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The Machineries of Empire #0.5
Extracurricular Activities
A space opera adventure set in a distant future where an undercover agent has to go behind enemy lines to recover a lost ship and a possible traitor.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
55 pages, ebook
First published February 15, 2017
94 people are currently reading
1619 people want to read
About the author
Yoon Ha Lee
206 books2,054 followersYoon Ha Lee is an American science fiction writer born on January 26, 1979 in Houston, Texas. His first published story, “The Hundredth Question,” appeared in Fantasy & Science Fiction in 1999; since then, over two dozen further stories have appeared. He lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
February 27, 2017
Free online short story here at Tor.com, which I'd only really recommend if you like at least two of these three: space opera, alternative sexuality and sex jokes. Review first posted at Fantasy Literature:
“Extracurricular Activities” is a prequel short story that’s part of Yoon Ha Lee’s THE MACHINERIES OF EMPIRE series, which begins with the novel Ninefox Gambit. In this space opera caper-type adventure, we follow one of the early exploits of Shuos Jedao, a character from Ninefox Gambit, while he is an undercover agent for Kel Command. A prior undercover mission by a merchant spaceship commanded by Shuos Meng, an acquaintance of Jedao from their academy days, has gone missing, ship and all, while spying on the Gwa Reality in the Du Station. Jedao is tasked with going to the Du Station and finding and bringing back Shuos, their ship and crew … or at least the intelligence they had gathered on the Gwa-an. A promotion to ship commander is dangled before him as an extra incentive.
The world-building is a bit confusing, but the good news is that you don’t really need to understand the difference between the factions in this world to enjoy it. It’s a world filled with alternative sexuality: gay, trans, group marriages, and more are casually accepted. Much of the humor here is sexual, including frequent innuendos and suggestions from Rhi Teshet, a tall, muscular man whom Jedao considers off-limits for dalliance.
Strip away the sexual issues and the humor and there isn’t a whole lot of plot to this story; the mystery and suspense were somewhat underbaked. But the amusing, intriguing details are enough to make this an interesting and worthwhile read, especially if you’re interested in (or have read) Ninefox Gambit. This is a self-contained, if rather light, story that doesn’t require the reader to be familiar with this universe or its characters.
“Extracurricular Activities” is a prequel short story that’s part of Yoon Ha Lee’s THE MACHINERIES OF EMPIRE series, which begins with the novel Ninefox Gambit. In this space opera caper-type adventure, we follow one of the early exploits of Shuos Jedao, a character from Ninefox Gambit, while he is an undercover agent for Kel Command. A prior undercover mission by a merchant spaceship commanded by Shuos Meng, an acquaintance of Jedao from their academy days, has gone missing, ship and all, while spying on the Gwa Reality in the Du Station. Jedao is tasked with going to the Du Station and finding and bringing back Shuos, their ship and crew … or at least the intelligence they had gathered on the Gwa-an. A promotion to ship commander is dangled before him as an extra incentive.
The world-building is a bit confusing, but the good news is that you don’t really need to understand the difference between the factions in this world to enjoy it. It’s a world filled with alternative sexuality: gay, trans, group marriages, and more are casually accepted. Much of the humor here is sexual, including frequent innuendos and suggestions from Rhi Teshet, a tall, muscular man whom Jedao considers off-limits for dalliance.
Strip away the sexual issues and the humor and there isn’t a whole lot of plot to this story; the mystery and suspense were somewhat underbaked. But the amusing, intriguing details are enough to make this an interesting and worthwhile read, especially if you’re interested in (or have read) Ninefox Gambit. This is a self-contained, if rather light, story that doesn’t require the reader to be familiar with this universe or its characters.
March 6, 2017
Excellent, complexly-grounded short story.
But what WAS wrong with our protagonist's hair that made everyone stare at him?! Frustrating to never know.
But what WAS wrong with our protagonist's hair that made everyone stare at him?! Frustrating to never know.
April 28, 2019
Jedao had a standard method for dealing with new commanders, which was to research them as if he planned to assassinate them. Needless to say, he never expressed it in those terms to his comrades.
I couldn't stop laughing.
[Edit: I must have read it almost ten times by now and every time I still find some new detail that makes me laugh. I love it so much.]
I couldn't stop laughing.
