The Procrastinators Book Club discussion

Welcome to the Ancillary Justice Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on August 4th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 08/04
August 4th: chapters 1-4

Week of 08/05
August 5th: chapters 5-8
August 6th: chapters 9-12
August 7th: chapters 13-16
August 8th: chapters 17-20
August 9th: chapters 20-23


PARTICIPANTS
~ Brianna
~ Jen K

Sorry for the radio silence from me, I will be joining if possible

Helen 2.0 wrote: "Sorry for the radio silence from me, I will be joining if possible"

No worries! Hopefully all is okay!

through end of chapter 4: (view spoiler)[As with any Sci-Fi, I am so confused about what is going on. It normally takes a bit for me to get into the flow for what kind of world/universe we are in. I am definitely intrigued.
I think time also moves a bit weird and not like it does in the real world. How else would they have found a person who was their captain like a thousand years ago (if I caught that correctly)? (hide spoiler)]

Finished through chapter 4. Same confusions as Brianna but also hooked. What happened in Ors to create current situation and what is the MC looking for?

Just finished Chapter 8 and wow!

(view spoiler)[ While I'm very interested in the present day quest, I intrigued on the early story. I can't believe that the Anaander manipulated them all to such an ending. Awn is f***ed now to follow through with such a terrible command, not that they could have done otherwise. The fallout will be messy. Also the device that blocked the link between the ancillaries sounds like the start of Breq's current status as an individual. (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch 8 also... (view spoiler)[It's really smart. I love the exploration of language and gender. At the same time I don't think I'm really keeping up with everything that's going on, I'm a bit lost on the two timelines skipping back and forth. (hide spoiler)]

Jen K wrote: "Just finished Chapter 8 and wow!

[spoilers removed]"

Yes, I definitely also thought that Ch 8 in the past timeline had the inciting event for everything to change from here. Excited to see how it plays out.

@Helen, agree that the language and gender nuances are so smart to explore. I appreciate that everyone gets a she pronoun.

through end chapter 8: (view spoiler)[I am still so confused but it's starting to come together a little bit. I am excited to learn more about Breq's current mission and if the prior lieutenant she saved on that icy planet will play a role through the end.

I also am interested by the exploration of gender through language although it has been a bit confusing at times - is Seivarden male or female? Does it even matter?

I am curious if Anaander set this up and is trying to further their power? (hide spoiler)]

@Brianna, I believe that Seivarden is male per the use of pronouns by the doctor but that Breq just uses female pronouns as a default. Could be wrong though and probably doesn't matter.

Seivarden has been such a lump that I really hope that they do come through in a good way at some point.

I was going to join this BR as it was in my TBR as well, but I can't even make it past Ch 4. I find the language or perhaps writing style difficult to digest. The lack of gender in the Radchaai language also makes it difficult for me to visualise people. I wish a different pronoun (even one that's made-up) were used instead.

@Brianna I believe it was mentioned in Ch 1 that Seivarden is male.

Dia wrote: "I was going to join this BR as it was in my TBR as well, but I can't even make it past Ch 4. I find the language or perhaps writing style difficult to digest. The lack of gender in the Radchaai lan..."

Oh no, sorry the language didn't work. The pronoun thing is weird. I am enjoying and getting sucked in despite the issue.

Through chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ It was interesting to see how Awn was received back on the ship. I like that Breq/ One Esk is able to have a bit of a personality with singing and preferences of officers. (hide spoiler)]

through end of chapter 12: I currently like the timeline set on the ice planet currently the best. It makes the most sense to me. Now that we are back on the ship - even more confused with the timeline in the past. What are decades? Are they decks? Is there a lieutenant for each level/deck? Is Esk the highest level? Head honcho lady being there unexpectedly makes me think some craziness is about to happen.

Oops I totally meant chapter 12... Edited above. The ship is confusing. So many of the same people.

Okay, now I've finished chapter 16 and another wow!

(view spoiler)[ In the current time, I'm so happy that Seivarden pulled through and saved Breq after being saved himself. He is so funny that he decided he's ride and die with Breq now. It is sad yet sweet that he chased after Breq despite causing him to fall off that bridge.

In the past, I admit that I am bit confused by the opposing Anaanders. I'm not entirely sure of what is going on but the destruction of the ship was sad. I'm glad that One Esk was so aware as to warn others to an extent and get at least one ancillary out. (hide spoiler)]

through chapter 16 as well: (view spoiler)[I am also proud of Seivarden! He completely had an opportunity to go get drugs and didn't! I am curious to know what happened in his past and why he was put in a suspension pod and who brought him back.

What happened with the ship was crazy! I am still not sure WHICH Anaander is the good one and which is the bad one and which one One Esk is helping.

I am still super confused but am still mostly enjoying it. I think it's mostly a timing thing for me to fully follow and not a me being dumb thing but could be a me being dumb thing lol. (hide spoiler)]

@Brianna, I don't think it is you. The whole Lord of Radch and ship thing is overly meta and confusing.

Also enjoying the read even though it isn't fully clear.

I am also very much enjoying it despite the confusion. I have a feeling that a lot will come together at the end and certain things will make more sense as the events in this novel wrap up (not that I think everything will wrap up since trilogy and all though)

Brianna wrote: "I am also very much enjoying it despite the confusion. I have a feeling that a lot will come together at the end and certain things will make more sense as the events in this novel wrap up (not tha..."

I know! I'm really intrigued as to what will be the "end" of this one and what is planned for the rest of the trilogy. I'm trying to not read the blurbs and spoil it for myself.

Through Ch 16 (view spoiler)[Now we're talking! Some crazy stuff has now gone down! I thought the reveal about the two Anaanders was super cool, I love how what's happening to Justice of Torren with one segment splitting off and developing their own personality actually started with the very same thing happening to Anaander.

This worldbuilding is so clever and so thorough. The author really thought about all the implications of entities having sort of "hive minds" with many bodies. Yes, it makes you powerful and all-seeing and hard to kill, but it can also be turned against you! (hide spoiler)]

Re: Seivarden's gender (view spoiler)[ she is Radchai, right? Meaning that essentially she would consider herself the same way that one-Esq considers her, which is agender? I think that anyone who's not Radchai might look at Seivarden and decide to gender her as male based on body/appearance, but to Seivarden herself I imagine this would be irrelevant since she has no gender. (hide spoiler)]

I'm a little confused on some details as well... like (view spoiler)[why Anaander was hiding out on the ship and why she took such an interest in Justice of Torren? And the whole thing with the ship blowing up happened so fast. (hide spoiler)]

But I'm not as confused as I was in the beginning and the action has really sped up, I'm definitely enjoying myself a lot. Hopefully I will finish the book today.

Sorry on my phone and probably won’t me on my computer tonight but only got through 3 of the 4 chapters today (will catch up/finish tomorrow) but main thought is that I am glad we are moving along one primary timeline.

I think you’re right about the gender thing with Seivarden - probably more of a non-binary situation since they are part of the group who do not follow gender divisions the same way.

Ah! I got overly social and only managed through chapter 17. Will try to finish this weekend. I can't wait to see what will happen.

I finished yesterday and just loved it overall. I'm excited to jump into the next book, I got the audiobook from the library right away.

Let me know if y'all want to buddy read book 2 as well.

Okay - finished. Same thoughts overall but still interested in the series. I won't be able to pick up the next until September at the earliest so probably won't be able to join in the buddy read if you need to read it this month w/ your loan @Helen 2.0.

Sorry I got behind. Finished this morning and quite enjoyed the ending! I will definitely continue to but have too many other books queued up for this month.