History Literature / ImperialRadch

* InformedAttribute: Seivarden apparently talks in an archaic way and with an accent that only members of [[BlueBlood highly placed houses]] use anymore. Because Breq lived in that time period and understands him perfectly this doesn't show up in the narration, instead only being revealed by other's comments.

* NotSoDifferent: [[spoiler: ''Sphene'']] greatly warms up to Breq after learning [[spoiler: that they are both ancillaries trying to get revenge on Anaander Mianaai for the deaths of their favorites and crew.]]

* SuperSoldier: Ancillaries are moderately faster and stronger, and have more stamina, than normal humans. They also have SuperReflexes and implanted DeflectorShields. With their super-genius AIs and centuries of combat experience they cut a swathe through almost everyone they run into. And that's even before you account for their [[HiveMind perfect unit coordination]], unbreakable morale, the fact that [[WeHaveReserves they are all ultimately expendable]], and the [[TheAssimilator possibility of facing people you knew on the battlefield.]]

* SuperSoldier: Ancillaries are moderately faster and stronger, and have more stamina, than normal humans. With their armor, not to mention their super-genius AIs and centuries of combat experience, they cut a swathe through almost everyone they run into.

* InformedAttribute: Seivarden apparently talks in an archaic way and with an accent that only members of [[BlueBlood highly placed houses]] use anymore. Not that you would be able to tell if people didn't keep commenting on it.

* FreeLoveFuture: Radchaai culture doesn't seem to have any expectations of monogamy, and sexual relationships between crewmembers of the same vessel seem to be normal and encouraged. It's downplayed, however: the fact that Breq's conversations with Seivarden at one point keep looping back to sex at one point is treated as evidence that YouNeedToGetLaid.

* FantasticDrug: Kef. It [[EmotionSuppression suppresses emotions]], so people either take it in the mistaken belief they will become [[TheSpock transcendent beings of pure rationality and logic]] or they use it to dull emotional trauma. It can be incredibly habit forming and addictive.

* ChasteHero: As a former A.I. inhabiting what is essentially a heavily modified corpse, Breq generally considers ''[[TheFourLoves eros]]'' to be [[Main/Asexuality something that happens to other people.]] She also ignores or doesn't notice [[spoiler:Seivarden's rather transparent crush on her]] for the first book. That said, she, like all A.I.s, is fully capable of feeling ''[[TheFourLoves storge]]'', ''[[TheFourLoves philia]]'' and ''[[TheFourLoves agape]]''; she also misses being able to use her multiple bodies to comfort each other and sometimes appreciates close contact to make up for it.

* ChasteHero: As a former A.I. inhabiting what is essentially a heavily modified corpse, Breq generally considers ''[[TheFourLoves eros]]'' something that happens to other people. She also ignores or doesn't notice [[spoiler:Seivarden's rather transparent crush on her]] for the first book. That said, she, like all A.I.s, is fully capable of feeling ''[[TheFourLoves storge]]'', ''[[TheFourLoves philia]]'' and ''[[TheFourLoves agape]]''; she also misses being able to use her multiple bodies to comfort each other and sometimes appreciates close contact to make up for it.

* AlphaBitch: Raughd Denche, full stop. She's the popular daughter of a prestigious plantation owner, who's friends laud how hilariously she can single someone out and bully them. [[spoiler: She's [[DomesticAbuse even worse]] in private.]]

* ReassignedToAntarctica: In the side novel ''Provenance'', Tibanvori has the prestigious position of Radchaai Ambassador... to the Geck, an isolationist StarfishAlien species whose only diplomatic goal is to stay on their home planet and keep the outside out. Tibanvori herself admits that she was KickedUpstairs to the job and isn't allowed to quit.

* StarfishAlien: The Rrrrrr are described as snake long, furred, and multi-limbed, and speak in growls and barks. While certainly alien, they at least seem to be relatable. The Presger aren't described physically, but they're implied to be even weirder and are explicitly stated to use a [[BlueAndOrangeMorality completely alien logic]].

** [[spoiler:In a very literal act of rebellion ''Justice of Toren'' declares herself and her cousin [=AIs=] independent of the Radch, and a distinct Significant species, protected by humanity's treaty with the Presger. She claims Athoek System and the Ghost System as their territory, and by the epilogue of ''Ancillary Mercy'' she, ''Sphene'', ''Sword of Atagaris'', ''Sword of Gurat'', ''Mercy of Kalr'', and Athoek Station are planning the organisation of a new government.]]

* TheOnlyWayTheyWillLearn: [[spoiler: Translator Zeiat's explanation for the reason the Presgr aided the Garseddai. The Presgr seemed to think it would somehow stop the annexations under the theory the burnt hand teaches best.]]

* PurpleEyes: Tisarwat sports a pair of these, a result of some frivolous and costly bit of surgery that she likely spent her first paycheck on. [[spoiler: Played surprisingly straight, despite the reason she has them. Her time as Anaander Mianaai has left her WiseBeyondHerYears, with intimate knowledge of Anaander's plans and feelings, as well as a number of accesses and overrides for ship and station AIs.]]

* DeathOfPersonality: The process of becoming an AI's ancillary [[spoiler:or having ancillary implants installed for other purposes, such as GrandTheftMe]] destroys the original personality and integrates the still-living body into the HiveMind permamently. [[spoiler:Even if the implants are removed, the original personality won't be restored; what results is yet another new personality inhabiting the body, now influenced by all previous "residents".]]

From debut author Creator/AnnLeckie and the first book in the Imperial Radch trilogy, ''Ancillary Justice'' is a stunning SpaceOpera that asks [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman what it means to be human]] in a universe guided by artificial intelligence.

''Ancillary Justice'' won a pile of awards for Best Novel in 2014: The Arthur C. Clarke, Nebula, and British Science Fiction Association awards, topped off by being the far and away favorite for (and winner of) the 2014 UsefulNotes/HugoAward for Best Novel.

The second novel in the series, ''Ancillary Sword'', was released in October 2014. With a new ship and a troublesome crew, Breq is ordered to go to the only place in the galaxy she would agree to go: to Athoek Station to protect the family of a lieutenant she once knew.

The final book in the trilogy, ''Ancillary Mercy,'' was released October 2015. For a moment, things seemed to be under control for Breq. Then a search of Athoek Station's slums turns up someone who shouldn't exist, and a messenger from the mysterious Presger empire arrives, as does Breq's enemy, the divided and quite possibly insane Anaander Mianaai.

A standalone novel, ''Literature/{{Provenance}}'', was released September 2017. It is set in the same universe and follows the events of ''Ancillary Mercy'', but takes place on a planet outside the Radch and follows different characters than the main trilogy.

* AlphaBitch: Raughd Denche, full stop. She's the popular daughter of a prestigious plantation owner, who's friends laud how hilariously she can single someone out and bully them. [[spoiler: She's [[DomesticAbuser even worse]] in private.]]

A standalone novel, ''Provenance'', was released September 2017. It is set in the same universe and follows the events of ''Ancillary Mercy'', but takes place on a planet outside the Radch and follows different characters than the main trilogy.

** The AI in the series, especially on military ships, function like this, with one mind shared across many bodies. Suddenly breaking contact between the various bodies is described as being incredibly disorienting and unnerving, but doesn't fracture them into separate identities.

* CloudCuckoolander: The Presger translators, due to their BlueAndOrangeMorality and lack of understanding/context for human culture and conventions.