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
All stars
Most relevant
I have very much enjoyed all of the imperial radch books, and this with no exception I find the world of the Radch to be an interesting and different one from many science fiction worlds. I hope there will be more to this series. There are two prequel books that I have read yet these will come soon.

Good read

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I think this book suffered from not having many likable characters. And a very complicated plot with many moving parts and many secondary characters. It was quite confusing at first. The only character I liked was Jonr (?) and for a large portion of the book they were unconscious in a suspension pod!

Most of the book was about religion and religious practices and conflicts among the various sects. And since none of the religious leaders were likable, I didn’t care who was victorious. I did like the way the book ended, at least. It was very satisfying. But I just never really engaged with the characters or their conflicts.

It’s an interesting examination of the influence of religion on a society, and the problems that can arise for any government where there are religious conflicts and a strong religious influence in society. So, overall, it was okay, but not a home run like her other books have been for me.

But of course, Adjoa Anjoh is absolutely STELLAR as the narrator!! I would like her to narrate every single book I listen to!

Not as good as her previous books

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It took a while for me to get used to the “narrator” sections of the story and the way they were read. I liked the individual characters, although some were a bit more labored than others. The ending bring us satisfyingly back into the timeline of the other books about the Radch.

A Different Approach

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When I'm about to start a new book by an author that I've consistently loved, I tend to get the paper out Kindle version and the audiobook, so I can continue the story in the car on the way to and from work and walking the dog (because the books I love draw me in and make it hard to put down). This narrator, Adjoa Andoh, is one of the few narrators that both make the book more enjoyable and also change my perspective of the story in new and creative ways. I honor her excellence in her craft for bringing stories alive in ways my own inner mind cannot.

Amazing Narrator

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Good-ness. Let it not be said I didn’t try to love this. But the work of reading this one, keeping track of all the invented titles and positions, with not a single character to love or hate, and no intrigue… it’s like reading a local newspaper front to back, in a foreign language.

Love Leckie, but wow is this one tiresome

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