Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
Orbit (New York, 2015). 1st edition, 1st printing. 368 pages. $15.99.
Description
For a moment, things seemed to be under control for Breq, the soldier who used to be a warship. Then a search of Athoek Station's slums turns up someone who shouldn't exist, and a messenger from the mysterious Presger empire arrives, as does Breq's enemy, the divided and quite possibly insane Anaander Mianaai - ruler of an empire at war with itself. --
User reviews
LibraryThing member atreic
I lost momentum half way through this one for a bit, and then got back into it and finished it off. Not sure why. Life was very busy, it might be more that and less the book.
It's a good end to a good series. Anything too ridiculous ('all Anandai Minaiis destroyed, Breq takes over galaxy') wouldn't
Although the last book does get a bit space opera, and people running around and shooting at people. And it's _neat_ - all of the things that work out and resolve things are fair and perfectly signposted, and the consequences of things people _did_, but it is much easier to defeat the evil empire with a side kick who knows all the most powerful access codes, and practically omnipotent aliens who arrive at the last minute and say everything has to be OK. But it does play by its own rules, and it makes an excellent story.
I can see why the sad puppies would hate it. So many of the main stories and themes are 'privileged people are prejudiced idiots, look at the people in the cracks, and how the system treats them, and see how the Good Guys don't stand for that'. And a recurring theme that the Good Guys can be broken and heal, losing limbs, having to rely on others, having their addictions and nervous breakdowns and days they can't cope.
When I first read the first book, I was very drawn into the themes of one personality in many bodies, and what this means for identity and who you are. This time I read the story of Anandai Minaii, who has done an unbelievably horrible thing, and has managed to schism her entire personality because of this, more on the level of how people lie to themselves, and hide bits of what they want from other bits of their brain, and work against their own best interests because of their inability to look straight on at the things they have done.
I also noticed the theme of individual love/devotion more on this read. Breq defies the Radch because of her love for Lieutenant Awn. Big things happen that eventually threaten to bring down empires because of defending the particular people you love. It's in counterpoint to Pratchett's 'personal is not the same as important'. While I was definitely on Breq's side, I do fear for the future now they have autonomous AIs who are designed to love Their People personally and deeply, and may have very different ideas of what is 'good' from the rest of the world...
Anyway, yes. A great mix of space opera, ideas about everything from personality to AI to gender, sound left wing principles, and believable character driven plot with a lot of subtleties and politics - hard sci fi with a human heart.
It's a good end to a good series. Anything too ridiculous ('all Anandai Minaiis destroyed, Breq takes over galaxy') wouldn't
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have rung true, but it had its own sweet success and a promise of things continuing to go the right way in the future, with hard work. This is our space, we'll keep it safe and build on it.Although the last book does get a bit space opera, and people running around and shooting at people. And it's _neat_ - all of the things that work out and resolve things are fair and perfectly signposted, and the consequences of things people _did_, but it is much easier to defeat the evil empire with a side kick who knows all the most powerful access codes, and practically omnipotent aliens who arrive at the last minute and say everything has to be OK. But it does play by its own rules, and it makes an excellent story.
I can see why the sad puppies would hate it. So many of the main stories and themes are 'privileged people are prejudiced idiots, look at the people in the cracks, and how the system treats them, and see how the Good Guys don't stand for that'. And a recurring theme that the Good Guys can be broken and heal, losing limbs, having to rely on others, having their addictions and nervous breakdowns and days they can't cope.
When I first read the first book, I was very drawn into the themes of one personality in many bodies, and what this means for identity and who you are. This time I read the story of Anandai Minaii, who has done an unbelievably horrible thing, and has managed to schism her entire personality because of this, more on the level of how people lie to themselves, and hide bits of what they want from other bits of their brain, and work against their own best interests because of their inability to look straight on at the things they have done.
I also noticed the theme of individual love/devotion more on this read. Breq defies the Radch because of her love for Lieutenant Awn. Big things happen that eventually threaten to bring down empires because of defending the particular people you love. It's in counterpoint to Pratchett's 'personal is not the same as important'. While I was definitely on Breq's side, I do fear for the future now they have autonomous AIs who are designed to love Their People personally and deeply, and may have very different ideas of what is 'good' from the rest of the world...
Anyway, yes. A great mix of space opera, ideas about everything from personality to AI to gender, sound left wing principles, and believable character driven plot with a lot of subtleties and politics - hard sci fi with a human heart.
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LibraryThing member Herenya
I loved this. It's moving and thoughtful and unexpectedly funny, and I love the characters in ways I didn't expect to.
I think this whole trilogy has been about the problems of privilege, starting with the big picture and then zooming in closer and closer on the details. Ancillary Justice is about
So it is fascinating in Ancillary Mercy to see Breq isn't just critiquing others but is forced to consider her own behaviour. There is a greater focus on privilege and injustice within personal relationships in this book, and I thought that was explored really effectively.
Another thing I love is the way the novel presents AIs - stations, ships and ancillaries - as beings with important emotional needs without suggesting that this makes them human. Since Breq has a human body, I suspect it would have been easy to validate her emotions, opinions and agency by saying "to all intents and purposes, she's human" - and that would have been less nuanced, less interesting.
I initially found the ending a tiny bit anti-climatic, but upon reflection, I'm really happy with where Ancillary Mercy left these characters. They cannot solve all the problems in the Empire, but they have managed to make a difference in one corner of it - and that will hopefully have ripple effects.
