I was really excited to read Ann Leckie’s new novel, “Translation State“, and I was not disappointed. It met my high expectations and then some.
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Ann is well known for her Imperial Radch series. The first book of the series, Ancillary Justice, won the Hugo, Nebula and Arthur C. Clarke awards for best novel. Not bad for a first novel!
Translation State is based in the same universe but is not really part of the main series. It can be read without reading any other of her books.
In her universe, there are many human empires / governments scattered about, but the Radch Empire is the largest and most powerful. There are also aliens who have their own agenda. And then, there are the Presger.
The Presger are a very alien species who are universally dangerous to other aliens. When humanity first encountered the Presger, devastation was widespread. Fortunately, the Presger and other aliens signed a treaty, and this is what keeps the Presger from overrunning the rest of humanity (and aliens).
Presger Translators are hybrid human-Presger beings who are the go-betweens that manage and negotiate the treaty. Translation State follows several characters, Translators and humans.
I really liked the pacing of this novel. It’s fairly action-oriented but it doesn’t feel rushed. The author takes the time to show you around, especially with the highly alien Translators.
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One characteristic of Ann Leckie’s writing is her use of pronouns. One of the main characters in Translation State uses “sie/hir” pronouns. It takes some getting used to when you first start reading one of Ann’s books, but in the end I believe it enhances the experience.
I fully support people who specify their own pronouns, and I fully support transgender people. If you want to rant in opposition to trans people, go somewhere else.
This novel reads a little more like a “young adult” novel than one intended for an older audience, but that’s not a bad thing in itself. It’s not a deadly serious novel.
Translation State met my high expectations, and in some ways exceeded them. Recommended.