[Edit: I must have read it almost ten times by now and every time I still find some new detail that makes me laugh. I love it so much.]
June 28, 2018
Reread at June 17th, 2018.
I am still high on Machineries of Empire. Moreover, it so happens that I have a buddy read on all Hugo nominated novelettes with two groups (yay) so I have a perfect excuse to play with Jedao again.
Now that's a fun story. Even for a reread. Set in the same 'verse of the Machineries of Empire series, this one is about Shuos Jedao in his younger days. Pure adventure with some hilarious undercover moments and banters. In a space station whose people duel using pathogens. Yep, the world is definitely interesting.
I also liked that it provides a background of a certain ploy in Revenant Gun. Something that made me think, wait a sec, I've seen this before :D
Interesting back story of special agent Jedao as well. He had a quirky and know-it-all scientist of a mom who I bet has successfully passed down some of those particular traits to him. Ah, Jedao, you mischievous genius, Ithink believe I am in love with you.
I am still high on Machineries of Empire. Moreover, it so happens that I have a buddy read on all Hugo nominated novelettes with two groups (yay) so I have a perfect excuse to play with Jedao again.
Now that's a fun story. Even for a reread. Set in the same 'verse of the Machineries of Empire series, this one is about Shuos Jedao in his younger days. Pure adventure with some hilarious undercover moments and banters. In a space station whose people duel using pathogens. Yep, the world is definitely interesting.
I also liked that it provides a background of a certain ploy in Revenant Gun. Something that made me think, wait a sec, I've seen this before :D
Interesting back story of special agent Jedao as well. He had a quirky and know-it-all scientist of a mom who I bet has successfully passed down some of those particular traits to him. Ah, Jedao, you mischievous genius, I
July 31, 2017
Delightful. It must have been a joy to write: it felt like it was, anyway.
The small cultural details, the goose fat, Jedao's mother, everything. I laughed out loud more than once. It felt quite Bujold-esque (the pathogen duels reminded me of Cetaganda - the place more than the novel) but with a twist.
The small cultural details, the goose fat, Jedao's mother, everything. I laughed out loud more than once. It felt quite Bujold-esque (the pathogen duels reminded me of Cetaganda - the place more than the novel) but with a twist.
August 1, 2018
This is a fun prequel to Lee's novels. I love Lee's narrative voice, and it's nice to see Jedao with less of the angst of his post-death existence. This is more like early Vorkosigan -- a hero smarter than anyone else in the room completing a tricky rescue mission without nearly enough backup. Not a whole lot of deep meaning to this one, but an enjoyable read.
January 14, 2018
As I read Ninefox, I thought there must be a nice stack of fan fic for Jedao and his hosts or other trysts. Conveniently, the author provided us with one! A cute story, simple plot, lots of good background on the most interesting space assassin and, well, some serious shipping on this ship. Fun read!
February 17, 2017
A must read if you love Ninefox Gambit. A little bit of a caper, funny, and all about Jedao.
July 16, 2019
★★★★⭐ | Read here
Gays in space. A covert operation. Some goose fat. Wonder how this will turn out?? You'll have to check yourself but it will surely make you laugh.
"What am I supposed to do with this? he wondered. As a cadet he could have based a prank around it. But as a warmoth commander he had standards to uphold.
More importantly, how could he compose a suitably filial letter of appreciation without, foxes forbid, encouraging her to escalate? (Baked goods: fine. Goose fat: less fine.) Especially when she wasn’t supposed to know he was here in the first place? Some people’s families sent them care packages of useful things, like liquor, pornography, or really nice cosmetics. Just his luck."
Gays in space. A covert operation. Some goose fat. Wonder how this will turn out?? You'll have to check yourself but it will surely make you laugh.
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March 22, 2017
4.5/5 Stars
Yoon Ha Lee has masterfully pulled off some literary sorcery to make me feel SO MUCH for a complex defector/assassin/eventually-unhinged conductor of massacre in such a short heist story. Loved getting to see Shuos Jedao in action before the events of Ninefox. He's an incredible character whose thought processes, charisma, and beautifully unerring ability to be confident in himself sheds so much light on his humanity. You can't write him off as a villainous, bloodthirsty character when he's so layered, which is an incredible feat on Yoon Ha Lee's part, to say the least.
