jjjreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, Confinement, Ableism, Classism, Genocide, Police brutality, Self harm, Suicide, Transphobia, Addiction, Racism, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Death, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, War, Body horror, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Suicide attempt, and Vomit
ekcd_'s review against another edition
Moderate: Car accident, Deadnaming, Confinement, Blood, Drug abuse, Medical content, Murder, Gore, Drug use, Genocide, Xenophobia, Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Medical trauma, War, Body horror, Physical abuse, and Police brutality
coffinfinite's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Deciding how much of this difficulty is the fault of the author and how much is the fault of me, the reader, is a gnarly task. I am well versed in science fiction and familiar with many of the tropes and traditions of the genre. I don't think Ancillary Justice could be read by someone who hadn't already got a few other science fiction novels under their belt first. On the other hand, perhaps my confusion reveals a weakness in my own cognitive abilities, and a gap between Leckie's ambitious vision and my own competence as a reader. Regardless, the fact remains that while this book is undoubtedly excellent, my experience reading it did not match up. The pace gathers speed towards the climatic finale, tripping over itself a little and coming to an abrupt end that jars against the lethargic first two thirds.
However, the characters and universe are vividly realised, with the Raadch a galactic empire that operates in a flawed meritocracy with a taste for tea (which sounds oddly familiar...) and a love of bright colour, flowers and elaborate statues and stained windows of their deities. It sounds like a terrifying place in which to live, with other cultures being annexed and incorporated into the Raadch's territory in a seemingly endless expansion, until the events of this book. The book deals with issues of classism and colonisation without being condescending or preachy, and the absence of gender identifying language means our perspective of the characters lies more in behavioural interpretation than the pre-conceived norms of the read world. Every character being a "she" in this manner was a refreshing departure from the male-centric notions of more traditional science fiction.
Despite my issues with this book, it is clearly a very important text in the landscape of science fiction as we know it today, and it is an excellent read if you are willing to work through its issues.
Graphic: Colonisation and Genocide
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Murder, Medical trauma, and Gun violence
ailsaod's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror and Medical trauma
Moderate: Colonisation, Slavery, Murder, and Genocide
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, and Death
So many war crimes. A lot of potentially disturbing themes arising from the use of 'ancillaries' - humans from colonised planets that have been 'wiped' of their previous existence and made into cyborg soldiers for AIs to operate.rosequarterdrifting's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Racism, Slavery, Medical trauma, and Medical content
reina's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Space opera.
Spoiler
Not much spoilers: I hadn't thought of myself as a fan of AI themes, but this made me realize it. I got a low-key Bladerunner vibe. It also reminded me of 'The Ship Who Sang' by Anne McCaffrey. Although it's been a long time since I read it.Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Medical trauma, and Violence
Minor: Body horror and Suicide
Severely depressed character, withdrawal, injury,