Radiant Star Audiobook By Ann Leckie cover art

Radiant Star

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Radiant Star

By: Ann Leckie
Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh
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Space opera's sharpest mind returns to the world of the Imperial Radch in this brilliant standalone from award-winning author Ann Leckie.

The Temporal Location of the Radiant Star has always been a source of both conflict and hope for the people of Ooioiaa. However, the imperial Radch see it only as an inconvenience, an antiquated religious site soon to be absorbed into their own, superior culture. But local politics is complicated, and the Radch have made a final concession: One last man will be allowed to join the mummified bodies in the temporal location to become a “living saint”.

But this decision will ripple out to affect every part of the city. Amidst a slowly worsening food shortage, riots, and a communication blackout from the rest of the Radch Empire, a religious savant will entertain visions of his own sainthood, a socialite will discover hir comfortable life upended, and a young man sold into servitude will find unlikely escape.

 First Contact Literature & Fiction Science Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy Space Exploration Space Opera
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Critic reviews

"[A] rich exploration of self-identification and personhood serve as a fantastic introduction to Leckie’s world."—Polygon: Best of the Year on Translation State
"Leckie’s humane, emotionally intelligent, and deeply perceptive writing makes this tautly plotted adventure feel fundamentally true while also offering longtime fans a much anticipated glimpse into the Radch’s most mysterious species. Readers will be thrilled."—Publishers Weekly on Translation State (Starred Review)
"Another of Leckie’s beautiful mergings of the political, philosophical, and personal."—Kirkus on Translation State (Starred Review)
"Any SF reader who loves political skullduggery told through fascinating and empathetic characters will be captivated by Leckie’s latest foray into the Imperial Radch in all its complexity and corruption. Highly recommended."—Library Journal on Translation State (Starred Review)
"Leckie's ability to seamlessly weave in alternate conceptions of gender, identity, and alien experience remains as strong as ever, as does the propulsive and exciting tenor of her prose. An excellent addition to Leckie's already well-realized and often strange and exciting universe, this new novel is accessible, and essential, to new readers and old fans alike."—Booklist on Translation State (Starred Review)
"In this book that’s part space opera, part coming-of-age tale, part body horror delight, Ann Leckie explores themes of power, gender identity, family, destiny and AI through charming characters, dramatic diplomacy and nail-biting action."—NPR Books on Translation State (Best of the Year)
"I don’t want to spoil anything, so will simply say that the plot always goes where it should but not always where you’d expect. Along the way, Leckie asks big questions about trauma, power, and secrets. She answers them, too….I’ll put my marker down now that this book will be on most of the award slates at the end of the year. It’ll be well-earned.Translation State shows off Leckie’s skills masterfully."—Locus on Translation State
"There are few who write science fiction like Ann Leckie can. There are few who ever could."—John Scalzi
"[Puts] the question of an individual’s right to self-identification—both in terms of gender and species—at the heart of the narrative. . . .Daring, thoughtful novels like Translation State perform vital cultural work to open up new spaces so that we can all remove our disguises and shine like the princexes we were always meant to be."—Los Angeles Review of Books
"Once again, Leckie constructs an intricate science fiction backdrop, otherworldly yet comprehensible, and uses it to ground questions of family, selfhood, and fate. . . .Fans of philosophical science fiction will be enthralled."—Shelf Awareness
Detailed Worldbuilding • Complex Characters • Inventive Storytelling • Political Intrigue • Satisfying Ending

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Never a utterance out of place - I continue to be amazed at the stories within this

Love this masterwork universe creation

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I really liked ancillary justice. This standalone book sit in the same universe was just hard to like. You know how some books take a while to get going, and you have to log through a few chapters before you fall in love with the characters? This entire book is like that. I just didn't like or dislike any of the characters. There was good world building, but it at some point it felt like everything was world building. And her previous books, the multiple genders neither felt like a political commentary or took me out out of the story. For some reason, I found it incredibly distracting in this one. I think it's because I never formed a solid connection. I finished it, but it was a grind.

Hard to like

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It does start out feeling kind of dense, as others have mentioned. There are a lot of characters, all of which have unique names, which can initially make it hard to keep track of who's who. I also see what people mean when they say they weren't that connected to anyone, since there wasn't a single main character.

However, the story it's self is well done and has great pacing. It flows like a TV series with an ensamble cast. I liked this approach and felt that each character had a contribution to the larger picture, even if they only had a smaller presence.

I don't mind listening to an audiobook more than once and look forward to the first 15-20% being easier to follow the second time through.

I also enjoyed the mild sas of the narrator.

Good. Lots o

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It’s been the same narrator for all of the books but she just did such an above and beyond job here.

Amazing narration

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Ann Leckie’s Radiant Star is another offering with her Radch universe. A planet with a complex society and religious structure is undergoing assimilation into the Radch empire. The title derives from a significant religious location for the planet. Its disposition causes issues for the population. At the same time, food shortages complicate the Radch rulers.

Leckie fashions a society with strange customs and rituals, although she never offers the background material that suggests why things are the way they are. The Radch overseers struggle with their colonial assimilation. The tale is told through the eyes of multiple characters.

The narration is reasonable with decent character distinction. Pacing is a tad slow.

Another standalone tale in the Radch universe

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