Translated from German and science fantasy. I'm calling it science fantasy not because there's magic anywhere but because it has a gorgeous culture in a desert climate that we spend most of our time with, even though there are space ships and ray guns. So there. I suck. This is kind of about the nature of religious belief, and the end was a punch in the gut. Carpetmakers tie intricate carpets made of the hair of their wives and daughters, and send it off for the glory of the Emperor. They spend their whole lives making these carpets, and each one takes a whole life to make. They sell it for a large sum, which goes to their only son and he uses it to live off for his whole life while he ties his carpet, and so on. Told in many perspectives, but never returning to a perspective a second time. Very cool.