I read the opening chapter of Ancillary Justice (Imperial Radch)in the Nebula Awards Showcase 2015, and I'd heard a bit about it before that. Since I hadn't read a science fiction novel in a while, and I'm always looking for new authors to read, I decided to give it a try.
It took me a little bit to get into this book. The first couple of chapters were a bit disorienting, since Breq/Justice of Toren's experience of the world is so different from our own, and the politics of the Radch Empire seemed opaque. But as I delved into the story, it really gripped me. It's epic and heart-breaking and mind-blowing like only the best scifi can achieve. I expected the book to be mostly about the world and Breq's unique perspective, but Leckie's story-telling is masterful, and the characters she creates deeply human and touchingly flawed, even when they're AIs.
Leckie does an amazing job of portraying Radchaai as often well-intentioned, even if their entire way of life seems monstrous to us. It's easy to see how seductive their vision of the universe is, and how much it could blind people to the terrible evils they've committed to achieve it. Even the villain is deeply conflicted, suffering from a regret that may be driving her to madness. What's more, the author gives us tantalizing hints at the wider universe, and the deep danger that may or may not be gathering to assault the Radch.
I loved this book, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes science fiction. It's a true demonstration of how powerful speculative fiction can be.
I read Leckie's Ancillary Justice (Imperial Radch), and I loved it so much I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series, Ancillary Sword (Imperial Radch). While I can't say that Ancillary Sword had the same driving energy and intense plot as Ancillary Justice, I loved Breq's interactions with her ship and crew, as well as the deeper look the author gives us at the rich world she's built. The brief glimpses Leckie shows us of the world outside the Radch, especially the alien Presger, give the reader enticing hints about the deep conflict that looms over all of human civilization.
However, I can see why this book was less satisfying to some fans than the original. Unlike the previous book, Breq's goals and actions in this book feel smaller, more provincial, and perhaps more indirect and frustrating. Yet, given Radchaai philosophy about how small, even seemingly insignificant actions can have a profound effect on the universe, it felt appropriate to Breq's character that she would seek out one of the few people in the universe who has personal meaning to her. What's more, Breq's encounter with the Presger ambassador felt like an important moment, even if its meaning won't be understand until later.
I did miss some of the characters from the first book--Seivarden could have had a larger role certainly, and even the loathsome Anaander Mianaai. Yet I did enjoy the new characters she introduces, including Lieutenant Tisarwat, one of the only humans who can understand what Breq's isolation.
Overall, I enjoyed this book enough to recommend it, especially to fans of the series. It is not a stand alone though, so make sure you read Ancillary Justice first. I've already ordered the last book in the series, Ancillary Mercy (Imperial Radch), off of Amazon, and I can't wait to read it.