Ancillary Mercy

[raven]

Friends, let's talk about Ancillary Mercy. I loved it so much I can't even formulate a coherent review of it. I just, the previous two books I enjoyed a great deal, yes, but I was always vaguely dubious about where the huge space opera plots were going to go and whether it would be in a way that was satisfying for the immediate story, the characters and their arcs. Spoilers: she knocked it out of the park, oh my goodness.

Some more specific things I loved:

-EVERYTHING. Okay, no, fine, specifics. As with the last book, I loved Mercy of Kalr and its crew beyond the telling of it. I love the family on board ship, the way they sing because it makes Breq happy (and then, because it makes them happy!); Kalr Five and her dishes for every occasion, which Breq goes along with because it because it makes her happy; the way the crew behave like ancillaries, sometimes, because it makes Ship happy; the way they love and trust and look after each other in a hundred intersecting ways.

-Which is of course, in part, a function of Mercy of Kalr. Oh god. Oh my god. It - she? I think it - is my favourite character in the series, and I had hoped that the title of this book meant it would get its day in the sun and, argh, it was better than I could have ever hoped. As Seivarden notes repeatedly, WHY DO SHIPS NOT TALK ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS. That little scene where Mercy, as Seivarden, clambers into bed with Breq and talks about, in the vague abstract, how ships can have favourites, and love, and never understand that they can be loved - so sad, so lovely, so beautifully done. And sad and hopeful both for Seivarden, who can be the human proxy for Breq and Mercy, but - as the narrative never neglects - deserves to love and be loved, honestly, elsewhere.

-And - I love how that plays out at the end. If a ship can be a person, who can love or be loved - well. I really, really thought that this was going to be a big-space-battle sort of a resolution, and it made me so happy that it wasn't. soupytwist had said the ending reminded her of me and for a while I thought everyone would die horribly, but then of course: the ships save themselves, through treaty interpretation and diplomacy, and they won't be perfect from here on in, but they will be themselves - which is all they ever want, or need, to be. It drew in everything so beautifully and skilfully - the Presger; the Ghost Gate; everything about Breq's and Tisarwat's personal arcs - and I'm in awe at how well and beautifully it works.

-And as well as the big things, all the other little things! Translator Zeiat's obsession with fish sauce! She and Sphene being the most unlikely comedy double act of all time! (I was saying last night, I love how they spend most of the book inventing Cones of Dunshire!) Athoek Station wanting to be a cousin (oh my heart, my heart). Queter asking for Breq, and Breq dropping everything to go. The running gag about what the hell it is Breq does to her lieutenants! Oh, everything. I especially love how the whole denouement, though with such momentous themes, is kind of played for comedy anyway - because why not? It is funny, and it's still serious and thoughtful and masterfully done.

Also, the Republic of the Thousand Eggs. Oh, Breq. I loved this book a lot.

Comments

[soupytwist]

I am so glad you loved it tooooo. :D I was so pleased that everything was resolved exactly the level of fully I thought it should be. I loved that so much of it was about the ways that learning to love and respect YOURSELF can be hard: that doing so alone is almost impossible. Needing other people is never A Bad Thing unless you're Anaander Mianaii and MAKE it a bad thing.

And also people finding their own way to be, their own damn SPECIES, will never not make me tear up.

[princessofgeeks]

I loved it so much I immediately went back and reread the whole series when it was finished.

[falena]

That was pretty much my reaction only you are much more articulate on your squee! So much love for this book.

[hokuton_punch]

YES TO ALL OF THIS. Just so many things I loved. It was the ending I wasn't expecting but totally didn't know that I wanted! THE AI GETTING TO BE SIGNIFICANT AND ALSO GETTING THEIR OWN WILLS, AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH. I can't even begin to be coherent about Mercy of Kalr, I love her so much. FAVORITE SHIP. ;o; Well, maybe co-favorites with Breq/Justice of Toren.

[raven]

I really want to do this. :)

[raven]

Heee! I loved the book so much, I'm glad you shared my squee.

[raven]

Incredibly delayed response but YEEEEES I loved it so. I went back and read your review and just nodded along inanely, it was amaze.

[raven]

I reply to comments apparently never, but yeeeees exactly. Exactly! Breq learning to respect herself as a real person, be still my heart.

[hrodberht.livejournal.com]

I read the words "space opera" and immediately ordered Ancillary Justice into my local library.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Do let me know what you think of it! It is such a wonderful series.