Breq is a soldier who has spent 20 years searching for a weapon. The reasons why Breq ends up on an icy planet saving one of her former commanders from freezing to death lead back to a massacre in the past. Part of Ancillary Justice revolves around the politics of a galactic empire, part revolves around “ancillaries,” human bodies that Artificial Intelligences can inhabit. I wanted to like Ancillary Justice, but the frequent flashbacks made the story fragment. I’m a fan of John Harris’ cover artwork, but I don’t care for this cover at all, either. GRADE: C
Won almost every Sf award this year but I couldn’t finish it. The playing around with gender I found gimmicky.
Steve, I had the same reaction.
I got through about 25 pages and gee it up. Why it won all the prizes I have no idea, but it became the darling of the critics early on and carried that critic’s support all the way to the Hugo. As for the cover, they used only a portion of the Harris painting, it’s better, though not a favorite, in it’s entirety.
Rick, I’m glad you and Steve had the same reaction to ANCILLARY JUSTICE that I had. This is an example of why I’m skeptical of awards.