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Imperial Radch #0.5
Night's Slow Poison
“Night’s Slow Poison” is from the same setting as Ancillary Justice, and tells a rich, claustrophobic story of a galactic voyage that forces one guardsmen to confront his uneasy family history through the lens of a passenger with his lost lover’s eyes.
20 pages, ebook
First published July 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
December 16, 2022
Short story by Ann Leckie. Set in the Imperial Radch universe, this story was, I'm pretty sure, inspired (in part) by Jack Vance’s "The Moon Moth.” An interminable voyage and an almost-successful spy make for a fine story. 3.5 stars, courtesy roundup. Not a 4-star story, but still good.
I read it in Neil Clarke's "Galactic Empires" anthology.
Free copy here: https://www.tor.com/2014/06/10/nights...
I read it in Neil Clarke's "Galactic Empires" anthology.
Free copy here: https://www.tor.com/2014/06/10/nights...
June 27, 2021
A short story in the same 'verse of Imperial Radch.
It take six months to cross The Crawl, the only thing protecting Ghaon from the evil empire. The Watch guard against spies and protect the pilot and the ship with travellers.
We have a glimpse of the culture, matriarchs , masks instead of gloves, and poligamic.
A man, remember his past , and consider his elections.
It take six months to cross The Crawl, the only thing protecting Ghaon from the evil empire. The Watch guard against spies and protect the pilot and the ship with travellers.
We have a glimpse of the culture, matriarchs , masks instead of gloves, and poligamic.
A man, remember his past , and consider his elections.
March 4, 2018
Interesting look at the Imperial Radch from the outside. This story has left me feeling a bit unsettled, imagining the profound six month isolation of the voyage to Ghaon.
September 9, 2017
Good short story in a corner of the
Ancillary Justice
universe; one the could easily stand alone but still dovetails nicely with her novels.
My library's September monthly challenge is to read the shortest book (or maybe 'item', I'm not sure) on my reading list. I have another candidate, one that is an actual book and is on a higher TBR shelf, but I had to order it from inter-library loan, so it may not arrive by the end of September. So, I'm counting this unless I get my copy of Batman/Captain America!
My library's September monthly challenge is to read the shortest book (or maybe 'item', I'm not sure) on my reading list. I have another candidate, one that is an actual book and is on a higher TBR shelf, but I had to order it from inter-library loan, so it may not arrive by the end of September. So, I'm counting this unless I get my copy of Batman/Captain America!
March 21, 2016
This was an interesting short story set aboard a spaceship which has to take six months to pass through a dangerous stretch of space called the Crawl from one space station to another in orbit around a planet called Ghaon. The protagonist is a security guard who develops feelings for a passenger on the trip and these get him to think about his past and possible future. There is some discussion between the characters about life on Ghaon as well as the threat posed by the empire of the Radch which, so far, has been thwarted by the Crawl.
I'm not sure what to make of the name for a venomous animal on Ghaon called a vonda - I wonder if this is a reference to somebody the author knows....
Anyway, the story is interesting enough to encourage me to read more of Leckie's Imperial Radsch series.
I'm not sure what to make of the name for a venomous animal on Ghaon called a vonda - I wonder if this is a reference to somebody the author knows....
Anyway, the story is interesting enough to encourage me to read more of Leckie's Imperial Radsch series.
December 17, 2014
I read this engrossing, unsettling short story as the first step of my holiday refresher re-read of the rich, complex, mind-bending, Ancillary Justice in preparation for the joyful tackling of its sequel Ancillary Sword.
I found the story on Tor.com, it doesn't seem to be available on Amazon or anywhere else. http://www.tor.com/stories/2014/06/ni...
I found the story on Tor.com, it doesn't seem to be available on Amazon or anywhere else. http://www.tor.com/stories/2014/06/ni...
October 7, 2019
Si no has leído nada de Leckie, es buen aperitivo para conocer cómo es el universo del Radch, los nombres, costumbres, etc.
Si te has leído ya la trilogía, tampoco te pierdes nada.
Si te has leído ya la trilogía, tampoco te pierdes nada.
June 14, 2014
This short story, best appreciated after first reading Leckie’s multiply-awarded debut novel “Ancillary Justice”, takes place in the same narrative universe, and while unavoidably mentioning a character in common, otherwise stands independent of the events of that story. As a side story, it adds some color and character to two of the prominent societies in the “Ancillaryverse”, the Radch and Gerentate. Otherwise, it doesn’t break new ground with any large speculative ideas or concepts, instead choosing to explore themes of confinement and claustrophobia. The most memorable bit of dialog questioned the honesty of a deliberately rude and forward façade which, while affecting brutal honesty, could itself be a ‘mask’ of personality. Like the novel, it also featured a theme of judging a person by external appearance at great risk, and suggests the best antidote to this poison is a quick, dispassionate amputation of the affected wound.
