MaggieK
3/5/2014
So, this is one of those books that everybody seems to be reading, and is getting covered in three or four different book clubs... and I got to say, hype like that makes me very wary. Look at the hype for Twilight for example, ya know?
Anyway... I had myself all confused whether I should read it and risk disappointment, or blow it off for something I was sure I would love. When I realized how safe I was making my options, reading ti became sort of symbolic for living.... and way too pumped up at that!
At any rate, I started reading it and realized the protagonist, Breq, was something completely different. It slowly comes out that she (I think she is a she anyway, it's debatable) used to be the Justice of Torren, which is actually a space ship. She (the ship) had all sorts of Ancillary parts (Her consciousness having been placed into all sorts of cryo dead bodies to be her own crew), and now somehow Breq is singular, out on her own, and seeking justice for a favorite crewmember. Can an AI have a favorite? Can an AI have the emotion to seek revenge? Hmmmmmmmm.....
This was really quite the theme!
I don't want to get any further into the story and spoil it for you, because you really should read it. It is original, it is thought provoking, and it somehow all works out. Imagine that!
4.5 stars
oh, and the place where she is at does not recognize gender. So there is this whole funny thing of not quite knowing how to address people, which also is thought provoking. This worked okay for me. It didn't especially bother me, but I have seen this done where it worked better. Written on the Body comes to mind. But it was fine, and added another twist.