatai is referred to using "she/her" pronouns because of their fierce, lioness-like strength when protecting their nephew from attack. The author has explained that Mycroft frequently "misuses" gendered pronouns, just as people in real life often make mistakes when using gender-neutral pronouns. Also, in its chapter at the start of Seven Surrenders, Sniper advises the reader to not "trust the gendered pronouns Mycroft gives people, they all come from Madame". Mycroft sometimes varies the gendered pronouns he gives characters. For instance, Carlyle is mostly referred to using she/her pronouns starting with Seven Surrenders, whereas in the first book Carlyle is referred to with he/him pronouns.

Plot

Seven Surrenders describes the final three days of Mycroft's history of the "seven days of transformation", March 27–29, 2454.

March the twenty-seventh (continued)

Sniper awakens paralyzed inside a lifedoll box as a gift from Dominic Seneschal to Julia Doria-Pamphilli.

Ockham meets with Ganymede, Andō, and European Prime Minister Casimir Perry, to discuss what steps should be taken in the face of recent events. They propose using O.S., the nickname for the Saneer-Weeksbooth's secret system of strategic assassinations which has maintained world peace for almost three centuries.

Carlyle finds herself lured into a meeting with Dominic, her newly reassigned sensayer. The session is interrupted by the arrival of the Utopian Voltaire Seldon, who had tracked the Canner Device to Dominic's room. After breaking her down thoroughly, Dominic convinces Carlyle to work with her to harness Bridger's power for J.E.D.D. Mason. Desperate to preserve Bridger, Mycroft tries to get through to Carlyle, but she switches off her tracker before he can finish.

A flashback to thirteen years ago depicts the scene at Madame's when the world leaders decided Mycroft's sentence after his murder spree.

Mycroft finds Saladin in custody at Madame's. Cornel MASON demands an explanation about Apollo Mojave's coat and the immense number of lethal weapons stored within it. Mycroft reveals that the Mardi bash' had been preparing for global war.

After Sniper's kidnappers return it, the Saneer-Weeksbooth bash' holds a meeting of O.S. to decide whether or not to obey President Ganymede's potential hit order. Carlyle is discovered hiding and listening in. Thisbe drags her away and coerces Carlyle to confess her role as Conclave Head Julia Doria-Pamphili's pawn. Bridger sneaks into Madame's but Mycroft declines to be rescued.

At the Utopian Transit Network with Guildbreaker and Papadelias, a Cartesian set-set unintentionally reveals the breadth and depth of O.S.'s impact. Since the Saneer-Weeksbooth transit system began using Cartesian set-sets 244 years ago, they have caused 2,204 deaths and also saved the world dozens of times. Papa convinces Carlyle to share her recording of the bash's recent meeting. Weighing the consequences, J.E.D.D. Mason, Guildbreaker, Papa, and the Utopians agree to set a trap around O.S.'s next target.

March the twenty-eighth

Sniper visits Faust at Brill's Institute. They debate about current events and faction tensions, before finding Tully Mojave giving another soapbox speech. With millions of fans watching, Sniper joins in and supports Tully.

Julia Doria-Pamphili calls the Mitsubishi set-sets to negotiate the situation they've caused at the CFB. Carlyle is eavesdropping and confronts Julia. Papadelias arrests the Conclave Head, but not before she reveals who Carlyle's biological mother is.