January 11, 2015
I have the feeling I'm going to need to reread the first Ancillary book to pick out the characters from this prequel story, but more and more I'm getting a distinct feeling. The several short stories I've read of Ms. Leckie all deal with small gods and their place in the universe, and the novels, while structured differently, are well within the same feel.
The people that make up the gods is the biggest question that's posed. What carries over? What songs are retained?
I enjoyed this one mainly in reflection of the questions that are posed in much greater detail later.
The people that make up the gods is the biggest question that's posed. What carries over? What songs are retained?
I enjoyed this one mainly in reflection of the questions that are posed in much greater detail later.
July 30, 2018
Set in the world of the Radchaai. I hadn‘t realized that there even were short stories set in this world!
Nice story, good world building and engaging characters.
Nice story, good world building and engaging characters.
January 13, 2021
A nice little tale, precursor to the Imperial Radch series. Very light, but god characterisation and wordbuilding in so few pages.
September 24, 2014
Oddly enough, when I first read Ancillary Justice, I was into it, but just not really obsessed with it. The book was hard to read, and the pronoun issues and writing style made it a little bit inaccessible. Something like that sticks in your mind. "I had a hard time reading it..." I haven't said that since I tried Infinite Jest. I swear I'll go back to it someday.
The more I think about it, though, the more that novel sticks in my mind. So, finding this little short story was a treat. It's a small story, one about isolation and sub themes of class and imperialism. Interesting characters, and a weirdly great plot involving a trip through a mysterious zone to the heart of an empire in direct competition with the Raadchi.
This time, we follow an ousted guard on said ship, and his preoccupied thoughts with one of the passengers, a man whose genetic makeup marks him as a relative to the guard's lost true love. With the culture's emphasis on manners and looks, each interaction with another character is intriguing, like reading a British drama, where every character must be careful to put up certain appearances. The plot is just as intriguing, short and to the point, with a decent twist that flavors the Imperial Radch series just a little bit further.
If you've already read Ancillary Justice, this will make a sweet side story. If you haven't, I feel like it'll make an interesting read and a good introduction to the universe.
The more I think about it, though, the more that novel sticks in my mind. So, finding this little short story was a treat. It's a small story, one about isolation and sub themes of class and imperialism. Interesting characters, and a weirdly great plot involving a trip through a mysterious zone to the heart of an empire in direct competition with the Raadchi.
This time, we follow an ousted guard on said ship, and his preoccupied thoughts with one of the passengers, a man whose genetic makeup marks him as a relative to the guard's lost true love. With the culture's emphasis on manners and looks, each interaction with another character is intriguing, like reading a British drama, where every character must be careful to put up certain appearances. The plot is just as intriguing, short and to the point, with a decent twist that flavors the Imperial Radch series just a little bit further.
If you've already read Ancillary Justice, this will make a sweet side story. If you haven't, I feel like it'll make an interesting read and a good introduction to the universe.
July 29, 2014
Right after finishing 'Ancillary Justice' I saw that Leckie had a free story up on tor.com, so of course I rushed to read it...
This is set in the same universe, but deals with other concerns and issues altogether. It's quite different from the novel... but equally good (which makes me excited as all-get-out to read more from Leckie in the future!)
Here, we have a glimpse of other cultures outside the Evil Empire we were introduced to in Ancillary Justice - and get more of an idea of the perspective from outside the Imperial Radch, rather than from the rotten core.
A long-haul trading ship takes on passengers to travel to a planet which has remained free and independent due to its hidden location. One passenger claims that he is seeking long-lost relatives... but in the claustrophobic loneliness of space, secrets will out...
This is set in the same universe, but deals with other concerns and issues altogether. It's quite different from the novel... but equally good (which makes me excited as all-get-out to read more from Leckie in the future!)
Here, we have a glimpse of other cultures outside the Evil Empire we were introduced to in Ancillary Justice - and get more of an idea of the perspective from outside the Imperial Radch, rather than from the rotten core.
A long-haul trading ship takes on passengers to travel to a planet which has remained free and independent due to its hidden location. One passenger claims that he is seeking long-lost relatives... but in the claustrophobic loneliness of space, secrets will out...
