Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by toggle_fow
Translation State by Ann Leckie
5.0
I read this entire book last night, completely by accident. Which is always a good sign.
So. For me, your stereotypical obsessed Ancillary Justice fan who hasn't read Provenance yet, this book has one question to answer: Can I care about this universe WITHOUT involving Justice of Toren One Esk Nineteen?
The answer was unequivocally yes, but that answer was not immediate.
What we have here is a weird "forced marriage" trope, plus "mate or die" trope, plus a whole lot of galactic politics in which the Radchaai struggle to hold their empire together and the AIs petition for recognition as politically independent sentients. Also there's zero marriage and zero mating and zero romance - it's to do with Presger Translators, so it's weirder than that.
But we start out at home, with the browbeaten middle-aged daughter of a wealthy old house whose rich grandmother has just died. At first, Enae's problems and mission did not particularly interest me. She's a great character, though, so it was easy enough to keep reading.
Then there's Reet, a guy who works a menial job and doesn't get a lot out of life. Except he has a really great adoptive family, and these people think his mysterious past might mean he's their long-lost king. Okay. That's interesting if not enthralling, necessarily. Easy enough to keep reading.
Qven's chapters start out weird and progress from weird to - what? WHAT. WHAT IS HAPPENING? level really quickly.
At that point, I had to keep reading. There was no alternative. By 25% of the book I was irrevocably hooked, completely invested as the three threads of perspective began to come together. Qven is great. Both Reet and Enae transcend the cookie-cutter roles they've been thrust into and become extremely important to me.
The politics is lovely. I have always loved the politics in these books, and still do. Something about people drinking tea and arguing... Excellent. We find out a lot more about Presger Translators, and not a lot more about the Presger. Reet's family is great. I love how his mom and grandma are vital players in what goes down. Sphene is there. I love Sphene and how much he enjoys being an obnoxious sociopath.
Wholly enjoyable. Adored it. I would devour a sequel immediately if I were offered one.
Some notes:
• There is so much body horror and gore in this book. Please be warned. There are people eating other people, vivisecting them, people's bodies melting to goo... some really gross physical urges... By the end of the book it seems weirdly wholesome but it's still a LOT.
• The alternate pronouns at the beginning were jarring and off-putting. I would much rather everyone be called "she" the whole time. I got it by the end of the book, though, and was barely noticing it then. Just takes some getting used to.
• WHY DOES IT END UP FEELING SO WHOLESOME??? Truly I walked away feeling like this book was almost verging on the edge of sappily wholesome. Then I look back at the content of what I was reading and?? I don't understand how this emotional effect was created. I'm so impressed and baffled.
So. For me, your stereotypical obsessed Ancillary Justice fan who hasn't read Provenance yet, this book has one question to answer: Can I care about this universe WITHOUT involving Justice of Toren One Esk Nineteen?
The answer was unequivocally yes, but that answer was not immediate.
What we have here is a weird "forced marriage" trope, plus "mate or die" trope, plus a whole lot of galactic politics in which the Radchaai struggle to hold their empire together and the AIs petition for recognition as politically independent sentients. Also there's zero marriage and zero mating and zero romance - it's to do with Presger Translators, so it's weirder than that.
But we start out at home, with the browbeaten middle-aged daughter of a wealthy old house whose rich grandmother has just died. At first, Enae's problems and mission did not particularly interest me. She's a great character, though, so it was easy enough to keep reading.
Then there's Reet, a guy who works a menial job and doesn't get a lot out of life. Except he has a really great adoptive family, and these people think his mysterious past might mean he's their long-lost king. Okay. That's interesting if not enthralling, necessarily. Easy enough to keep reading.
Qven's chapters start out weird and progress from weird to - what? WHAT. WHAT IS HAPPENING? level really quickly.
At that point, I had to keep reading. There was no alternative. By 25% of the book I was irrevocably hooked, completely invested as the three threads of perspective began to come together. Qven is great. Both Reet and Enae transcend the cookie-cutter roles they've been thrust into and become extremely important to me.
The politics is lovely. I have always loved the politics in these books, and still do. Something about people drinking tea and arguing... Excellent. We find out a lot more about Presger Translators, and not a lot more about the Presger. Reet's family is great. I love how his mom and grandma are vital players in what goes down. Sphene is there. I love Sphene and how much he enjoys being an obnoxious sociopath.
Wholly enjoyable. Adored it. I would devour a sequel immediately if I were offered one.
Some notes:
• There is so much body horror and gore in this book. Please be warned. There are people eating other people, vivisecting them, people's bodies melting to goo... some really gross physical urges... By the end of the book it seems weirdly wholesome but it's still a LOT.
• The alternate pronouns at the beginning were jarring and off-putting. I would much rather everyone be called "she" the whole time. I got it by the end of the book, though, and was barely noticing it then. Just takes some getting used to.
• WHY DOES IT END UP FEELING SO WHOLESOME??? Truly I walked away feeling like this book was almost verging on the edge of sappily wholesome. Then I look back at the content of what I was reading and?? I don't understand how this emotional effect was created. I'm so impressed and baffled.