I think this whole trilogy has been about the problems of privilege, starting with the big picture and then zooming in closer and closer on the details. Ancillary Justice is about
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the problems of empire - of annexation and colonisation. We get Breq's objections to the Radch empire as a whole and her objections that arise because of a very specific, very personal injustice she's experienced. Ancillary Sword is about colonisation and abuses of power, too, but it narrows the focus to a specific corner of the empire. And Breq, with her knowledge of thousands of years of annexations and of places outside of the empire, is once again pointing out injustices perpetuated by others.So it is fascinating in Ancillary Mercy to see Breq isn't just critiquing others but is forced to consider her own behaviour. There is a greater focus on privilege and injustice within personal relationships in this book, and I thought that was explored really effectively.
Another thing I love is the way the novel presents AIs - stations, ships and ancillaries - as beings with important emotional needs without suggesting that this makes them human. Since Breq has a human body, I suspect it would have been easy to validate her emotions, opinions and agency by saying "to all intents and purposes, she's human" - and that would have been less nuanced, less interesting.
I initially found the ending a tiny bit anti-climatic, but upon reflection, I'm really happy with where Ancillary Mercy left these characters. They cannot solve all the problems in the Empire, but they have managed to make a difference in one corner of it - and that will hopefully have ripple effects.
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LibraryThing member ChrisRiesbeck
The first novel was a whirlwind of creative world building and light-year hopping space opera. The second was almost the exact opposite, introducing new characters, but little in the way of new concepts. It's plot stayed entirely within one star system, and only a few locations there. The major
Recommended, even if you were a bit disappointed a bit by the second book.
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crisis that ended the first novel was pretty much ignored. The third novel for the most part stays within the star system of the second, expanding on a number of character relationships, but finally brings back -- and perhaps resolves -- that major crisis element. As a plot structure technique, it works quite well, but the book has two major flaws for me. I'll try to avoid spoilers here. Both flaws are common to many classic SF space operas. The first flaw is "familiarity breeds contempt". The more the central villain of the first book is on stage, the less impressive and frightening she (the trilogy's default gender) becomes. The second flaw is "when I say millennia, think decades". The idea behind the resolution is emotionally satisfying and well motivated by the threads set up in books 1 and 2. But I find it highly implausible that it would not have happened for several thousand years.Recommended, even if you were a bit disappointed a bit by the second book.
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LibraryThing member caedocyon
I'M FUCKING OBSESSED WITH THESE BOOKS.
Another reviewer commented on how domestic these novels are, where soldiers spend much more page time making tea and cleaning than holding weapons. Fascinating point. (And no, dozens of pages of Kalr Five obsessing about tea and propriety and making
One thing I am still thinking about: there would probably be a lot more resentment about who's deserving/undeserving in such a socialist society if the Radch wasn't also extremely wealthy... through its thousands of years of conquest and colonialism.
Another thing I am still thinking about: Radchaai protest.
Another reviewer commented on how domestic these novels are, where soldiers spend much more page time making tea and cleaning than holding weapons. Fascinating point. (And no, dozens of pages of Kalr Five obsessing about tea and propriety and making
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plausibly-deniable wordless judgements on everyone isn't remotely boring! I love her.)One thing I am still thinking about: there would probably be a lot more resentment about who's deserving/undeserving in such a socialist society if the Radch wasn't also extremely wealthy... through its thousands of years of conquest and colonialism.
Another thing I am still thinking about: Radchaai protest.
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LibraryThing member stefferoo
Breq used to be part of a whole, one of the many connected ancillaries linked up with the artificial intelligence aboard the Justice of Toren. But when the great starship was destroyed, Breq suddenly became one. All alone. The last fragment of the AI still living on in a human body. Ever since
But the quite possibly insane Anaander Mianaai, divided across a multitude of bodies, is at war with itself. The conflict is fast spreading through the empire and Breq must now prepare the Athoek space station against invading factions. Meanwhile, someone who shouldn’t exist shows up in this book and causes some complications, not to mention the mysterious translator who had arrived as a messenger from the alien Presger Empire. Breq is awash in a sea of divided loyalties, hidden truths and unknown factors. However, leaving everyone at Athoek to fend for themselves is not an option. Breq and her allies are going to do whatever they can to confront the new threat and bring back peace.
Ancillary Mercy is, hands down, my favorite book of the trilogy. I make it no secret my feelings for the first two novels, which I enjoyed well enough, but they probably didn’t work as well for me as they could have or should have. Each installment has piqued my interest, spurring me on to continue reading, but I know I’ve never truly embraced these books as wholeheartedly as some of my fellow bloggers. Still, that’s not to say I did not appreciate their many merits, because I did; I was very happy to see Ancillary Justice sweep up all the awards because I felt it was very much deserved. I might not have connected as well with it, but I nevertheless the book was innovative, clever, hard-hitting, and had everything to make it a modern sci-fi classic. And after reading the sequel Ancillary Sword, I just knew I had to see Breq’s story through.
I did do something different with this third book, though. I switched to the audiobook. And I think that might have made a positive difference. This actually doesn’t come as much of a surprise, since I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again: some books simply work better for me when I’m listening to the words rather than reading them off a page, especially when it comes to science fiction. Whenever I read sci-fi novels and I come across a new elaborate concept, I slow down because I have this tendency to get hung up on the details. And as you know, with this series, it’s all about the elaborate concepts! It would be so much better to just give in to the flow of the narrative, and that’s just much easier to do while listening to an audiobook because I’m less likely to get distracted and dwell on every word. It also made me appreciate the little things, like just how humorous this series can be. I’ve noticed the subtle jokes in the dialogue before, those little quips traded back and forth between characters, but they were definitely more effective being delivered by a narrator versus just me reading it in my head, especially by a reader as talented as actress Adjoa Andoh.
That might be why I finished Ancillary Mercy over the course of two evenings. I could hardly bring myself to stop. It’s not just because I was listening to the audiobook either, because of course the story itself was brilliant too. This was the grand finish I’ve been waiting for, and for this I am so very glad that I decided to complete this trilogy.
Without a doubt, the most rewarding aspect for me was finally being seeing the groundwork from the first two books come to fruition. This here is the defining moment of Breq’s epic journey to personhood. She began as one of many. Then she became separate. She came to understand what being an individual really means. What relationships mean. What personal freedom means. And she also came to learn and appreciate the value of other individuals. Everyone on the station has an identity and purpose, so no, Breq isn’t about to leave them all in terrible danger, even if she could have easily packed up and left. Her motivations have evolved throughout the course of this trilogy, and that process itself is a very personal and touching tale that stands out in amidst all these other conflicts.
I was also happy that we got to see a lot more of Seivarden! There was definitely not enough Seivarden in the last book, especially since this character’s presence in Ancillary Justice has always struck me as a plot device for Leckie to highlight the differences between humanity and an ancillary. By the end of this book, however, if there was one character I cared for as much as Breq, it would be Seivarden. The dynamics between the two of them is another testament to just how much things have changed for the Breq, an ex-ancillary on the path to embracing her own personhood and recognizing the individuality of others.
No question about it, I had a lot more fun this time around. I also find it kind of interesting that all three books follow a similar pacing pattern, building momentum slowly before letting go of all that pent up energy to deliver a sensational ending. That the series as a whole should also follow this pattern is quite fitting, actually. It means a bit of investment is required, but it’s well worth it in the end.
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then, she has been trying to get revenge on the one responsible: Anaander Mianaai, Lord of the Radch and supreme leader of the Radchaai Empire.But the quite possibly insane Anaander Mianaai, divided across a multitude of bodies, is at war with itself. The conflict is fast spreading through the empire and Breq must now prepare the Athoek space station against invading factions. Meanwhile, someone who shouldn’t exist shows up in this book and causes some complications, not to mention the mysterious translator who had arrived as a messenger from the alien Presger Empire. Breq is awash in a sea of divided loyalties, hidden truths and unknown factors. However, leaving everyone at Athoek to fend for themselves is not an option. Breq and her allies are going to do whatever they can to confront the new threat and bring back peace.
Ancillary Mercy is, hands down, my favorite book of the trilogy. I make it no secret my feelings for the first two novels, which I enjoyed well enough, but they probably didn’t work as well for me as they could have or should have. Each installment has piqued my interest, spurring me on to continue reading, but I know I’ve never truly embraced these books as wholeheartedly as some of my fellow bloggers. Still, that’s not to say I did not appreciate their many merits, because I did; I was very happy to see Ancillary Justice sweep up all the awards because I felt it was very much deserved. I might not have connected as well with it, but I nevertheless the book was innovative, clever, hard-hitting, and had everything to make it a modern sci-fi classic. And after reading the sequel Ancillary Sword, I just knew I had to see Breq’s story through.
I did do something different with this third book, though. I switched to the audiobook. And I think that might have made a positive difference. This actually doesn’t come as much of a surprise, since I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again: some books simply work better for me when I’m listening to the words rather than reading them off a page, especially when it comes to science fiction. Whenever I read sci-fi novels and I come across a new elaborate concept, I slow down because I have this tendency to get hung up on the details. And as you know, with this series, it’s all about the elaborate concepts! It would be so much better to just give in to the flow of the narrative, and that’s just much easier to do while listening to an audiobook because I’m less likely to get distracted and dwell on every word. It also made me appreciate the little things, like just how humorous this series can be. I’ve noticed the subtle jokes in the dialogue before, those little quips traded back and forth between characters, but they were definitely more effective being delivered by a narrator versus just me reading it in my head, especially by a reader as talented as actress Adjoa Andoh.
That might be why I finished Ancillary Mercy over the course of two evenings. I could hardly bring myself to stop. It’s not just because I was listening to the audiobook either, because of course the story itself was brilliant too. This was the grand finish I’ve been waiting for, and for this I am so very glad that I decided to complete this trilogy.
Without a doubt, the most rewarding aspect for me was finally being seeing the groundwork from the first two books come to fruition. This here is the defining moment of Breq’s epic journey to personhood. She began as one of many. Then she became separate. She came to understand what being an individual really means. What relationships mean. What personal freedom means. And she also came to learn and appreciate the value of other individuals. Everyone on the station has an identity and purpose, so no, Breq isn’t about to leave them all in terrible danger, even if she could have easily packed up and left. Her motivations have evolved throughout the course of this trilogy, and that process itself is a very personal and touching tale that stands out in amidst all these other conflicts.
I was also happy that we got to see a lot more of Seivarden! There was definitely not enough Seivarden in the last book, especially since this character’s presence in Ancillary Justice has always struck me as a plot device for Leckie to highlight the differences between humanity and an ancillary. By the end of this book, however, if there was one character I cared for as much as Breq, it would be Seivarden. The dynamics between the two of them is another testament to just how much things have changed for the Breq, an ex-ancillary on the path to embracing her own personhood and recognizing the individuality of others.
No question about it, I had a lot more fun this time around. I also find it kind of interesting that all three books follow a similar pacing pattern, building momentum slowly before letting go of all that pent up energy to deliver a sensational ending. That the series as a whole should also follow this pattern is quite fitting, actually. It means a bit of investment is required, but it’s well worth it in the end.
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LibraryThing member macha
ending the trilogy. hmm, and leaving room for another trilogy in the same verse, should that suit her. she can do whatever she wants, and i'll be there. it's like a meeting of minds between Banks and LeGuin, served up with the urgency of Cherryh. fantastic organic story. an absolute Tyrant divided
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against itself and distributed across a huge empire, a hungry alien race represented by one also-alien Translator it sends to check on the status of the existing treaty, a military culture based on service to those for whom it is responsible, the AIs of Ship and Station choosing how to interpret their duty. not a single falter in any line of the narrative, every character evolving though often painfully. and unusually, ultimately hopeful about the challenges of the future it presents. Show Less
LibraryThing member cindywho
There's tea, more tea, some adventure, then some setting up of committees. Breq is not the only AI - her relationships deepen with Ship and the station and there is also the impenetrable mind of the alien ambassador.