October 29, 2019
Ich empfand den Zeitraum im Kriechraum als nicht genügend ausgereizt. Hier werden so viele Dinge angedeutet, die zu keinem Ende finden, was angesichts der Genialität der Bücher echt schade ist. Ansätze wie die Liebe von Kels und dessen Vergangenheit bieten Stoff für eine Novelle. So bekommt die Kurzgeschichte etwas traumartiges, was nicht so recht in die Welt passen will, die Ann Leckie geschaffen hat. Und dabei bedenke ich schon ausgiebig, dass es mal ein Blick von außerhalb der Radch ist. Aber mir ist hier einfach zu wenig Potential ausgeschöpft worden.
July 22, 2019
A different world, where the people covered their faces (not hands) and the families are matriarchal and practiced polyandry. A strange world, where a bite of Venda could kill you in the time it takes to make a cup of tea. A boundary region, six months on a very small ship with nothing but blackness outside, no doubt it was quite conducive to insanity. Then again, nothing matters but a cup of tea!
December 4, 2018
Just a tiny little snippet to glimpse into the world of the Radch empire and its relations.
September 6, 2019
Auf diese interessante Kurzgeschichte bin ich rein zufällig gestoßen, lange nachdem ich die Lektüre der Imperial-Radch Trilogie abgeschlossen habe.
Die Geschichte spielt an Bord eines Raumschiffs das sechs Monate benötigt, um einen gefährlichen Abschnitt des Weltraums namens Crawl von einer Raumstation zur nächsten im Orbit um einen Planeten namens Ghaon zu durchqueren. Der Protagonist ist ein Sicherheitsbeamter, der Gefühle für einen Passagier auf der Reise entwickelt und ihn dazu bringt, über seine Vergangenheit und mögliche Zukunft nachzudenken. Es gibt einige Diskussionen zwischen den Charakteren über das Leben auf Ghaon und die Bedrohung durch das Reich der Radch, das bisher durch das Crawl vereitelt wurde...
Als ich zuerst "Die Maschinen" gelesen habe, war ich davon begeistert, aber nicht besessen davon. Das Buch war schwer zu lesen, die Pronomenprobleme und der Schreibstil hatten es etwas schwer zugänglich gemacht, aber mit der Zeit und den beiden Nachfolgebänden hat sich das etwas gelegt. Trotzdem hatte ich einen inneren Widerstand verspürt, diese Rückkehr in die Welt der Radch zu wagen, als ich ihn aber überwunden habe, war ich doch froh, wieder den Hauch von Begeisterung beim Lesen zu verspüren, den ich bei den "Die Maschinen" eingeatmet habe...
Die Geschichte spielt an Bord eines Raumschiffs das sechs Monate benötigt, um einen gefährlichen Abschnitt des Weltraums namens Crawl von einer Raumstation zur nächsten im Orbit um einen Planeten namens Ghaon zu durchqueren. Der Protagonist ist ein Sicherheitsbeamter, der Gefühle für einen Passagier auf der Reise entwickelt und ihn dazu bringt, über seine Vergangenheit und mögliche Zukunft nachzudenken. Es gibt einige Diskussionen zwischen den Charakteren über das Leben auf Ghaon und die Bedrohung durch das Reich der Radch, das bisher durch das Crawl vereitelt wurde...
Als ich zuerst "Die Maschinen" gelesen habe, war ich davon begeistert, aber nicht besessen davon. Das Buch war schwer zu lesen, die Pronomenprobleme und der Schreibstil hatten es etwas schwer zugänglich gemacht, aber mit der Zeit und den beiden Nachfolgebänden hat sich das etwas gelegt. Trotzdem hatte ich einen inneren Widerstand verspürt, diese Rückkehr in die Welt der Radch zu wagen, als ich ihn aber überwunden habe, war ich doch froh, wieder den Hauch von Begeisterung beim Lesen zu verspüren, den ich bei den "Die Maschinen" eingeatmet habe...
November 22, 2019
Ahoy there mateys! It's Sci-Fi Month!! After rereading the Imperial Radch trilogy, I thought I would take some time to read the two short stories set in the world. These stories are free online. I do not however recommend that these stories by yer introduction to the world (personal opinion. others disagree). Here be me thoughts.
night's slow poison (Imperial Radch #0.5)
the blurb - “Night’s Slow Poison” is from the same setting as Ancillary Justice, and tells a rich, claustrophobic story of a galactic voyage that forces one guardsman to confront his uneasy family history through the lens of a passenger with his lost lover’s eyes."
This story is about 20 pages long. One of the best things about this story is that it showcases another system outside of Radchaai space. I love getting outsiders perspectives on the Radch empire. Book four of the Imperial Radch series was all about that. I was engrossed in this story about a six month space journey but I have to admit that the ending was a tiny bit off for me. And I can't put me finger on why. Still I am glad I have read this. I really do love Leckie's writing style. I especially enjoyed the commentary about the passengers and their evolving feelings as the trip progresses. And I am very glad that I never have to travel on the ship Jewel of Athat. Arrr!
night's slow poison (Imperial Radch #0.5)
the blurb - “Night’s Slow Poison” is from the same setting as Ancillary Justice, and tells a rich, claustrophobic story of a galactic voyage that forces one guardsman to confront his uneasy family history through the lens of a passenger with his lost lover’s eyes."
This story is about 20 pages long. One of the best things about this story is that it showcases another system outside of Radchaai space. I love getting outsiders perspectives on the Radch empire. Book four of the Imperial Radch series was all about that. I was engrossed in this story about a six month space journey but I have to admit that the ending was a tiny bit off for me. And I can't put me finger on why. Still I am glad I have read this. I really do love Leckie's writing style. I especially enjoyed the commentary about the passengers and their evolving feelings as the trip progresses. And I am very glad that I never have to travel on the ship Jewel of Athat. Arrr!
April 28, 2021
This was a very well-written, but disturbing and claustrophobic story. It marked the beginning of Imperial Radch series— but from an outsider's perspective. Typically, it fused grim politics and personal pains flawlessly.
Recommended.
Recommended.
June 20, 2024
Nice intro to this universe and Ann Leckie's writing style.
February 9, 2019
One thing....it answers the much debated question as to whether Anaander Mianaai is actually a man or a woman. The Radchaai only refer to the female pronoun and everyone is she/her. I'll let you read it for yourself to find out...
I really enjoyed this little installment of Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch series. I loved Ancillary Justice, Mercy and Sword and am reading Provenance at the moment. Any foray into this world, albeit for a few pages, makes me happy.
I really enjoyed this little installment of Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch series. I loved Ancillary Justice, Mercy and Sword and am reading Provenance at the moment. Any foray into this world, albeit for a few pages, makes me happy.
April 17, 2019
Read it on Tor.Com - A fun short story set within the Imperial Radch series. Not sure this introduces much for a new reader wanting to find out about the Radch trilogy, but the writing is indeed excellent, and most likely will cause the reader to want to go further within this Sf setting if this short piece satisfies. 'The Crawl' sector of space here is briefly touched upon, and made the story very intriguing.
March 25, 2018
Obviously I knew that anything I would read right after the Imperial Radch trilogy wouldn't live up to how amazing it was, so I thought I should just go on and stay in this universe with the short stories!
This is set around a world not yet colonized by the Radch. It was entertaining and I liked the ending! Very slow though
This is set around a world not yet colonized by the Radch. It was entertaining and I liked the ending! Very slow though
February 18, 2015
Man, I feel like even Leckie's short stories are so...full. Isolation, claustrophobia, and coming to terms with the past are some of the main ideas in this short story about a six-month-long journey to Ghaon. I'm pretty sure I need to read this at least two more times!
January 5, 2015
Good short story, nicely visualised and crafted.
December 17, 2015
Nothing wrong with this neat little addition to Leckie's universe, which I already miss. You can find it at: http://www.tor.com/2014/06/10/nights-...
June 11, 2017
damn it ann
July 22, 2021
I can't say that I completely understood this short, as I haven't read the series yet, but I'm intending to start them for the last half of this year. So, a lot of the more subtle details, revealed to me only by reading other reviews, were lost to me until I get to the real stuff. However, what I did read, about interstellar warmongering and espionage and intrigue, exotic planets and cultures, well - a girl can swoon, now, can't she?
I'm looking forward to more. I've heard a lot of great stuff about this series!
I'm looking forward to more. I've heard a lot of great stuff about this series!
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September 26, 2025Quick read giving us a glimpse of the world that "Breq of the Gerentate" mentioned in Ancillary Justice.
I have questions which I think no one will answer:
I have questions which I think no one will answer:
February 26, 2025
Night's Slow Poison was an interesting window into the Imperial Radch universe. More rich characters with interesting histories.
I'm glad I had already read Ancillary Justice because I feel some things would have been more difficult to understand without that context already in my brain.
Looking forward to more from this series!
I'm glad I had already read Ancillary Justice because I feel some things would have been more difficult to understand without that context already in my brain.
Looking forward to more from this series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews