Book Review: Another Gem from Ann Leckie
Translation State,by Ann Leckie (Orbit)
Ann Leckie is a jewel of modern science fiction. Herworldbuilding and characters are consistently original, nuanced, deeplyresonant, and well thought-out. To describe the plot and premises of Translation State is to ignore hermasterful layering of themes and her ability to create truly relatable aliencharacters.
This story centers on three characters: Enae, a reluctant diplomat tasked withhunting down a fugitive who has been missing for over 200 years; Reet, anadopted mechanic who is desperate to learn about his genetic roots to explainwhy he operates so differently from those around him. And Qven, created to be aPresger translator, an intermediary between the dangerous—as inworld-destroying—Presger and human civilization. The Presger are truly alien,and it’s only through a centuries-old Treaty and the translators that theyhaven’t inadvertently destroyed entire systems of inhabited worlds.
Presger translators are far from benign; in their formativestages, for example. they think nothing of vivisecting or slaughtering theirage-mates. They must be taught human customs, everything from wearing clothes,making small talk, drinking tea, and sitting on furniture to not casuallyeating one another. Qven is no exception, and Reet very well may be at leastpart translator, although his adopted parents have instilled human values inhim.
Leckie manages to make both characters, as well as theendearing Enae, sympathetic, understandable, and even upon occasion admirable.She introduces Enae first, inviting the reader into a complex universe througha single relatable character. I had a harder time with Reet initially, but bythe time it was clear the story lines would merge, the deeper themes ofconsent, becoming fully oneself, loving another as I-Thou, and the meaning ofbeing human had me hooked. I loved Leckie’s subtle hand in conveyingsophisticated, often bizzare cultural conventions without a trace of rammingthem down the reader’s throat.
Leckie also portrays gender conventions in ways that areoccasionally humorous—like the way the Imperial Radch insist on using “she” foreveryone, but Reet keeps correcting them, “I’m a he!” and Qven, for the firsttime given a choice, insists on being an “e” (and, after seeing theunconditional love and support of Reet’s three moms, makes a conscious choiceto become human).
Highly recommended.
