2026 SF, set in the same universe as the Imperial Radch series but not
part of the trilogy. The Temporal Location of the Radiant Star is a
pilgrimage site on the rogue world of Aaa, and the main reason anyone
goes there. Then the Radchaai decide that it's ripe for annexation…
But this is not a story of militaria, or even of revolution. This
is a comedy of manners, even more than Ancillary Sword was. I had
some hint of this going in, and given some of the mixed reviews I've
read I think it's well worth keeping that in mind, rather than waiting
for more conventional plot to start.
There is some of that, certainly. But mostly what is happening in this
book is individuals in their local contexts working towards what they
see as the important things; questions of "good" or "evil" are largely
manifest in how they balance their own goals against the welfare of
other people when those come into conflict. (And of course many of
them are religious true believers, so their thoughts are channelled
through that pattern.)
Then (as the reader knows) the Radchaai civil war breaks out, and the
ships stop coming: the ships that brought food as well as pilgrims.
Governor Charak has to keep the place running as best she can with no
outside backup; the religious factions fight, particularly over the
possibility of a new saint (in the manner of Buddhist
self-mummification); and a child born to be shipped off to a foreign
owner is awoken after thirty years in suspended animation. And it's
the downtrodden and unappreciated who find themselves, unexpectedly,
with the levers to change the world…
There are many interweaving threads here (in my ideal world they'd
interweave more) and everything will be resolved. More or less. All
that happens, happens in the light of the Radiant Star.
They could feel it, feel the warmth, the light, the omni-dimensional
existence of every atom in the universe, with a euphoric intensity
that was unusual and was, perhaps, due to the wine they'd drunk with
dinner.
I loved it. I'm not voting for the Hugos, I read this because I wanted
to, but if I were I'd put it below The Incandescent with A Drop of
Corruption (the other nominee I've read, which I also very much
enjoyed) below both.