Lucas Blogs About Books

What knockers! Ann Leckie is one of my favorite science fiction writers. Back in 2013, I picked up her debut novel, Ancillary Justice , and was unsurprised to see it sweep the major science fiction awards the next year. I mean, how could it not? A sci-fi revenge drama about a starship tracking down an evil galactic emperor for ordering her to kill her favorite officer? And one that vividly describes multiple cultures and the complex ways in which they interact? And that includes compelling side characters who undergo personal growth? I'm gushing, aren't I? Get used to it. Anyway, I devoured the subsequent books in the trilogy, Ancillary Sword and  Ancillary Mercy , and the stand-alone follow up, Provenance , set in a different corner of the galaxy, but still dealing with some of the fallout of the Imperial Radch trilogy. That said, as much as I like the universe Leckie created in those books, I was interested to see what she would do in a fantasy setting. That's where ...

The Imperial Radch trilo - Hey! I see you trying to sneak in there, Provenance ! In my feverish pursuit of MOAR content, I'm proud to introduce you to my newest feature: Simplified Series.  Here's the pitch: A quick synopsis of the entries in a series I've read followed by the reasons you should or shouldn't read it. Easy, breezy, flying trapeze-y. The Imperial Radch series by Anne Leckie Here's some background info you may find helpful: The Radch is a space empire that uses starships and space stations with advanced AI. The larger part of their armed forces are made up of ancillaries, human bodies (often dissidents from conquered worlds) which have been taken over by the ship's AI to serve as soldiers. This, of course, destroys the original consciousness of the human being used as an ancillary.  Breq Ghaiad is the last surviving ancillary of the troop carrier Justice of Toren  (specifically, she is Justice of Toren One Esk Nineteen), which was destroye...