Ann Leckie’s science fiction is pitch-perfect – an incredible world, a strong set of lead characters, and a complicated, interesting plot are rounded Ann Leckie’s science fiction is pitch-perfect – an incredible world, a strong set of lead characters, and a complicated, interesting plot are rounded out by a fascinating study of the complexity of relation between entirely different groups, with entirely different systems of power, and a study of the complexity of desire in a race where to desire means to make oneself a duplicate of their lover. And it’s also just quite fun. This made me remember what I love about scifi, even without having lost my love for it in the first place.
Qven is a Presger Translator – the only set of members of the cannibalistic race of aliens that can communicate with the human Radch empire. Enae is a reluctant diplomat hunting a two hundred year old fugitive on the request of the powerful Radchaai empire – either Raadchai diplomatic staff with dangerous information, or a Presger Translator. Reet is an adopted mechanic living in Zoeson who operates wrong – and according to a consultant, he may be descended from the Schan, the Hikipi rulers of Lovehate station before their rebellion against the Phen failed.
In the background of all this, the Radchai empire’s treaty with the Presger is in true danger after a thousand years, as the imperial system – using space ships controlled by AIs, who control human bodies ("ancillaries") to use as soldiers – is breaking down into war. Other species are interested in their own ends. (view spoiler)[And the AI ship Sphene is trying to find new ways to use bio mechs instead of making humans into ancillaries. (There’s also a second very obvious cameo character, Dlique the Presger translator.) (hide spoiler)]
There’s a quote from All Things Too Small, which I read recently, that I think applies well to the Phen route of merging — “That was cannot be one another, that we cannot be what we consume, that we cannot be what we cannot be the whole world and can never ascend high enough to see all of it at once— all this is a source of disappointment, even torment, to anyone ravenous for living.” Or, in more poetic voice: “They are trying to become one creature / and something will not have it”. I think this blending of creature to creature is fascinating – and I really liked the exploration of both its perils and benefits.
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