24
votes
Physiology of Ann Leckie's Radchaai from the "Ancillary" series
"Radchaai" has at least 3 distinct meanings in the story. There is the "Radch Empire" created by Anaander Mianaai which has both ships and citizens who are referred to as "...
- 143k
10
votes
Accepted
Is there any evidence that the 'tea' in the Imperial Radch books is actually tea?
This question was addressed in a blog post on Ann Leckie's own website. In short, the 'tea' in the novels is indeed Camellia sinensis, transported from Earth in the early days of colonisation.
I’ve ...
- 718k
9
votes
What's up with sex and pronouns in Ann Leckie's Provenance?
According to the author herself,
adamant pretty much has it right [that is, in saying that "the existence of three different pronouns need not have much to do with physical sex"]. Genitals don't ...
- 20.5k
6
votes
Accepted
What was the size of the ancient Sphene-ship of the Radch Universe and how many ancillaries did she operate?
The author herself is not sure, but speculates that its size is intermediate between a Mercy and a Sword:
Transcript:
(Matt Gutting): @ann_leckie is there anywhere other than you I could go to ...
- 20.5k
5
votes
Accepted
Why is Breq confident that Lieutenant Skaaiat will not recognize her?
From Imperial Radch Wiki:
Lieutenant Skaiaat Awer was the commander of Justice of Ente Seven Issa during the Shis'urna annexation
From the Breq page on the same wiki:
It is lightly implied that ...
- 2,026
3
votes
What's up with sex and pronouns in Ann Leckie's Provenance?
Just to follow up on this for anyone finding it later on, the clues for all of this are in the text of Provenance but the dots aren't always easy to connect. It appears that Hwaean children aren't ...
- 31
1
vote
What is the difference between a Justice, a Sword and a Mercy?
Io9 has an infographic that details the features of the various ship classes. Ann Leckie linked there via her blog, so I assume it's pretty much legit. Difference is size and troup complement (or ...
- 19.4k
1
vote
Is everyone really female in Ancillary Justice or is the ancillary just unable to tell?
Breq is actually female but it's not in the books; it's mentioned in the short story "She Commands Me and I Obey."
Seivarden and the tyrant are male (first book).
Queter is female. Uran is ...
- 11
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