Target: Ann Leckie’s Ancillary Justice (Imperial Radch #1) and Ancillary Sword (Imperial Radch #2)
Profile: Science Fiction, Space Opera
The Imperial Radch series is a relatively simple little space opera, in the classic sense of the term. Spanning hundreds, if not thousands of years, multiple star systems and a variety of cultural influences, it’s a series firmly rooted in the tropes of its genre. While Ancillary Justice does wonderful things with those ideas and concepts, building a surprisingly compelling setting and cast, the series as a whole is somewhat underwhelming. Lacking the bombast of James S. A. Corey’s The Expanse or the vision of Alastair Reynolds’ Revelation Space, Imperial Radch sits in an uncomfortable place between top-tier SF and the middle of the road dross that clogs the shelves at Barnes and Noble.
Ancillary Justice follows Breq, also known as Justice of Toren, One Esk, a surviving fragment of the controlling AI of an interstellar warship. A portion of Justice examines Breq’s life as the ship Justice of Toren before it was destroyed, while the main narrative picks up after Breq has been on her own for years, executing a long plan that might make up for some of the mistakes she made as Justice of Toren. The PoV snaps back and forth between the present and the past until we witness the moment of Justice of Toren’s destruction. After which we shift entirely to Breq on her mission of justice and vengeance.
As a fan of James S. A. Corey, this book shows up in my recommended list frequently but the mixed reviews have always kept me from pulling the trigger. You’ve confirmed my suspicions – that this is better than many but not really all that compelling. And for what it’s worth, I appreciate the combo-review. I would rather not get started if it’s down a path that isn’t going somewhere all that interesting.
PS. I adored Red Rising so if your’e into scifi (not space opera) with a bit of a dystopian bent to it, it’s really strong and lots of cannonballers have enjoyed it!
I will say that I haven’t written off the series yet. I don’t have high hopes, particularly if it is just going to be a trilogy, but it would not be hard to salvage a good conclusion from what is already in place.
Glad you liked the review!
I adored the second book. I agree that the plot wasn’t great but I just loved the way the characters rallied around Breq. All the warm fuzzies. All of them.
Based on some of the other reviews here, I think you opinion is probably in the majority, but I found it very hard to overlook the lack of forward momentum after how dynamic the first book had been. Minority opinions notwithstanding, I really do want to read Mercy!