Delegate Garas was still watching her, still frowning. Ashiban sighed. “I don’t recommend arguing, Delegate. Assassins and a flier crash in the High Mires couldn’t stop us. I doubt you can do more than slow us down, and it’s really better if you don’t. Sovereign, I think first we should have a bath and clean clothes and something to eat. And get checked out by a doctor. And maybe get some sleep.”
The Sovereign was silent for a few seconds, and then said, “All right. I agree to that. But we should start on the language lessons as soon as possible.”
“Yes, child,” said Ashiban, closing her eyes. “But not this very moment.”
Delegate Garas laughed at that, short and sharp. But he made no protest at all as the Sovereign started the groundcar moving toward town.
Ann Leckie enjoyed immediate success and critical acclaim for her debut novel, Ancillary Justice, in 2013. Leckie was already a successful short story writer; her first published work, “Hesperia and Glory,” was included in Science Fiction: The Best of the Year, 2007 Edition, and her subsequent stories “The God of Au” and “The Endangered Camp” were featured in later editions of the same anthology. But it was Ancillary Justice, the first book in Leckie’s Imperial Radch trilogy, that swept the major science fiction awards, garnering Hugo, Nebula, Locus, British Science Fiction Association, and Arthur C. Clarke Awards for best novel—alongside widespread acclaim for the book’s deft balance of suspense, character development, and world-building. Its sequels, 2014’s Ancillary Sword and 2015’s Ancillary Mercy, garnered similar awards attention and closed out the trilogy.
Credits
MICROSOFT
Editors Jennifer Henshaw and Allison Linn
Chief Storyteller Steve Clayton
Corporate VP, Communications Frank X. Shaw
A special thanks to all the Microsoft researchers who spent time with the authors and generously shared their work and ideas.
MELCHER MEDIA
President, CEO Charles Melcher
VP, COO Bonnie Eldon
Senior Producer John Morgan
Production Manager Susan Lynch
Editorial Assistants Adrian Rapazzini, Luisa Lizoain, and Karl Daum
“A Cop’s Eye” was produced in collaboration with Lion Forge Comics, with special thanks to Adam Staffaroni.
Illustrations & Design Joey Camacho / Raw & Rendered
An experienced 3-D motion and graphic designer based in Vancouver, Canada, Raw & Rendered (a.k.a. Joey Camacho) has created conceptual and innovative work for major global brands as well as passionate local companies. Since graduating from the Alberta College of Art + Design, Camacho has developed unique and innovative 3-D graphics, both still images and motion work. He established a strong presence with his Progress Before Perfection series—creating an abstract Cinema 4-D render every day for a year. After finishing off 365 images, Camacho continues producing new work in the acclaimed series.
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