Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie
Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie, Book #2 of the Imperial Radch series
Introduction
Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie is the second book of the Imperial Radch series. Breq is appointed Fleet Captain by the Lord of the Radch, Anaader Mianaai. Breq’s mission is to secure the Athoek system for the Lord’s side in the civil war that broke out in the Radch, Breq discovers a plot related to disappearing Athoek transportees. Can Breq solve the mystery or will Breq lose the system to the Lord’s rival?
Summary
Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie follows the exploits of Breq, who was once the starship Justice of Toren a thousand years ago but is now limited to one body. Breq confronted Anaader Mianaai, the Lord of the Radch in the novel Ancillary Justice. Afterwards, the Lord appoints Breq as Fleet Captain and assigns Breq to the ship, Mercy of Kalr. Breq’s mission is to secure the Athoek system for the Lord’s side in the civil war that broke out in the Radch. Breq’s senior Lieutenant on the Mercy of Kalr is Seivarden Vendaai, who assisted Breq in the novel Ancillary Justice.
Upon entering the Athoek system, they encounter the Sword of Atagaris commanded by Captain Hetnys. The Captain is suspicious of Breq, but Breq pulls rank on the Captain and docks the Mercy of Kalr with the Athoek Station, a space station orbiting the system’s habitable planet. Breq knows that Basnaaid is on the station. She is the sister of Lieutenant Awn, someone who Breq loved but was unavoidably killed by Breq. Breq wants to make amends but doesn’t know how. Basnaaid is a horticulturist in the garden area of the station.
Breq learns of the deplorable conditions in a part of the station called the Undergarden. Breq discovers a plot related to disappearing Athoek transportees. A death complicates Breq’s investigation and Breq goes to the planet’s surface at a tea plantation to continue the investigation. The workers are exploited by the Athotek overseers. After an assassination plot against Breq is foiled, Breq discovers the leaders of the transportee plot and acts.
Recommendation
Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie is a completely different kind of book than Ancillary Justice. Ancillary Justice had a revenge plot interspersed with flashbacks that illuminated the story. It was tight and brilliant. I suppose any plot after that would be a comedown, but this novel is sneaky good. Breq’s mission is vague, and maybe that is the point. Go to Athoek and secure it for the Radch. Freeing the repressed Undergarden residents and the exploited transportees are excellent plot ideas. The looming threat of the technologically advanced Presger race adds tension. The assassination attempt and the concluding showdown in the garden add action to the end of the novel. It feels like these plot points are building to an epic conclusion in the third novel, Ancillary Mercy.
There are a lot of narratives devoted to tea services. The Radch nobility is addicted to tea, and the planet of Athoek is their main source for tea. That whole idea comes out of the left-field for me. It turns the middle of the book into a Victorian English story of manners. If a reader reads this book without an expectation related to the first book, then the reader will be rewarded with an interesting exploration of the nature of the self, how to relate to oppressed people, and the absence of gender.
Links
This is the link to the Goodreads page of Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20706284-ancillary-sword
In Ancillary Justice, by Ann Leckie, Breq plans her revenge on the Lord of the Radch. Her plans are in jeopardy when Breq befriends the disgraced former Captain Seivarden Vendaai. Will Breq carry out her goals or will the powerful Lord defeat her? This is a link to my review.
A similar book in the space opera category is Nemesis Games by James S. A. Corey. This is the link to my review.
A similar book I have read in the Hard Science Fiction category is All Systems Red by Martha Wells. This is a link to my review.