Ancillary Sword
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | October 2014 |
| Founder | Ann Leckie |
| Products | Science fiction novel |
Ancillary Sword is a science fiction work by American writer Ann Leckie, released in October 2014. It serves as the second book in Leckie's "Imperial Radch" space opera trilogy, positioned between Ancillary Justice (2013) and Ancillary Mercy (2015). The novel achieved widespread critical recognition, securing the BSFA Award for Best Novel and the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, while also being shortlisted for both the Nebula and Hugo awards.
Synopsis
Anaander Mianaai, ruler of the Radch and leader of the faction resisting further military expansion, adopts Breq and assigns her as Fleet Captain along with command of the warship Mercy of Kalr, tasking her with safeguarding the distant Athoek system. Among Breq’s crew are Seivarden and Lieutenant Tisarwat, who is revealed to be a hastily converted ancillary version of Anaander herself. Upon discovering Tisarwat’s ancillary nature, Breq removes her implants, allowing a merged identity to develop.
At Athoek Station, Breq searches for Basnaaid, the sister of Awn—an officer Breq once cherished and who was executed under Anaander's directives. She meets Dlique, a translator for the alien Presger species, who dies during an encounter involving ancillaries from the Sword of Atagaris, commanded by Captain Hetnys, Breq’s official subordinate. To placate these influential aliens, Breq and Hetnys observe formal mourning rituals at Fosyf’s estate—a tea plantation where laborers live in conditions akin to serfdom.
Following an assassination attempt by Fosyf’s heir Raughd, Breq suspects that missing suspended transportees are connected to an ancient warship replenishing its ancillary units. Hetnys and her vessel act against Breq on behalf of Anaander Mianaai’s rival faction but are overpowered when Breq takes Hetnys hostage.
Critical reception
Liz Bourke from Tor.com lauded Ancillary Sword for exceeding Leckie’s debut through enhanced character development and more intricate worldbuilding, though she acknowledged it suffers from the common "Middle Book Problem" due to a slower pace and lack of parallel narratives. Annalee Newitz at io9 described it as an engaging story rich in themes about human rights and colonialism but noted a weaker plotline and a protagonist whose unwavering moral certainty diminished narrative complexity.
According to Kirkus Reviews, the novel is somewhat repetitive yet compelling, emphasizing Breq’s distinctive portrayal as a former artificial intelligence adapting to human constraints while critiquing its explicit moral commentary on social inequality. N. K. Jemisin in The New York Times highlighted Breq’s alien viewpoint as an effective subversion of typical science fiction assumptions regarding humanity and technology.
NPR pointed out that Ancillary Sword adopts a more politically charged tone than its predecessor. Canada’s National Post observed that initial reader alienation caused by exclusive use of female pronouns fades by the story’s conclusion. The Portsmouth Review praised the series for skillfully combining artificial intelligence with human emotion, reinforcing its prominence within the genre.
Awards
Ancillary Sword received the 2014 BSFA Award for Best Novel and was honored with the 2015 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. Additionally, it earned nominations for the 2014 Nebula Award for Best Novel as well as the 2015 Hugo Award for Best Novel.