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  • Ancillary Sword

  • The Imperial Radch series, Book 2
  • By: Ann Leckie
  • Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh
  • Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (709 ratings)
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Ancillary Sword cover art

Ancillary Sword

By: Ann Leckie
Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh
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Summary

Justice for all

Breq - the soldier who used to be a spaceship - is serving the emperor she swore to destroy. She's been given her own warship, her own crew, and ordered to the only place in the galaxy she would have agreed to go: to Athoek Station, to protect the family of the lieutenant she murdered in cold blood. Athoek was annexed by the Empire some 600 years ago, and by now everyone is fully 'civilised'. Or should be - but everything is not as tranquil as it appears. Old divisions are still troublesome, Athoek Station's AI is restless, and it looks like the alien Presger might have taken an interest in what's going on. With no guarantees that their interest is benevolent.

©2014 Ann Leckie (P)2014 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Leckie proves she's no mere flash in the pan with this follow-up to her multiple-award-winning debut space opera, Ancillary Justice." ( Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about Ancillary Sword

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

I miss Iain Banks, but now I've got Ann Leckie. Enough said. She's a great new discovery for those who like intelligent hard fiction.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Jane Austin in Space Returns

That's how I described the book to my girlfriend. I absolutely love how subtle societal mores of the depicted cultures are described and exploited to give such a sense of depth and breadth to the universe. An utterly unique take on science fiction that does not come across as fluffy in the least.

I love hard science fiction and where necessary it is mentioned here with light speed delays being mixed comfortably with hyper space jumps while the crew are holding tea parties attended by human bodies controlled by artificially intelligent ships.

Exploration of interesting subjects from coping with loss to how an artificial intelligence in control of multiple biological bodies might take care of all of their needs.

If you hadn't guessed, I greatly recommend this series to anyone who finds subtle social situations, unusual cultures and even the melding of human and machine to be of interest.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A comedy of Manners a galaxy far far away

The beauty of this sf adventure is the concentration on interactions and petty politics. This seems like the best of early novels from Austin or Bronte, but there is no comprimise in the science fiction. Most of the novel sf themes were introduced in the first of this trilogy so it is surprising that this investigation into problems in a star system is so compelling. Fleet Captain Breck does have some secret powers and weapons which gives her just the right edge. I suspect it would be best not to start with this book, but read Ancilliary Justice first because some of the facets of the unuverse critical to this trilogy are best revealed slowly.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Ann Leckie is the best SciFi writer out there

The second book in the Ancillary series sees the action move away from the centre of the Imperial Radch to the backwater of Athoek Station, where Breq, the former Ancillary, now the adopted cousin of Anaander Mianaai, the Lord of the Radch, finds corruption at the highest levels.

As a follow-up to Ancillary Justice, it has continuity of characters, but a complete change of pace, focusing on character, morality and world building. It's a wonderful listen.

As ever, Adjoa Andoh narrates sublimely, with a full range of voices and emotions.

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2 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Galactic tea party

Any additional comments?

I can't bring myself to finishing that book. Adjoa Andoh's rendition is excellent, but I find the story is so utterly dull I find it hard to focus on it and not drift to other thoughts. I'm not sure what's the obsession to tea about either. I'd like a holiday from hearing that word for a while now :)

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    5 out of 5 stars
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interesting mix of sci-fi and cultured world build

This book builds on the world of the first in a well thought out unique way. Perhaps similar to Asimov or Star Trek DS9, in detail to culture.

This books is less scifi space opera and more detective, which may sadden some.

Excellent narration.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Good as trilogy middle books go

A little slower paced than the first book, but enjoyable. Great narration. Continues the world building and sets the scene for book three.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good, but not as good as the first.

i loved the first book, and this one does not have the same suspense and mystery of the first. still a very enjoyable read though.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable but feels like a setup for next book

It's nice to continue following the story but when the climax of it started I was surprised. I felt nothing particular had happened so far. Overall the story felt like a setup for the next book.

The performance is great. Engaging and with a range of accents.

Part of the charm of the first story was the many and potentially simultaneous POV of the ancillaries. This dual POV is again present for some scenes but it feels more like a technical exercise and it's odd how these disparate but important events seem to happen at once.

The single gender pronouns continue throughout the book. I feel I have a better sense of characters gender but I may well be wrong. I suppose it doesn't matter to me, which is the point after all.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting extrapolation on the first book

This is an enjoyable continuation of the concepts developed in the first book. The story is sufficiently strong but leaves a lot to be told in book three. The most interesting plots here are domestic but some tension builds. A good narrator and an original concept. G

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