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precise's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Probably not going to grab me to the same extent as Imperial Radch originally did but I still enjoyed it (Ancillary Justice & the trilogy hit me like a ton of bricks in 2015-2016 and I have the tumblr history to prove it). Spoiler-free review is that this book has so much missed potential to be horny (understandably missed given the plot, but still) and I hope to see 'presger juveniles that will literally dissolve if they don't merge' as the new 'psychic wolves' in fanfiction from here on out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault
deedireads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
All my reviews live at https://deedireads.com/.
Lucky for me that Translation State was nominated for the Hugo, because it’s unlikely I would have picked it up on my own. I had not heard of the Imperial Radch trilogy (although appears to be quite beloved!), which is the primary work where this book’s universe is established. Translation State is one of two standalone novels that widen the trilogy’s scope by focusing on other planetary systems and species/civilizations.
Although I could definitely tell that I was missing context — easter eggs and recurring characters and things like that — to Leckie’s credit, I never felt lost. And this was a very fun story with cool, deeply lovable cannibal aliens. (Of the three main characters, two are humans — well, kinda — and one is an alien.) What’s not to like?? The secondary characters were sort of flat and some things were tied up a bit too neatly, as you might expect from a “spin-off” novel like this, but those were minor complaints. I loved the overall theme that we all want to belong and should have a place in the universe and people to love us. I also loved the emphasis on gender as a spectrum and the overarching question of what makes someone “human.”
Nobody else is Becky Chambers but if you’re looking for something to read after Long Way this could be it — and I get the feeling from reviews that the original trilogy may be even closer.
Content and Trigger Warnings
Body horror; Cannibalism (kind of); Xenophobia; Violence and blood
Lucky for me that Translation State was nominated for the Hugo, because it’s unlikely I would have picked it up on my own. I had not heard of the Imperial Radch trilogy (although appears to be quite beloved!), which is the primary work where this book’s universe is established. Translation State is one of two standalone novels that widen the trilogy’s scope by focusing on other planetary systems and species/civilizations.
Although I could definitely tell that I was missing context — easter eggs and recurring characters and things like that — to Leckie’s credit, I never felt lost. And this was a very fun story with cool, deeply lovable cannibal aliens. (Of the three main characters, two are humans — well, kinda — and one is an alien.) What’s not to like?? The secondary characters were sort of flat and some things were tied up a bit too neatly, as you might expect from a “spin-off” novel like this, but those were minor complaints. I loved the overall theme that we all want to belong and should have a place in the universe and people to love us. I also loved the emphasis on gender as a spectrum and the overarching question of what makes someone “human.”
Nobody else is Becky Chambers but if you’re looking for something to read after Long Way this could be it — and I get the feeling from reviews that the original trilogy may be even closer.
Content and Trigger Warnings
Body horror; Cannibalism (kind of); Xenophobia; Violence and blood
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Xenophobia and Cannibalism
shrugabug's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
i think that it's hard to rate personally, because i haven't read the previous and defining trilogy. for that reason i don't think i'll comment on world building, character history, etc.
i think there were some aspects that i found incredibly interesting and thematic, such as consuming to become someone else, and family being something that is chosen and changing. i had problems later in the novel, as it started to feel repetitive (with a lot of miscommunication, assumptions, etc.) and that point of views were sort of a repeat of what was stated in different point of views (especially between two of the three characters).
altogether i thought the book was quick-paced, fluffy sort of book. a fun, political romp with some adventure.
i think there were some aspects that i found incredibly interesting and thematic, such as consuming to become someone else, and family being something that is chosen and changing. i had problems later in the novel, as it started to feel repetitive (with a lot of miscommunication, assumptions, etc.) and that point of views were sort of a repeat of what was stated in different point of views (especially between two of the three characters).
altogether i thought the book was quick-paced, fluffy sort of book. a fun, political romp with some adventure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, and Cannibalism
no_good_wyfe's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was so fun! Hit all the sweet spots for me with very cute motifs and, as Leckie always delivers, some genuinely thought-provoking reflections on identity and humanity. Not as sweeping or dazzling as her original trilogy, but probably not intended to be and still very much recommended.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Cannibalism, and War
booksthatburn's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
TRANSLATION STATE is best read after the Imperial Radch trilogy and PROVENANCE, as some of the worldbuilding details reveal conclusions to situations encountered in those books. That being said, TRANSLATION STATE is a self-contained story which delves into the Presger in a manner beyond the scope of the previous stories. The series as a whole focuses on questions of personhood and community, different ways people can be connected, and ways that identity can be complicated by, or unrelated to, one’s physical form.
I continue to be impressed with the worldbuilding in this series. This explains thing things about the Presger Translators which are completely consistent with events in previous books, making it clear that much of the underlying situation had been thought out well in advance. I love it when an author clearly has already figured out their world at a level of detail that I usually don’t have to worry about as a reader. The internal consistency is so nice.
Enae was eir grandmaman's caretaker, but grandmaman is dead, and Enae is sent to find a Presger Translator who has been missing for 200 years. No one expects e to find them, but e wants to do a good job anyway.
