Excellent performance.

This is an interesting and entertaining story by Ann Leckie, with good characters and an intriguing plot - but what makes it special is the superb reading by Adjoa Andoh, who does a superb job. A great, great listen.

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OK I guess

I was very confused by genderisations in the book which seemed to mix genders in the same sentence. I briefly skimmed an article which suggested there was a third gender and makes sense in a future society but just confused in audiobook format. After reading that it was just mildly annoying for the rest of the book.
The story itself was only OK for me, no real depth or connection with any of the characters.
I didn't like the universe itself. For some reason the main planet involved in the story didn't seem to know their whole system of revering cultural artifacts(mostly fakes) is viewed as a joke by the rest of the systems. They are interstellar travellers after all. Also how do they not know what a known alien species looks like, that would have surely made the news by this point.
I'm in no way upset to have used a credit on this book but I can only regard it as a time filler. All just the opinion of an ill educated fossil. :)

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A bit of a letdown after Ancillary series

Same universe, many of the same elements as the Breq stories but an annoying whiny lead character and a faintly silly storyline. None of the interesting collective AI aspects.

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9 people found this helpful

Difficult to follow

Enjoyed parts of this but drifted off and lost the details of the story.

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Like Le Carre in Space

I mean it as high praise to say that this book mixes elements of two of my favourite authors: John le Carre and Iain Banks. Intrigue with a background of far-future human and alien factions and a sympathetic protagonist mean it’s approachable but with a good deal of depth. On top of that, I think Adjoa Andoh’s performance is one of the best I’ve ever heard. She clearly delineates the voices and gives life to their emotions seemingly effortlessly. In particular it seems she’s reading a long way ahead so that nuances are described in the text quite a way after she’s started voicing them. Very impressive.

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1 person found this helpful

Anne Leckie Is the Best

Anne Leckie adds another delightful chapter to the story she began in Ancillary Justice. It can be enjoyed without having read the earlier books. But readers who loved those books are in for a treat. The story, the characters, and the world building are wonderful. SF has enjoyed a golden decade, with an amazingly talented pool of writers producing some of the finest tales in the genre's history. And Anne Leckie is master of the field. Now add to the mix the magic of Adjoa Andoh's narration. Provenance is a story you will want to listen to again and again.

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A complex, nuanced vision.

The author's subtle humour is delivered by this accomplished narrator with a deadpan style and a twinkle in her voice.
Initially, I worried the various different pronouns were likely to get tiresome, but it never happened, the story took over and I spent more time listening to the dialogue for the humour. You do have to listen for it, it is never signalled.
While it will be described by some as politically correct and even a feminist novel, these labels are irrelevant to what is a sci-fi novel of political intrigue and a range of characters displaying a great deal of panache.

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2 people found this helpful

An excellent spin-off

Ingray is not Breq, not even close. She is an anxious teenager way in over her head, but with plenty of character growth to compensate.

Leckie frankly writes the best aliens I have seen in science fiction, and it remains true. Plenty of interesting cultures and transhumanistic aspects.

There are at least three separate conspiracies crashing into one another, and it is wonderful. And speaking of threes, the book has an adorable non-trinary character.

Please, Leckie, write more within the setting, it is amazing and I wish to have more of it.

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excellent story well delivered

Ann Leckie is a great writer, and I have listened to her Ancillary series before buying this. I think this is a more pacy story of political vying and competitive moves. I enjoyed it immensely.

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Interesting, but complicated.

I loved the authors first trilogy. But this follow up doesn't quite have the same zip and vim I'm afraid.

The narration is as fantastic as ever, but the lead character wonders around like Nancy Drew in space figuring out the nafarous plans of the evil dibbly bongs from the planet gobble drool who are working for the master race of thingybob who are mates with the higs bosons who went on holiday with the Joneses from galactic central just last week and then some one dies. And our plucky heroine saves the day and rescues the day for something, or someone. And a bowl... I think

Lots of characters and all a touch contrived.

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4 people found this helpful