4.0
Translation State
By Ann LeckiePublisher Description
The mystery of a missing translator sets three lives on a collision course that will have a ripple effect across the stars in this powerful novel from a Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke award-winning author.
"There are few who write science fiction like Ann Leckie can. There are few who ever could." —John Scalzi
Qven was created to be a Presger translator. The pride of their Clade, they always had a clear path before them: learn human ways, and eventually, make a match and serve as an intermediary between the dangerous alien Presger and the human worlds. The realization that they might want something else isn't "optimal behavior". It's the type of behavior that results in elimination.
But Qven rebels. And in doing so, their path collides with those of two others. Enae, a reluctant diplomat whose dead grandmaman has left hir an impossible task as an inheritance: hunting down a fugitive who has been missing for over 200 years. And Reet, an adopted mechanic who is increasingly desperate to learn about his genetic roots—or anything that might explain why he operates so differently from those around him.
As a Conclave of the various species approaches—and the long-standing treaty between the humans and the Presger is on the line—the decisions of all three will have ripple effects across the stars.
Masterfully merging space adventure and mystery, and a poignant exploration about relationships and belonging, Translation State is a triumphant new standalone story set in the celebrated Imperial Radch universe.
"Leckie’s humane, emotionally intelligent, and deeply perceptive writing makes this tautly plotted adventure feel fundamentally true while also offering longtime fans a much anticipated glimpse into the Radch’s most mysterious species. Readers will be thrilled." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Another of Leckie’s beautiful mergings of the political, philosophical, and personal." —Kirkus (starred review)
"There are few who write science fiction like Ann Leckie can. There are few who ever could." —John Scalzi
Qven was created to be a Presger translator. The pride of their Clade, they always had a clear path before them: learn human ways, and eventually, make a match and serve as an intermediary between the dangerous alien Presger and the human worlds. The realization that they might want something else isn't "optimal behavior". It's the type of behavior that results in elimination.
But Qven rebels. And in doing so, their path collides with those of two others. Enae, a reluctant diplomat whose dead grandmaman has left hir an impossible task as an inheritance: hunting down a fugitive who has been missing for over 200 years. And Reet, an adopted mechanic who is increasingly desperate to learn about his genetic roots—or anything that might explain why he operates so differently from those around him.
As a Conclave of the various species approaches—and the long-standing treaty between the humans and the Presger is on the line—the decisions of all three will have ripple effects across the stars.
Masterfully merging space adventure and mystery, and a poignant exploration about relationships and belonging, Translation State is a triumphant new standalone story set in the celebrated Imperial Radch universe.
"Leckie’s humane, emotionally intelligent, and deeply perceptive writing makes this tautly plotted adventure feel fundamentally true while also offering longtime fans a much anticipated glimpse into the Radch’s most mysterious species. Readers will be thrilled." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Another of Leckie’s beautiful mergings of the political, philosophical, and personal." —Kirkus (starred review)
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities123 Reviews
4.0
stormblessed
Created 2 days agoShare
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“ann leckie is on another level, and this series is just incredible. every ride i’m taken on, i love”Characters change and growDiverse charactersMulti-layered charactersBeautifully writtenOriginal writingAddictiveTwistyRealistic settingThought-provokingSexual assault
Cathryn
Created 4 days agoShare
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Characters change and growLikable charactersDescriptive writingImmersive settingMagical settingComing of ageThought-provokingBigotrySexual assault
weetosmom ✨🪿🫧
Created 9 days agoShare
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timetravelreader
Created 10 days agoShare
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“I loved the Imperial Radch trilogy, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC for this book. When I heard this book was about the Presger, I was super excited to read it.
First off, if you haven’t read anything in the Imperial Raadch series before, do so before you read this book. Second, if you’ve read Imperial Radch, you know a little bit about the Presger; if you’re squeamish, you might want to skip. There’s some body horror that had me say OMG aloud as I was reading.
The beginning starts off well, and by the midpoint the story becomes a legal drama, and then the climax is… a contained spiral. I felt like the start was strongest, and then the book started to lose some momentum.
What’s a surprise - or maybe not, given the shades of it seen in the trilogy - is the dark humor. There were some laugh-out-loud lines, as well as a lot of heartwarming moments surrounding family and identity. Was there enough about the Presger? Well, I was hoping for more information then what we were given. Maybe another book?
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher to the ARC.”
BeeKoblin
Created 12 days agoShare
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About Ann Leckie
Ann Leckie is the author of the Hugo, Nebula, Arthur C. Clarke, and British Science Fiction Award winning novel Ancillary Justice. She has worked as a waitress, a receptionist, a rodman on a land surveying crew, and a recording engineer. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
Other books by Ann Leckie
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