![]() This is decidedly ‘soft’ sci-fi, in which technology takes a back seat to human and alien anthropology. Ann Leckie’s science-fiction is subtle and warm, so I’ve always been surprised that her book covers feature pictures of spaceships. ![]() Ingray is a charming character: determined, but gullible. This anxiety about origins and authenticity extends cleverly to the characters themselves – from Ingray’s difficult relationship with her foster family, to a complex series of forged identities and politically dangerous impersonations. ![]() The alleged history of these simple material items is what makes them cultural treasures, but accusations of forgery threaten to render them worthless. Ingray’s people place great value in ‘vestiges’: artefacts that commemorate historical events. True to the title, much of this story’s tension relies on the question of provenance. ![]() But has Ingray liberated the correct person? And will they cooperate with her half-baked plans? Thus begins a spiral of political intrigue and diplomatic disaster. The nervous foster-daughter of a high-ranking politician sells everything she owns to break a notorious thief out of prison, hoping to win favour with her ambitious mother and humiliate her conniving brother. ![]()
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