Translation State

by Ann Leckie

No cover — Ann Leckie: Translation State (2023, Little, Brown Book Group Limited)

English language

Published April 22, 2023 by Little, Brown Book Group Limited.

ISBN:: 978-0-356-51792-6

View on OpenLibrary

(80 reviews)

5 editions

Erin reviewed Translation State by Ann Leckie

Review of 'Translation State' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This was such a refreshing read. I loved Leckie’s Radch trilogy, so it was great to return to that world and Leckie’s style of story.

I enjoyed the peak into the Presger translator world, and Qven’s identity conflict. Reet’s story was also engaging, and his search for belonging was well done. Enae felt like the least necessary POV - hir past sounded interesting to me, but where we pick up the story with hir is less so. Sie’s kind of peripheral to Qven and Reet in the end.

I got kind of lost in all the characters once we get to the committee piece. I couldn’t remember well who was who and where their interests lay. But I found the battle over species identity a fascinating one. My experience with committees makes it hard for me to believe one could be so on task like this, though

sophist_monster reviewed Translation State by Ann Leckie

Matching and Merging

No rating

Really dug this. Continues Leckie's exploration of gender and identity. Likewise attends to some interesting caregiving dynamics. I think the title nicely signals all of this: the work of transitioning across gender and identity and also phases of life. Plus, weird alien doors.

Julie R reviewed Translation State by Ann Leckie

A cozy Radch book! With translators!

5 stars

I blew through this too fast and now I want more, but there isn't any, I ate it all. I've been dying for a book about Translators, and Leckie delivers, and I can only hope that there's another one coming with more of everything and everyone because I love it all and I'm oh so greedy. Like the other Radch books, there's a pretty strong theme pointing a finger directly at our current society. This one is about consent (and identity because all the Radch books revolve around identity in a beautiful, subversive way). I love this series, and this book fits in with a satisfying snick.

Andy reviewed Translation State by Ann Leckie

A return to radchaai space

5 stars

Finally we get to learn more about the mysterious Presger. A really enjoyable ride through one of my favourite universes

Ian Brown reviewed Translation State by Ann Leckie

Another wonderful entry in the Radch++ universe.

5 stars

Leckie continues to build worlds and cultures that turn a lens back onto contemporary struggles around identity and sovereignty. It is helpful, but not necessary, to have read her other Radch books as they do build on some earlier stories and a few characters turn up again. There is also a deeper dive into the Presgers (or at least the Presger Translators), but the author does a great job keeping terrible mysteries mysterious.

Finally, a slight spoiler, in this installment Leckie fixes the greatest flaw in her universe: the lack of coffee. I applaud her courage in bringing this beverage into a heretofore tea-centric narrative.