LibraryThing member Strider66
Pros: fast paced, shows results of addiction and mental illness, interesting story
Cons: surprised Seivarden kept her position
New problems regarding the undergarden on Athoek Station and Queter’s interrogation on the planet occupy Breq, fleet captain, commander of Mercy of Kalr, last ancillary of
Picking up immediately where Ancillary Sword left off, this book begins with Breq trying to clean-up the loose ends of the previous book. When the enemy ships arrive in the system, things heat up fast, with several desperate plots to even the odds and take out this clone of the Lord of the Radch.
While the opening’s a bit slow, reminding you of the events of the previous book, things pick up quickly and propel you through the rest of the story. It’s a fast read.
I was impressed that the author dealt with more repercussions of Seivarden’s addiction and depression and the results of Tisarwat’s manipulations. It’s great to see a book show that traumas leave scars that take years to heal, and that someone can have good and bad times, depending on circumstances. Having said that, I’m surprised Seivarden was able to keep her position, considering the breakdown she has. It’s obvious she’s not capable of dealing with the pressures of command.
While this book can’t wrap up everything going on in the universe, it does give a sense of resolution for the primary characters of the series.
Cons: surprised Seivarden kept her position
New problems regarding the undergarden on Athoek Station and Queter’s interrogation on the planet occupy Breq, fleet captain, commander of Mercy of Kalr, last ancillary of
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Justice of Toren, One Esk Nineteen. When she gets word of four ships entering the system she suspects they’ve been sent by the enemy version of the Radchaai’s split ruler, Anaander Mianaai.Picking up immediately where Ancillary Sword left off, this book begins with Breq trying to clean-up the loose ends of the previous book. When the enemy ships arrive in the system, things heat up fast, with several desperate plots to even the odds and take out this clone of the Lord of the Radch.
While the opening’s a bit slow, reminding you of the events of the previous book, things pick up quickly and propel you through the rest of the story. It’s a fast read.
I was impressed that the author dealt with more repercussions of Seivarden’s addiction and depression and the results of Tisarwat’s manipulations. It’s great to see a book show that traumas leave scars that take years to heal, and that someone can have good and bad times, depending on circumstances. Having said that, I’m surprised Seivarden was able to keep her position, considering the breakdown she has. It’s obvious she’s not capable of dealing with the pressures of command.
While this book can’t wrap up everything going on in the universe, it does give a sense of resolution for the primary characters of the series.
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LibraryThing member eldang
Strong end to a fantastic trilogy. Along with developing everything that Sword set up, it does a fantastic job of deploying comedy. I can think of very few other writers who've managed to have real laugh-out-loud comic relief that not only doesn't detract from all the serious things in the book but
I really want to read more about the Presger, and to read a book or short story that looks at Breq through other characters' eyes.
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actually develops the plot and builds the world further.I really want to read more about the Presger, and to read a book or short story that looks at Breq through other characters' eyes.
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LibraryThing member RobertDay
And so we come to the end of this trilogy about what it means to be human, masquerading as military sf. The story continues almost seamlessly from the action of 'Ancillary Sword', although these are definitely two separate novels, not one novel split into two for packaging or marketing reasons. We
But there is more, as well. We see a little more of what it is to be an ancillary, with little clues here and there that made me think of Cordwainer Smith's 'scanners'; we see how Anaander Minaai actually sees her ancillaries; which, given that she has exploited that technology herself to be a ruler who really can be in many places at once, shows her to be no better than any modern-day politician, able to hold two directly opposed opinions and believe in both at the same time; and we see Breq coming to terms with the nature of intelligence, artificial or real. And there is a bit of space battle action, though it's not what you might expect; and there is even humour, in the form of the Presger translator, who appears human but is probably nothing of the sort, and accordingly has a certain amount of difficulty understanding human society and habits. (Though she enjoys fish sauce. A lot.)
The AIs in this book really do come forward as individuals; and it is the person of Breq, her secret as the most recent incarnation of the ship 'Justice of Toren' now widely known and acknowledged - and accepted - who acts as a conduit between the human and AI worlds. The AIs are shown to be as 'human' as any organic person, with a desire to look after the humans in their care, and I got a real sense almost of love of the AIs for their charges.
The political situation is resolved - at least as far as Breq is concerned - and that resolution is achieved without massive conflict, the way most political situations are. In this, I see this as a realistic novel of future politics. War, von Clausewitz said, is merely the extension of politics by other means; and it is a characteristic of advanced societies that war is always the final resort and is to be avoided at all costs, even if sometimes that avoidance can itself look like a minor military skirmish.
Ann Leckie's trilogy of books have painted a fascinating picture of a far-future spacefaring society, different from our own and yet so very similar. Not too much actually happens; but what does happen feels very consistent with the way events happen in more familiar surroundings. And intelligence will display the same traits, no matter whether it;s based on organic carbon or steel and copper and whirling electrons.
I shall be re-reading the whole trilogy quite soon, so fascinating did I find the story. Because this trilogy is giving us a clear picture of The Other; and that's what I started reading science fiction for.
