Provenance – Ann Leckie

On the planet Hwae, a ‘vestige’ is a collectible of historical significance. For example, a family might prop up its claim to antiquity by displaying a thousand-year-old spoon used by its founder. (Proving it isn’t a random old spoon might be difficult.) Our society also values things like a shopping list written by Napoleon when he was a young man, or Da Vinci’s hat, or a first draft of the Magna Carta, but on Hwae they are culturally and politically significant.

The book’s blurb describes Ingray as “a power-driven young woman” seeking to regain “priceless lost artifacts”. It would be more accurate to describe her as a somewhat-confused young woman seeking to impress her mother by locating a rival family’s lost vestiges. The book is better for that.

In the background, a galactic conclave may affect a tenuous peace between Human and Non-Human space-faring races. Closer to home, Hwae is under pressure from interstellar neighbors whose trade routes run through Hwae. Zoom in again, and Ingray’s mother is getting ready for an election. The book’s canvas is smaller, though, and we see the background events as they affect Ingray, and her poorly-thought-out plan.

Is provenance as good as “Ancillary Justice”? No, almost no books are. Is it worth reading? Yes. It’s well-crafted. It builds a world that is significantly different from our own without letting the world-building get in the way of a good story. It is an enjoyable read with a satisfying conclusion.

“‘Diplomat’ does not mean nice,” muttered the spider. “‘Diplomat’ means tell the aliens to leave us alone.”