Ancillary Justice cover art

Ancillary Justice

The Imperial Radch series, Book 1

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Ancillary Justice

By: Ann Leckie
Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh
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About this listen

The record-breaking debut novel that won every major science fiction award in 2014, Ancillary Justice is the story of a warship trapped in a human body and her search for revenge.

Ann Leckie is the first author to win the Arthur C. Clarke, the Nebula and the Hugo Award for Best Novel in the same year.

They made me kill thousands, but I only have one target now.

The Radch are conquerors to be feared - resist and they'll turn you into a 'corpse soldier' - one of an army of dead prisoners animated by a warship's AI mind. Whole planets are conquered by their own people.

The colossal warship called The Justice of Toren has been destroyed - but one ship-possessed soldier has escaped the devastation. Used to controlling thousands of hands, thousands of mouths, The Justice now has only two hands, and one mouth with which to tell her tale.

But one fragile, human body might just be enough to take revenge against those who destroyed her.

The Imperial Radch trilogy begins with Ancillary Justice, continues in Ancillary Sword and concludes with Ancillary Mercy.

Also available now: Provenance is a stunning standalone adventure set in the same world as Ancillary Justice.

©2013 Ann Leckie (P)2014 Hachette Audio Adventure Hard Science Fiction Military Science Fiction Space Opera Thriller & Suspense Fiction Suspense

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Critic reviews

"Thrilling, moving and awe-inspiring." (Guardian)

"Signals the arrival of a hard science fiction author who just might fill the gap left by Iain M. Banks. Ancillary Justice is a highly original novel...an intelligent slow-burner. Highly recommended." (Independent on Sunday)

"You will be truly astounded at how Leckie has fully fleshed out a universe and is asking and attempting to answer the difficult questions that many authors never even address in science fiction." (Buzzfeed)

"Unexpected, compelling and very cool - Ann Leckie nails it. I've never met a heroine like Breq before. I consider this a very good thing indeed." (John Scalzi, Hugo Award-winning author of Redshirts)
All stars
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Great plot and characterisations. I suspect some of the twists would become insanely difficult to express in the hands of a lesser author. I enjoyed it immensely.

Excellent convoluted SF

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As a first novel in a series, the author establishes her universe well. Her tiresome constant gender clumsiness gets in the way, and the plot is slow to the point of treacle, but it wins out in ideas and development.

The narrator does an adequate job with the unnecessarily long names though has a poor grasp of accent.

There were unusually some slips in audio content quality.

Despite the frustrations, I will try book 2.

Wins through the tiresome gender correctness

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it's ok. My main problem with the book is that the main protagonist acts as a distanced observer of her own life. That makes it very hard to engage with the story. Especially since neither the world or the plot portrayed are strong enough to carry the book on its own.

The book is pleasantly read. Some voice dramatization, but nothing that grates too much. Apart from a short segment with a child towards the end.

One step removed

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Very well delivered by Adjoa Andoh. An enjoyable and engaging story. Well worth giving a go. If you're looking for an Iain Banks replacement, however, this probably won't do. In the Radch you're cast out if you don't wear gloves. In the Culture you can look like a bush and still still rise to the top. Banks make you smile, Leckie doesn't, much

Radch != Culture

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A very polished piece of writing, precisely crafted and full of detail. but at times overly long and dull... second half is best.

Eloquent, well written but at times dull

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