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have the same themes: the ongoing civil war that the Radch is having with itself; Breq navigating the strange world of interpersonal relationships and trying to maintain military discipline, the ship 'Mercy of Kalr' looking after its crew, and more tea. Always there is more tea. In my review of the previous book, I compared the Radch military to that of the late Austro-Hungarian Empire as depicted in the novels of Joseph Roth, all Mess intrigue and gorgeous uniforms; nothing I saw in this book changes my opinion.But there is more, as well. We see a little more of what it is to be an ancillary, with little clues here and there that made me think of Cordwainer Smith's 'scanners'; we see how Anaander Minaai actually sees her ancillaries; which, given that she has exploited that technology herself to be a ruler who really can be in many places at once, shows her to be no better than any modern-day politician, able to hold two directly opposed opinions and believe in both at the same time; and we see Breq coming to terms with the nature of intelligence, artificial or real. And there is a bit of space battle action, though it's not what you might expect; and there is even humour, in the form of the Presger translator, who appears human but is probably nothing of the sort, and accordingly has a certain amount of difficulty understanding human society and habits. (Though she enjoys fish sauce. A lot.)
The AIs in this book really do come forward as individuals; and it is the person of Breq, her secret as the most recent incarnation of the ship 'Justice of Toren' now widely known and acknowledged - and accepted - who acts as a conduit between the human and AI worlds. The AIs are shown to be as 'human' as any organic person, with a desire to look after the humans in their care, and I got a real sense almost of love of the AIs for their charges.
The political situation is resolved - at least as far as Breq is concerned - and that resolution is achieved without massive conflict, the way most political situations are. In this, I see this as a realistic novel of future politics. War, von Clausewitz said, is merely the extension of politics by other means; and it is a characteristic of advanced societies that war is always the final resort and is to be avoided at all costs, even if sometimes that avoidance can itself look like a minor military skirmish.
Ann Leckie's trilogy of books have painted a fascinating picture of a far-future spacefaring society, different from our own and yet so very similar. Not too much actually happens; but what does happen feels very consistent with the way events happen in more familiar surroundings. And intelligence will display the same traits, no matter whether it;s based on organic carbon or steel and copper and whirling electrons.
I shall be re-reading the whole trilogy quite soon, so fascinating did I find the story. Because this trilogy is giving us a clear picture of The Other; and that's what I started reading science fiction for.
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LibraryThing member Gwendydd
A fantastic and basically satisfying conclusion to a wonderful trilogy. Just as with the two previous books, the world-building is amazing, the characters are engaging, and I couldn't put the book down. This book gets bonus points for Translator Zeiat, an absolutely hilarious character.
LibraryThing member nbmars
Note: There will necessarily be spoilers for Book One and Book Two in this series, but none for this book.
This is Book Three of a series which began with Ancillary Justice, a book that won just about every big award for science fiction and fantasy in 2013, including the Hugo Award, the Nebula
In this future galaxy, gender is maybe a matter of choice, or maybe of convenience; it’s unclear. We don’t know what gender anyone is, but everyone is universally designated as “she.” At the very least, this practice challenges our ideas about gender identity and roles, forcing us to rethink our assumptions and prejudices.
In addition, in this universe there are a number of beings who are massive entities with hive-minds that reside in multiple bodies at once. This is true of the Lord of the Radch Empire, a being who goes by the name of Anaander Mianaai. It was also once true of the main protagonist Breq, who used to be an “ancillary” or segment of the Justice of Toren, a massive starship that had served for some two thousand years. The Justice of Toren was destroyed by Anaander Mianaai, with only Breq escaping. Because Breq occupies just one body now, Breq can pass for human. In all the years that have passed, it is clear that Breq became much wiser, even as Anaander, alive for at least a thousand years more, had become more insane.
In Book One, we learned that the Lord of the Radch is at war with “herself” over the destruction of an entire solar system some thousand years previously. The Lord has now divided into two factions, one good and one evil. [What a wonderful metaphor as well as a clever complication for a hive-minded creature.] It is of course pretty difficult to figure out which self is which, and to support either one is treason, as far as the other is concerned. This puts citizens of the Radch in a very difficult position. Occasionally it is possible for them to infer which is which from the relative justice of the act being ordered by the Lord. When Breq was still part of the Justice of Toren, Anaander Mianaai ordered Breq to shoot her beloved superior - Lieutenant Awn - in the head. Awn had discovered the split in Anaander Mianaai, and refused to obey the orders of this Anaander because she concluded she was the evil one. Breq had no choice; Awn would die in any event, and Breq thought she would die as well. Indeed, the Lord then destroyed the Justice of Toren; it was an accident that Breq escaped. Breq loved Awn, and never recovered from what she had to do.
In Ancillary Sword, Breq was sent to Athoek Station as Captain of the starship Mercy of Kalr. This assignment dovetailed with Breq’s own needs, because she wanted to find the sister of the late Lieutenant Awn, and offer her support. But the sister, Basnaaid, wanted nothing to do with Breq. While at the station, however, there was plenty to keep Breq busy: she becomes involved with the station’s management and with the vicious undercurrent of race and class conflict that officially don't exist [just like in the U.S.].
Breq - no doubt because of her own past as a former ancillary - was outraged at the way the underclass was treated by those who thought they are better; once again, the notion of “justice” becomes a critical point for Breq.
In Ancillary Mercy, Breq is still trying to juggle political currents on Athoek Station with her entirely human - not ancillary - crew, including Seivarden - a former addict who was rescued and rehabilitated by Breq, and is now one of Breq’s most trusted lieutenants. But there is more to worry about on Athoek than local politics and Seivarden’s continuing adjustment.
First, there is the fact that the Station AI, inspired by Breq's assumption of self-agency, also starts acting on her own. In addition, two mysterious persons show up who upset the balance of the station if not the universe. One identifies herself right away - she is a new Translator from the Presger race, a mysterious and technologically superior race that can pretty much wipe out everyone else if it so chooses. The other arrival is a mystery at first, but definitely has something to do with universal politics and the conflicts within and among the being who is Anaander Mianaai. At least one iteration of Anaander is apparently outraged that Breq survived, and, that this mere ancillary has been so successful both at governing and at winning the loyalty of those who serve her.