I love all the small details of socialization and politics we get to see in this novella. Jedao is openly queer, there are other queer characters in this, there are genderfluid/agender characters who use they/them pronouns, there are polyamorous relationships, there's a brief discussion about rights for sex workers and a regulation of the industry to make things safer, there's an ongoing discussion about differences in dialect and syntax from one culture to another, the story clearly shows its Eastern (or, more accurately, its distinctively non-Western) social practices numerous times--and it's just all wonderful. All of it. From Jedao watching cheesy historical dramas to him constantly thinking about his mother and how she'll react to his latest promotion, it's just sensational.
I am here for Yoon Ha Lee 100%, and I can't wait to see more from this character and Kel Cheris in The Raven Stratagem.
Yoon Ha Lee has masterfully pulled off some literary sorcery to make me feel SO MUCH for a complex defector/assassin/eventually-unhinged conductor of massacre in such a short heist story. Loved getting to see Shuos Jedao in action before the events of Ninefox. He's an incredible character whose thought processes, charisma, and beautifully unerring ability to be confident in himself sheds so much light on his humanity. You can't write him off as a villainous, bloodthirsty character when he's so layered, which is an incredible feat on Yoon Ha Lee's part, to say the least.
I love all the small details of socialization and politics we get to see in this novella. Jedao is openly queer, there are other queer characters in this, there are genderfluid/agender characters who use they/them pronouns, there are polyamorous relationships, there's a brief discussion about rights for sex workers and a regulation of the industry to make things safer, there's an ongoing discussion about differences in dialect and syntax from one culture to another, the story clearly shows its Eastern (or, more accurately, its distinctively non-Western) social practices numerous times--and it's just all wonderful. All of it. From Jedao watching cheesy historical dramas to him constantly thinking about his mother and how she'll react to his latest promotion, it's just sensational.
I am here for Yoon Ha Lee 100%, and I can't wait to see more from this character and Kel Cheris in The Raven Stratagem.
May 26, 2018
This novelette was nominated for Hugo in 2018
The story is set in the same universe as Ninefox Gambit novel, which was nominated for Hugo last year. I’ve read it and wasn’t impressed. While it can be read as a stand-alone, knowing the backstory definitely helps.
Shuos Jedao, spy/assassin of heptarchy (civilization obsessed with order and numerology) is sent on a mission to rescue his old friend from the outpost of another civilization, masked as a merchant. The story is easy to read and full of action and dialogue with a bit of gay romance. However, I cannot say I took anything permanent from it, maybe because I don’t like the very concept.
The story is set in the same universe as Ninefox Gambit novel, which was nominated for Hugo last year. I’ve read it and wasn’t impressed. While it can be read as a stand-alone, knowing the backstory definitely helps.
Shuos Jedao, spy/assassin of heptarchy (civilization obsessed with order and numerology) is sent on a mission to rescue his old friend from the outpost of another civilization, masked as a merchant. The story is easy to read and full of action and dialogue with a bit of gay romance. However, I cannot say I took anything permanent from it, maybe because I don’t like the very concept.
April 12, 2018
“Join the Shuos for an exciting future as a secret agent, assuming your classmates don’t kill you before you graduate.”
This was nominated for a Hugo? Perhaps a parody of space operas, but too many gaps and too much stilted syntax and punctuation to make easy reading. When the reader must stop and re-read every third sentence, something’s wrong.
“Wars come and go, but graffiti is forever.”
Oversexed special agents are de rigueur of more than just space opera, but the protagonist was unconvincing and unsympathetic on many levels. Nice cover art.
“He never trusted it when an operation went too smoothly.”
(2018 Hugo Award short story finalist)
This was nominated for a Hugo? Perhaps a parody of space operas, but too many gaps and too much stilted syntax and punctuation to make easy reading. When the reader must stop and re-read every third sentence, something’s wrong.
“Wars come and go, but graffiti is forever.”
Oversexed special agents are de rigueur of more than just space opera, but the protagonist was unconvincing and unsympathetic on many levels. Nice cover art.
“He never trusted it when an operation went too smoothly.”
(2018 Hugo Award short story finalist)
July 16, 2018
It’s intriguing seeing Shuos Jedao in his early days working for the heptarchate. Definitely dangerous, but at the same time, I found Jedao funny. The story’s fairly quick, and has whetted my appetite for books 2 and 3.