Qven is meant to mate and become a Preger Translator; all of their development has been aimed at this goal. An incident leaves them altered in a way that the adults do not find acceptable, and their life is in jeopardy. If they cannot be useful, then they will never mate and they will die. One of the translators hopes to salvage the situation by making Qven merge with a newly discovered juvenile who grew up among humans.
Reet is adopted, just like his many siblings, but he’s always seemed odd to other people. His thoughts are filled with entrails and viscera, he desires to pull and tear to see the gorey insides of those around him. As part of some attempt at belonging, Reet ends up assigned to escort Enae around when they visit following the centuries old trail of the missing translator.
I like the three main characters, they comprise a great trio of perspectives. Even though their initial proximity is forced, I like the way Qven and Reet interact. They fit well with each other, and I hope to get more of them in future books.
While not a direct sequel, this provides a lot of information about the Presger Translators, details which explain several things from the previous books. The main storyline is entirely new, introducing and resolving the assorted troubles of the three main characters. There are various background details in this book, and the previous ones which will likely require several more stories to fully resolve, so I would be very surprised if this is intended to be the final book. Someone could quite easily start here and have a very satisfying reading experience: the kinds of things which are explained in detail are no better or worse of an entry point to the series, other than that they canonically happened after the previous four books. I can’t think of anything important that was explained enough detail to feel like a spoiler for someone who begins here and then later goes back for the other books.
Things I love, in no particular order: Qven's descriptions of growing up; the way the Presger Translators seem to have conflated being human with being Radchai – particularly the way that understanding shapes which humans ceremonies they practice.
I continue to be impressed with the worldbuilding in this series. This explains thing things about the Presger Translators which are completely consistent with events in previous books, making it clear that much of the underlying situation had been thought out well in advance. I love it when an author clearly has already figured out their world at a level of detail that I usually don’t have to worry about as a reader. The internal consistency is so nice.
Enae was eir grandmaman's caretaker, but grandmaman is dead, and Enae is sent to find a Presger Translator who has been missing for 200 years. No one expects e to find them, but e wants to do a good job anyway.
Qven is meant to mate and become a Preger Translator; all of their development has been aimed at this goal. An incident leaves them altered in a way that the adults do not find acceptable, and their life is in jeopardy. If they cannot be useful, then they will never mate and they will die. One of the translators hopes to salvage the situation by making Qven merge with a newly discovered juvenile who grew up among humans.
Reet is adopted, just like his many siblings, but he’s always seemed odd to other people. His thoughts are filled with entrails and viscera, he desires to pull and tear to see the gorey insides of those around him. As part of some attempt at belonging, Reet ends up assigned to escort Enae around when they visit following the centuries old trail of the missing translator.
I like the three main characters, they comprise a great trio of perspectives. Even though their initial proximity is forced, I like the way Qven and Reet interact. They fit well with each other, and I hope to get more of them in future books.
While not a direct sequel, this provides a lot of information about the Presger Translators, details which explain several things from the previous books. The main storyline is entirely new, introducing and resolving the assorted troubles of the three main characters. There are various background details in this book, and the previous ones which will likely require several more stories to fully resolve, so I would be very surprised if this is intended to be the final book. Someone could quite easily start here and have a very satisfying reading experience: the kinds of things which are explained in detail are no better or worse of an entry point to the series, other than that they canonically happened after the previous four books. I can’t think of anything important that was explained enough detail to feel like a spoiler for someone who begins here and then later goes back for the other books.
Things I love, in no particular order: Qven's descriptions of growing up; the way the Presger Translators seem to have conflated being human with being Radchai – particularly the way that understanding shapes which humans ceremonies they practice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gore, Racism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and War
heliofoe's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, but I think you need to be a little invested in the universe already. It happens in the same universe as Ann Leckie's Ancillary series, but a different place and different culture. The global impact of the original trilogy is impacting events in the wider universe.
It explores again themes of humanity and sentience, and is heavy on the negotiation and politics that go into changing or pursuing change. If you like space opera then this definitely qualifies.
It's also self-contained as a story, which is nice.
It explores again themes of humanity and sentience, and is heavy on the negotiation and politics that go into changing or pursuing change. If you like space opera then this definitely qualifies.
It's also self-contained as a story, which is nice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Xenophobia
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Cannibalism
Please note that although sexual assault is a major theme it's handled in a way that is respectful and possibly healing.eleanora's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death and Police brutality
scifi_rat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
Minor: Colonisation and Classism
quitegood's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is fast becoming my favourite sci-fi subgenre; Hard Sci-Fi croseed with Emotions. And likeable characters. It starts with humble beginning, crosses the stars and even leaves space itself.
Things certainly start to wobble for the first half of the last quarter, but the rest of the book was so amazing that I can't mark it less that 5 stars.
Things certainly start to wobble for the first half of the last quarter, but the rest of the book was so amazing that I can't mark it less that 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Sexual assault, and Blood
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Rape
crownoflaurel's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Sexual assault, Slavery, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, and Outing