Where to Start: The Imperial Radch Gateway
For the vast majority of readers, the absolute best entry point into Ann Leckie's work is Ancillary Justice (2013). This groundbreaking space opera introduces Breq—a former starship artificial intelligence who once commanded a massive vessel and thousands of human ancillary bodies, but is now trapped in a single human body seeking revenge. Starting here allows you to experience the world-building, the unique AI perspective, and the political landscapes of the Radch Empire exactly as Leckie intended.
If you prefer epic fantasy over science fiction, you can start with The Raven Tower (2019). It is a standalone novel that operates in an entirely different universe, meaning you do not need any prior knowledge of her space operas to enjoy it.
The Imperial Radch Universe
Leckie's primary body of science fiction takes place within the Imperial Radch universe. This setting includes a core trilogy, several companion novels that expand the universe's scope, and a handful of short stories.
The Core Trilogy (The Breq Saga)
The main trilogy follows a single continuous storyline and must be read in publication order:
- Ancillary Justice (2013) – Introduces Breq, her quest for vengeance, and the gender-blind, expansionist Radch Empire.
- Ancillary Sword (2014) – Follows Breq as she is appointed Fleet Captain and sent to the Athoek system to protect the family of a former crewmate.
- Ancillary Mercy (2015) – Concludes the trilogy's main conflict, dealing with the fragmented ruler of the Radch and the mysterious, alien Presger.
The Companion Novels
After finishing the trilogy, you can read the companion novels. These are standalone stories set in the same universe but featuring new protagonists, settings, and conflicts. While they can technically be read independently, they assume a level of familiarity with the universe established in the trilogy:
- Provenance (2017) – Set in the same universe but outside the Radch Empire, focusing on the Hani culture, relic theft, and family politics.
- Translation State (2023) – Explores the enigmatic Presger Translators and features characters representing the Radch, the Hani, and the Presger.
- Radiant Star (2026) – Focuses on the isolated underground city-planet of Ooioiaa on the edge of the Radch Empire, exploring a religious site and political power struggles under a communication blackout.
Imperial Radch Short Stories
For completionists, there are three short stories set in the Radch universe, all of which are collected in the 2024 anthology Lake of Souls:
- "Night's Slow Poison" (2012) – The earliest published story in the universe, following a voyage on a guard ship. Chronologically, this takes place before the trilogy, but it is best read after Ancillary Justice to appreciate the cultural details.
- "She Commands Me and I Obey" (2014) – A novelette centered on a station where social standing is decided by a traditional ball game.
- "The Creation and Destruction of the World" – A short myth-style piece exploring the history and beliefs of the Radchaai.
The Raven Tower Universe
In 2019, Ann Leckie made her fantasy debut with The Raven Tower, a standalone novel inspired by Hamlet but told from the perspective of a silent god (a giant boulder). The world is governed by real, active gods whose power depends on the strength of their followers' belief and sacrifices, and who are physically incapable of speaking a lie.
While the novel is a self-contained story, Leckie returned to this setting in several short stories published in her 2024 collection Lake of Souls. These stories can be read in any order after finishing the novel:
- "The God of Au"
- "The Nalendar"
- "The Snake's Wife"
- "Marsh Gods"
- "The Unknown God"
- "Beloved of the Sun"
- "Bury the Dead"
Other Standalone Fiction and Collections
If you want to read Leckie's shorter works or stories outside of her main two universes, look to these releases:
- Lake of Souls: The Collected Short Fiction (2024) – A comprehensive anthology that groups her short fiction into three sections: Imperial Radch stories, stories from the world of The Raven Tower, and unrelated standalone speculative fiction.
- "The Long Game" (2023) – A standalone science fiction novelette about a short-lived alien species colonizing alongside humans. It was published as part of the multi-author Far Reaches Collection.
What to Know Before You Start
Before jumping into the Radch books, new readers should be prepared for Leckie's unique linguistic and cultural choices. The Radchaai language does not recognize gender, and because the narrator (Breq) is a Radch AI, she defaults to using the feminine pronoun "she" for everyone. This stylistic choice challenges readers to look past traditional gender assumptions, as characters referred to as "she" might be biologically male, female, or non-binary.
Additionally, the series gradually shifts from action-focused space opera in the first book to slower, detail-oriented political and bureaucratic maneuvering in the sequels. Embracing the slower, tea-drinking diplomatic pacing of the later books will help you appreciate the depth of Leckie's societal critique.