Summary of Translation State by Ann Leckie

By Justin Reese

DISCLAIMER

This book does not in any capacity mean to replace the original book but to serve as a vast summary of the original book.

Summary of Translation State by Ann Leckie

 

IN THIS SUMMARIZED BOOK, YOU WILL GET:

• Chapter astute outline of the main contents.
• Fast & simple understanding of the content analysis.
• Exceptionally summarized content that you may skip in the original book

Translation State is a powerful novel by Ann Leckie, set in the Imperial Radch universe. Qven, a Presger translator, was created to learn human ways and serve as an intermediary between the dangerous alien Presger and human worlds. However, Qven rebels and collides with Enae, a diplomat whose dead grandmaman left him an impossible task: hunting down a missing fugitive. Reet, an adopted mechanic, is desperate to learn about his genetic roots and why he operates differently from others. The decisions of all three will have ripple effects across the stars, as a Conclave of the various species approaches and the long-standing treaty between humans and the Presger is on the line.

• Language: English
• Publisher: jUSTIN REESE
• Release date: Jun 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223654568

Book preview

Enae

The funeral procession to the crematory at Athtur House, Saeniss Polite was longer than expected due to Grandmaman's death. Enae had been living with Grandmaman for decades and had taken care of her in her old age. She had no right to walk at the head of the procession, but instead walked silent and dry-eyed at the back. Grandmaman had been very old and ill-tempered, and had been born into one of the oldest families in the system. The procession was longer than expected due to Grandmaman's death.

The most important details in this text are that Enae had lived in the house with Grandmaman for years, and that she had let the aunts, uncles, nuncles, and cousins do whatever they wanted as long as it didn't trouble the household. Grandmaman had told Enae that she was her only remaining heir, but she had also said that Enae was an embarrassment and a failure. She had also made sure that meals arrived on time and the house was kept in order. Grandmaman had told Enae that she was her only remaining heir, but she had also said that Enae was an embarrassment and a failure. Enae is nearly sixty and has no career, friends, lovers, marital partners, or children.

At the crematory, Grandmaman's corpse slid into the flames and the funeral priest sang the farewell chants. Aunt Irad and three cousins stepped forward to thank the funeral priest and suggest they donate money for future prayers for the Blessed Deceased. Enae sends a query to the kitchen and is informed that refreshments have been set out in the Blue Sitting Room. In the Blue Sitting Room, a lanky, fair-skinned woman apologizes for Enae's loss and reveals that she was Zemil Igoeto a few minutes ago. Zemil Athtur and Grandmaman had an agreement 15 years ago to purchase everything the Blessed Deceased owned in exchange for Enae becoming her daughter and sole heir upon her ascension to the Realm of the Blessed Dead.

Enae had no idea about this, but only Zemil and the Blessed Deceased knew about it. Aunt Irad thought it was a joke, but Enae thought Grandmaman would have enjoyed it. Zemil Athtur informs Enae Athtur that she has been cut off with nothing, with one exception. Zemil agrees to provide for Enae with certain stipulations and restrictions. Enae remained in the Blue Sitting Room, unwilling to go up to her room to see if her things were still there.

At some point, Grandmaman's jurist arrives and apologizes for Enae's loss. Zemil and Enae both sit in their damasked chairs, drinking coffee and smiling. Grandmaman's jurist then turns to Enae and nods in greeting. Zemil is tasked with providing for Mx Athtur, and Enae is at a loss. Zemil explains that the Blessed Deceased was facing bankruptcy and had no choice if she wanted to continue living in the way she was accustomed to.

Zemil is now an Athtur, and the Athturs are wealthy again. An unfamiliar servant comes in to clear the food and coffee away, and Enae hasn't eaten anything. Zemil dismisses the servants and finds employment for Mx Athtur, who is no longer the housekeeper. Zemil wants the Athtur name and is obligated to support her. He offers her a position with the Office of Diplomacy, but she has a month to figure out where she will go.

Zemil then tells her what her position would be in the Office of Diplomacy. Zemil, a Special Investigator, has been appointed to investigate a case of great diplomatic delicacy. The case involves the Radchaai Translators Office, which approached the Office of Diplomacy to request help in tracking down a fugitive two hundred years ago. Zemil has sent Enae the details of the incident, which happened two hundred years ago and involved travel and a per diem on top of Enae's wages. Zemil believes the Blessed Deceased was miserly in the matter of Enae's allowance, and will increase it.

Enae is being paid to travel and look into an old puzzle. She has lost her grandmother and is going to her room. Zemil offers to bring her lunch and coffee and supper, but Enae refuses. Zemil offers to call her if she needs him, but she has no words to say. She flees to her own room.

Reet

Reet is late for a meeting with a private consultant at Rurusk Station, Sovereign Territory of Zeosen. The consultant insists that the meeting must take place in person, and Reet agrees to the least ridiculously impossible time. The facility is filled with low tables and thick padded chairs and benches, and waiters bring food and drinks. When Reet arrives, he notices a pipe break and is unable to leave until it is repaired. The consultant tells him that these state-mandated jobs are all make-work.

Reet is an orphan refugee from Keroxane System who arrived as an infant and is not related to any of the families on the station. The consultant tells him that Lovehate Station was destroyed in a violent civil dispute, and that the Schans, the ancient Hikipi rulers of Lovehate Station, were supposed to have been destroyed long before that. Heroth Nadkal is the President of the Siblings of Hikipu on Rurusk Station, and the Schans were always secretive about their genetic data. The consultant suggests that the descendants of the Schans could help the struggle against the Phen. Reet is a Schan, rumored to have made alterations to all their members by birth or otherwise.

Mr Nadkal, a consultant, believes that Reet is a Schan due to his route to this station and his genes being distinctly odd. Mr Nadkal offers Reet a fee and invites him to the next meeting, where he will discover what it is to be part of a community. Reet stares at Mr Nadkal, his gut becoming sickeningly tense, as though Mr Nadkal had threatened him. Reet had always wanted a history and identity that was part of something else. When Mr Nadkal offered him this, he was too scared to go home and have supper.

He bought dumplings and a milk jelly, but was too tense and nauseated to share with anyone. He had never told anyone about his desire to dissect the people around him, and had to take a state job or pay the sloth tax. He had no one willing or able to pay it for him, and no paying job. Reet has been working in the station's pipeways for fifteen years, looking for faults or breaks that hadn't registered on the system. He is curious about Hikipi