As for how it all works out, without spoiling at all, I think it’s useful to quote from the end of the book. The author has her main protagonist observe:
“Entertainments nearly always end with triumph or disaster - happiness achieved, or total, tragic defeat precluding any hope of it. But there is always more after the ending - always the next morning and the next, always changes, losses and gains. Always one step after the other. Until the one true ending that none of us can escape. But even that ending is only a small one, large as it looms for us. There is still the next morning for everyone else. For the vast majority of the rest of the universe, that ending might as well not ever have happened. Every ending is an arbitrary one. Every ending is, from another angle, not really an ending.”
What a brilliant way to end a story that transpires over millennia!
Discussion: I appreciated the first book for its distinctive innovativeness, but I struggled with all of the “alien concepts.” In the subsequent books, the “heavy lifting” of the world building has already been done, and the author can just get on with the story; the second and third books are easier to read. Nevertheless, I was still often confused over the identities and factions of the players, and even over the role of tea and tea sets. I believe this was my own failing, however, and did not detract from my appreciation of the remarkable creativity and ground-breaking nature of these books.
Evaluation: Science fiction is by its very nature a subversive genre, but Leckie carries it further than most, in my opinion, with some notable exceptions, like the work of China Miéville. First she eliminates our preconceived notions about gender by totally taking it off the table. Second, she challenges our assumptions about what qualifies someone as a “person.” Obviously history is full of examples - especially in warfare - of identifying enemies as "less than human" in order to facilitate killing those "others." But Leckie hammers this home with her emphasis on choice of words alone that designate if someone should be treated as a "person" or not. In so doing, she further highlights the importance of language in structuring perceptions. Further, she doesn't do this through narration, but through the "real-time" action as it unfolds. Readers must work to sift through the implications and insinuations.
This third book is definitely not a standalone, and was for me a bit slower than the other books, at least in the beginning. Moreover, these are not "light" books to read. But the ideas presented in the books - about universal justice, mercy and the worth of all beings, and about how we can make a difference even in a universe that is vast and timeless, are very much worth contemplating. For fans of science fiction, I think this series is a must-read!
This is Book Three of a series which began with Ancillary Justice, a book that won just about every big award for science fiction and fantasy in 2013, including the Hugo Award, the Nebula
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Award, the BSFA Award (presented by the British Science Fiction Association), the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and the Locus Award. In this future galaxy, gender is maybe a matter of choice, or maybe of convenience; it’s unclear. We don’t know what gender anyone is, but everyone is universally designated as “she.” At the very least, this practice challenges our ideas about gender identity and roles, forcing us to rethink our assumptions and prejudices.
In addition, in this universe there are a number of beings who are massive entities with hive-minds that reside in multiple bodies at once. This is true of the Lord of the Radch Empire, a being who goes by the name of Anaander Mianaai. It was also once true of the main protagonist Breq, who used to be an “ancillary” or segment of the Justice of Toren, a massive starship that had served for some two thousand years. The Justice of Toren was destroyed by Anaander Mianaai, with only Breq escaping. Because Breq occupies just one body now, Breq can pass for human. In all the years that have passed, it is clear that Breq became much wiser, even as Anaander, alive for at least a thousand years more, had become more insane.
In Book One, we learned that the Lord of the Radch is at war with “herself” over the destruction of an entire solar system some thousand years previously. The Lord has now divided into two factions, one good and one evil. [What a wonderful metaphor as well as a clever complication for a hive-minded creature.] It is of course pretty difficult to figure out which self is which, and to support either one is treason, as far as the other is concerned. This puts citizens of the Radch in a very difficult position. Occasionally it is possible for them to infer which is which from the relative justice of the act being ordered by the Lord. When Breq was still part of the Justice of Toren, Anaander Mianaai ordered Breq to shoot her beloved superior - Lieutenant Awn - in the head. Awn had discovered the split in Anaander Mianaai, and refused to obey the orders of this Anaander because she concluded she was the evil one. Breq had no choice; Awn would die in any event, and Breq thought she would die as well. Indeed, the Lord then destroyed the Justice of Toren; it was an accident that Breq escaped. Breq loved Awn, and never recovered from what she had to do.
In Ancillary Sword, Breq was sent to Athoek Station as Captain of the starship Mercy of Kalr. This assignment dovetailed with Breq’s own needs, because she wanted to find the sister of the late Lieutenant Awn, and offer her support. But the sister, Basnaaid, wanted nothing to do with Breq. While at the station, however, there was plenty to keep Breq busy: she becomes involved with the station’s management and with the vicious undercurrent of race and class conflict that officially don't exist [just like in the U.S.].
Breq - no doubt because of her own past as a former ancillary - was outraged at the way the underclass was treated by those who thought they are better; once again, the notion of “justice” becomes a critical point for Breq.
In Ancillary Mercy, Breq is still trying to juggle political currents on Athoek Station with her entirely human - not ancillary - crew, including Seivarden - a former addict who was rescued and rehabilitated by Breq, and is now one of Breq’s most trusted lieutenants. But there is more to worry about on Athoek than local politics and Seivarden’s continuing adjustment.
First, there is the fact that the Station AI, inspired by Breq's assumption of self-agency, also starts acting on her own. In addition, two mysterious persons show up who upset the balance of the station if not the universe. One identifies herself right away - she is a new Translator from the Presger race, a mysterious and technologically superior race that can pretty much wipe out everyone else if it so chooses. The other arrival is a mystery at first, but definitely has something to do with universal politics and the conflicts within and among the being who is Anaander Mianaai. At least one iteration of Anaander is apparently outraged that Breq survived, and, that this mere ancillary has been so successful both at governing and at winning the loyalty of those who serve her.
As for how it all works out, without spoiling at all, I think it’s useful to quote from the end of the book. The author has her main protagonist observe:
“Entertainments nearly always end with triumph or disaster - happiness achieved, or total, tragic defeat precluding any hope of it. But there is always more after the ending - always the next morning and the next, always changes, losses and gains. Always one step after the other. Until the one true ending that none of us can escape. But even that ending is only a small one, large as it looms for us. There is still the next morning for everyone else. For the vast majority of the rest of the universe, that ending might as well not ever have happened. Every ending is an arbitrary one. Every ending is, from another angle, not really an ending.”
What a brilliant way to end a story that transpires over millennia!
Discussion: I appreciated the first book for its distinctive innovativeness, but I struggled with all of the “alien concepts.” In the subsequent books, the “heavy lifting” of the world building has already been done, and the author can just get on with the story; the second and third books are easier to read. Nevertheless, I was still often confused over the identities and factions of the players, and even over the role of tea and tea sets. I believe this was my own failing, however, and did not detract from my appreciation of the remarkable creativity and ground-breaking nature of these books.
Evaluation: Science fiction is by its very nature a subversive genre, but Leckie carries it further than most, in my opinion, with some notable exceptions, like the work of China Miéville. First she eliminates our preconceived notions about gender by totally taking it off the table. Second, she challenges our assumptions about what qualifies someone as a “person.” Obviously history is full of examples - especially in warfare - of identifying enemies as "less than human" in order to facilitate killing those "others." But Leckie hammers this home with her emphasis on choice of words alone that designate if someone should be treated as a "person" or not. In so doing, she further highlights the importance of language in structuring perceptions. Further, she doesn't do this through narration, but through the "real-time" action as it unfolds. Readers must work to sift through the implications and insinuations.
This third book is definitely not a standalone, and was for me a bit slower than the other books, at least in the beginning. Moreover, these are not "light" books to read. But the ideas presented in the books - about universal justice, mercy and the worth of all beings, and about how we can make a difference even in a universe that is vast and timeless, are very much worth contemplating. For fans of science fiction, I think this series is a must-read!
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LibraryThing member nngrey
I have been gradually working my way through this series. I enjoyed the first book but not enough that I felt compelled to pick up the next one immediately. Eventually I did get around to it and felt a little bogged down half way through. These books do not have a great deal of action in them and
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instead focus on interpersonal interactions. Finally, as I read through the third book, I fell in love with the series. There is something warm and comforting about the characters and once you get used to the idea that the 'action' is less lasers and bombs and more politics and social interactions, it becomes engaging in its own way. There are a lot of interesting ethical issues at play as well, and a very interesting depiction of the singularity. I will probably go back and read these again - maybe sometime soon. Show Less
LibraryThing member iansales
And so one of the most-lauded science fiction trilogies of the last couple of years, if not of all time, draws to a close. Was it worth the accolades it accrued? Did it deserve all those awards? Of course, as is always the case, much of it comes down to timing. Harry Potter became a global
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phenomenon because it appeared at just the right time. And certainly the timing was right when Ancillary Justice was published. Space opera was stuck in a rut, if not actively regressing – and Ancillary Justice was something different. Something visibly different. That thing with the default female pronoun, for example. Which doesn’t quite make sense in its professed use, but is certainly striking enough to generate buzz. Using “she” does not mean the Radch language is ungendered, nor does it mean female is used as the default gender. It’s a writerly trick, and a pretty effective one, but it makes little sense in terms of world-building. As for the plot… I wondered where the trilogy’s story arc was going after Ancillary Sword seemed to get stuck down a side-plot. Only it seems the side-plot is the actual plot of the trilogy and Ancillary Justice was pretty much prologue. And yet, despite all that, Leckie pulls a resolution out of left-field, to leave things not only neat and tidy but also with a giant jumping off point for any future novels. Ancillary Mercy is also a very talky novel, and a lot of the prose is spent on analysing people’s emotional states, little of which actually advances plot or world-building. These are interesting novels, and reasonably good ones, but I’ll be disappointed if this final book is all over award shortlists next year. Still worth reading though. Show Less
LibraryThing member melannen
I wibbled over whether to rate this a 4 or a 5 because on the one hand, basically nothing that happened surprised me, but on the other hand, that was because she basically wrote EXACTLY the book three I had been dreaming of, so.
LibraryThing member infjsarah
Very enjoyable end to the trilogy. And it doesn't end the way you expect but it is a very satisfying end nevertheless.
LibraryThing member TheDivineOomba
An excellent finish to the series - And, it ended in a rather unexpected way - I really didn't see that coming.
As always the writing is tight, Breq as a character is fully developed and fun to read. Its a very satisfying book to read, and really, my favorite out of the three. I do want to mention
Anyway, I think this is an excellent book - and I suggest it to anyone who wants a human focused book in the space opera genre.
As always the writing is tight, Breq as a character is fully developed and fun to read. Its a very satisfying book to read, and really, my favorite out of the three. I do want to mention
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the mental illness in this book - at first, I found it a bit disconcerting to read (why would a commander allow a person to serve with mental illness) but than it came to me - this is about competency. You don't sideline your very capable crew if what they have can be treated. It really is a very good way to address the issue.Anyway, I think this is an excellent book - and I suggest it to anyone who wants a human focused book in the space opera genre.
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LibraryThing member Awfki
2015-11-25/100%: Very much enjoyed this and still perplexed as to why I can't make it through book one in the series. I think part of it is that Breq is different in that one. She's in survival/vengeance mode and there isn't time for her to care about people or doing the right thing. Maybe that
Regardless of what's wrong with Ancillary Justice this one was quite enjoyable. I especially liked the bit in the middle, and really throughout, where Station and Ship (Kalr) were playing benevolent overlord and guiding their humans through difficulties. Very amusing. It makes me want to go off an AI related tangent but I won't. The ending was acceptable. It left lots and lots of room for a long running series which I kind of hope she won't do. I'm tired of authors overtapping the same well. Tell your story and then get out. If there's another story in that world that's fine, but don't keep telling the same story over and over (e.g. Anita Blake and Harry Dresden).
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changes later in the book. I also think the flashbacks are annoying. Too much time is spent with Breq as a side character. Regardless of what's wrong with Ancillary Justice this one was quite enjoyable. I especially liked the bit in the middle, and really throughout, where Station and Ship (Kalr) were playing benevolent overlord and guiding their humans through difficulties. Very amusing. It makes me want to go off an AI related tangent but I won't. The ending was acceptable. It left lots and lots of room for a long running series which I kind of hope she won't do. I'm tired of authors overtapping the same well. Tell your story and then get out. If there's another story in that world that's fine, but don't keep telling the same story over and over (e.g. Anita Blake and Harry Dresden).
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LibraryThing member Shrike58
To be honest, I wasn't able to devote as much time as I would have liked to this novel and it really does repay close attention to detail. Over and above Leckie creating a unique culture (messing with our conventional gender expectations are the least of it), at the end of the day this overarching
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series is a drama of manners, as the beginnings of justice are seen as beginning with respectful regards to all members of a given culture. In the final confrontation Breq has with Anaander Mianaai on the way to resolution, it's clear that Mianaai's great sin is her treatment of all as merely being expedient to her own self-aggrandizement, which makes her fate all the more ironic. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kellswitch
Ancillary Mercy is the conclusion to the Imperial Radch trilogy and I found it as enjoyable as the first two.
This book is definitely a strong payoff for all the characters and plot threads introduced in the first and second book, actions and decisions made strongly influence how things play out in
I really enjoyed the continued evolution of how AI's are looked upon and treated and how the possible consequences of having a culture so dependent on them, and I especially appreciated how this wasn't a dark and dire view on AI's.
If I had any complaints about this book it would be that the ending felt a bit to convenient, a bit to pat and overly positive considering the size of the issues and opposition they faced, but I was so satisfied with the overall ending, and it is nice to have a positive ending that it didn't bother me much or for long, and not while reading it as much as thinking about it afterwords.
I loved this series and I am really looking forward to what Ann Leckie comes up with next.
This book is definitely a strong payoff for all the characters and plot threads introduced in the first and second book, actions and decisions made strongly influence how things play out in
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the final book and for the most part the resolutions are satisfying. I really enjoyed the continued evolution of how AI's are looked upon and treated and how the possible consequences of having a culture so dependent on them, and I especially appreciated how this wasn't a dark and dire view on AI's.
If I had any complaints about this book it would be that the ending felt a bit to convenient, a bit to pat and overly positive considering the size of the issues and opposition they faced, but I was so satisfied with the overall ending, and it is nice to have a positive ending that it didn't bother me much or for long, and not while reading it as much as thinking about it afterwords.
I loved this series and I am really looking forward to what Ann Leckie comes up with next.
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LibraryThing member ardvisoor
So good!when I read the [book:Ancillary Justice|17333324] it went straight to my favorite shelf, then I read [book:Ancillary Sword|20706284] than it outranked the first one and now I'm really fond of the third book.Ann Leckie is for sure one of the best Sci_Fi writers in recent years.
In this book
And there is Zeiat the new Presger translator and one of my favorite characters in this book :) He is funny,innocence like and dubious.
In this book
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Breq/Justice of Toren deals more with emotions toward others . His conflicts with himself and his observations of others. Relations between AIs and humans.And there is Zeiat the new Presger translator and one of my favorite characters in this book :) He is funny,innocence like and dubious.
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LibraryThing member lavaturtle
A satisfying conclusion to the trilogy -- it wraps up the major plot arcs in a way I didn't see coming. The characters are compelling and well-drawn, including the Translator, Sphene, Sievarden, Kalr Five, Tsiwirat, and Breq herself.
LibraryThing member KarenIrelandPhillips
Where do I start? Please read the Book Smugglers' comments contained in knsievert's review, and macha's spare but encompassing stream of consciousness patter. These just begin to touch at the issues Leckie has packed into this story. Myself, I'll be in the corner starting from the beginning.
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Because I can, and this trilogy ranks right up there with my favorites, including Foreigner (Cherryh), LeGuin, and Elizabeth Bear. Show Less
LibraryThing member quiBee
A very satisfactory conclusion to the trilogy based on the former ship, reduced to a single ancillary, who needs to save a Station against overwhelming odds. This looks at not just the adventure involved, but what it is to be human, freedom of will and alien cultures that are very different. The
Highly recommended. After reading the first two, of course. 4.5 stars.
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villain is very angry at Breq and will do almost anything to get back at her, no matter who she hurts in the meantime.Highly recommended. After reading the first two, of course. 4.5 stars.
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LibraryThing member andreablythe
An absolutely fantastic conclusion to an absolutely fantastic trilogy. Keeping this review short because it's the third book and spoiler. That said, the universe, the culture, the characters make put three books on my list of all-time favorites.
Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novel — 2016)
Nebula Award (Nominee — Novel — 2015)
Audie Award (Finalist — Science Fiction — 2016)
Locus Award (Finalist — Science Fiction Novel — 2016)
Dragon Award (Finalist — Science Fiction Novel — 2016)
NPR: Books We Love (2015)
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year (Science Fiction and Fantasy — 2015)
The Observer Book of the Year (Science Fiction and Fantasy — 2015)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2015-10-06
Physical description
368 p.; 5.5 inches
ISBN
9780316246682