August 8, 2017
This didn't grab me as much as the description did. I liked Yoon Ha Lee's style though- I'm going to try Ninefox Gambit next!
March 5, 2025
⋆⋆⋆⋆⅓ — space yaoi + a milf i used to pray for times like these.
July 21, 2018
Never read anything by this author, so I cheated a little and read the blurb of the first book of this series, Ninefox Gambit. Just the blurb.
“Hello! I am a cross-dressing enemy agent, pleased to make your aquaintance.“
I like Jedao, I like the humour, the action sequences are well done and the interactions are believable. Good character development. I might have to add Ninefox Gambit to my want-to-read pile. The world building was good, I want to find out more about the various societies and cultures.
I found the use of pronouns slifghtly confusing. There was a lot of „they“ instead of gendered personal pronouns and I wasn‘t able to discern any pattern, why it was used or how the characters decided when to use what pronoun.
Hugo Awards 2018 Novelette Nominee
Story can be found here: https://www.tor.com/2017/02/15/extrac...
“Hello! I am a cross-dressing enemy agent, pleased to make your aquaintance.“
I like Jedao, I like the humour, the action sequences are well done and the interactions are believable. Good character development. I might have to add Ninefox Gambit to my want-to-read pile. The world building was good, I want to find out more about the various societies and cultures.
I found the use of pronouns slifghtly confusing. There was a lot of „they“ instead of gendered personal pronouns and I wasn‘t able to discern any pattern, why it was used or how the characters decided when to use what pronoun.
Hugo Awards 2018 Novelette Nominee
Story can be found here: https://www.tor.com/2017/02/15/extrac...
May 9, 2022
Very entertaining new short story in the Ninefox Gambit Universe. The lighter, younger side of Jedao, the Legendary Undead General. Goose fat is involved. Read it! Story link: https://www.tor.com/2017/02/15/extrac... Marked for a priority reread.
Now a nominee for the 2018 Hugo Award for Best Novelette. Here are links for all the 2018 Hugo nominees:
https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/31/17...
Now a nominee for the 2018 Hugo Award for Best Novelette. Here are links for all the 2018 Hugo nominees:
https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/31/17...
October 26, 2017
Long before Shuos Jedao was the most infamous strategist in the hexarchy, he was just an extraordinarily talented soldier. In this short story, he's sent on a mission to retrieve a lost crew of spies, one of whom is his old friend from Shuos Academy. It's kinda painful to read about him at this stage, knowing what he'll become.
If you enjoyed the early Miles Vorkosigan or Ender's Game books, you might very well like this adventure.
If you enjoyed the early Miles Vorkosigan or Ender's Game books, you might very well like this adventure.
May 14, 2022
A freebie Locus-nominated novelette on tor.com, I picked this space romp because it was set in the same hexarchate universe at Ninefox Gambit, which I'm fixing to buddy read over the summer. So short stories are always a way to dive in and test the waters. Besides, I've read and quite enjoyed Yoon Ha Lee's works.
"Extracurricular Activities" was no exception - well written, immersive world building, interesting characters. There's kinky sex jokes in addition to the infiltration and espionage of an enemy space station, but it all comes together in the end. I'm looking forward to Ninefox.
December 23, 2017
What I loved about this short story is how it showcases Yoon Ha Lee’s sense of subversive humour. While a lot has been written (gushed?) about how formidable and experimental The Machineries of Empire sequence is, it is also slyly, and often blackly, funny. I am never going to think of Jedao again without recalling the application of goose fat from this.
March 19, 2018
I love this. Soooo funny. Like some kind of whack ass modern Harry Harrison/Ron Goulart MilSF. SpecOps commander / whatever the fuck Jedao goes on a rescue mission, flirting all the while w a big sexy space marine from one of the ships he's given for the mission.
May 5, 2018
This was wonderful. Everything I never knew I wanted from this universe. Definitely give it a go if you enjoyed Ninefox Gambit or even if you didn’t. Funny, witty, light hearted, but with the same intelligence of the books.
June 3, 2017
i love jedao
April 29, 2025
An action packed short story set in the Machineries of Empire series. “Extracurricular Activities” follows Shuos Jedao being recruited to help retrieve a fellow officer/spy who, along with her ship, went silent after one of her crew members managed to send a static-garbled call for help. ‘Laugh out loud funny’ is not how I would tend to describe the Machineries of Empire series but it is 100% applicable here. I appreciate Yoon Ha Lee so much for his character development, his world-building, and the sexual + gender diversity of his books and here we get all of these things despite this story’s short length. Absolutely recommend.
Note: In the series this story falls after Ninefox Gambit but before Raven Strategem. It could theoretically be read as a stand-alone – it’s wholly self-contained, and one doesn’t need to know the universe to follow along – but reading Ninefox first will give a lot more context to Jedao as a character and totally change how this story reads.
Content warnings: violence, gun violence, injury detail, medical content (minor)
Note: In the series this story falls after Ninefox Gambit but before Raven Strategem. It could theoretically be read as a stand-alone – it’s wholly self-contained, and one doesn’t need to know the universe to follow along – but reading Ninefox first will give a lot more context to Jedao as a character and totally change how this story reads.
Content warnings: violence, gun violence, injury detail, medical content (minor)
May 5, 2017
A short story set long before Ninefox Gambit, detailing Shuos Jedao on a rescue mission in potentially hostile territory.
The story is a fun read, but there are lots of things that seem to be just thrown there - starting with goose fat. Don't take it wrong: writing is solid, there's good-natured humor and the plot works well. At the same time, I feel it could've been shorter or it could've been longer, but at this size, those small things are just left there without true meaning.
Extracurricular Activities does add depth to the character of Shuod Jedao, so it's definitely something every fan of Ninefox Gambit will want to read. The other way round the relationship doesn't work as well: Extracurricular Activities is a cool little novelette, but it doesn't really distinguish itself. It's missing the wonderful world that makes Ninefox Gambit so great.
The story is a fun read, but there are lots of things that seem to be just thrown there - starting with goose fat. Don't take it wrong: writing is solid, there's good-natured humor and the plot works well. At the same time, I feel it could've been shorter or it could've been longer, but at this size, those small things are just left there without true meaning.
Extracurricular Activities does add depth to the character of Shuod Jedao, so it's definitely something every fan of Ninefox Gambit will want to read. The other way round the relationship doesn't work as well: Extracurricular Activities is a cool little novelette, but it doesn't really distinguish itself. It's missing the wonderful world that makes Ninefox Gambit so great.
June 2, 2017
This is a fun short set in Shuos Jedao's early career: as a junior Kel officer with Shuos background, he's asked to lead a rescue mission when a vessel is captured by the neighbouring Gwa An Reality.
As a sort-of precursor to Ninefox, it's not a brilliant introduction to the series or Jedao himself; as a companion short, it's an entertaining-to-silly spy caper with a raucous sense of humour and a lot of flirting and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Full review
As a sort-of precursor to Ninefox, it's not a brilliant introduction to the series or Jedao himself; as a companion short, it's an entertaining-to-silly spy caper with a raucous sense of humour and a lot of flirting and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Full review
April 8, 2018
Nice short story that sheds some light on the early military career of Shuos Jedao, the central figure in Yoon Ha Lee's The Machineries of Empire series. Although this could be read as a standalone, I think it would be of most interest to fans of the series.
July 25, 2018
Set in the same universe as Ninefox Gambit and focusing on the early days of one of its characters, this story has at least two things the book doesn't: a bit of humor and a relatively simple plot. I like the idea of pathogen duels, but otherwise this is probably going to appeal mostly to fans of Lee's Machineries of Empire series looking for more back story.
December 7, 2019
Having read the Machineries of Empire trilogy I found this short a nice look into Jedao's past. Younger Jedao is interesting to say the least! Haha.
Keywords: Goose fat, biological duels, cadet training days.
Date first read: 13jan2019
Source: https://www.tor.com/2017/02/15/extrac...
Keywords: Goose fat, biological duels, cadet training days.
Date first read: 13jan2019
Source: https://www.tor.com/2017/02/15/extrac...
September 22, 2017
Yoon Ha Lee could probably write a shopping list and it would be one of the best things I've read all year. A short story about Jedao is just a bonus as far as I'm concerned.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews