Ann Leckie: Translation State

 The book takes place in the same universe as the author's widely acclaimed "Ancillary" series. Enae is someone who has taken care of hir (the pronouns in the book are confusing, with many different ones. I wonder why authors create more instead of following the simplest approach—using just one pronoun for everything. Apparently, it is too hard for English-speaking authors to grasp genderless language). When hir grandmother dies, it turns out that the house they lived in was sold years ago. The grandmother had arranged with the buyer that Enae would not be left destitute. So, the buyer arranges a job: Enae is supposed to find a fugitive Presger translator who disappeared about a century ago. It is a job that offers good pay, and an almost unlimited travel allowance, and no one expects any results from hir search. Sounds like a pretty good deal. But she decides to actually try to accomplish hir goal.

Qven is created and raised to be a Presger translator. He looks human and has mainly human genetics, but his upbringing (dismantling other children is encouraged as a normal part of development) is a bit unusual. He is also destined to merge with someone to create the ultimate whole. That is something that cannot be avoided.

Reet is a foundling who has been raised by adoptive parents. His genetics are strange, and no relatives of any kind can be found. His childhood was pretty happy and ordinary, apart from his tendency when he was young to bite other children. He grew out of that, but also has a tendency for very violent dreams.

When Enae comes to the space station where Reet lives, he is assigned as hir assistant. Enae soon suspects that Reet might be related to a Presger translator, which eventually leads to Reet’s capture. According to the agreement with the Presgers (a very powerful and extremely dangerous alien species), such fugitives must be returned.

The book was excellent, with interesting characters. The Presger translators were especially fascinating, with really original and imaginative life cycles. The messing about with pronouns was irritating—since the most prevalent language, Radchaai, apparently has just one pronoun, so why not go with that? Why invent a mess of new ones? The writing was very good, creative, and at the same time readable, with no pretentious pseudo-artistic tendencies. This was my favorite of the Hugo nominees.

422 pp.