Ancillary Justice

In the world of Ancillary Justice, even ordinary people can live for centuries. Three of the book’s main characters (Breq, Anaander Mianaai, and Seivarden) have lived for over 1,000 years. Discuss how the vast spans of time they experienced have influenced their development as characters.

Breq speculates that One Esk’s practice of singing and collecting music may have contributed to its developing an identity separate from that of Justice of Toren as a whole. Argue for or against this claim.

Discuss one or more songs that appear throughout the book. Why are they important to the protagonist? Do the imagery and lyrics relate to other themes or events in the book?

Civilization and being civilized are core concepts for the Radchaai. What does “civilization” mean to a Radchaai? What traits are the external markers of civilization meant to represent?

Two of the most important markers of Radchaai civility are tea and gloves, but do they mean the same thing to all Radchaai? Explore this question using specific examples from the book.

In Chapter 14, Breq asks, “[I]s anyone’s identity a matter of fragments held together by convenient or useful narrative, that in ordinary circumstances never reveals itself as a fiction? Or is it a fiction?” (207). Argue for one side of the question or the other, using one or more characters from the book as case studies to support your argument.

Characters throughout the book refer to the rebellion at Ime and debate its meaning. Why do they find this event so significant? What questions does it raise, and what responses do different characters have to those questions?

Lieutenant Awn and Lieutenant Skaaiat come from starkly different social backgrounds. How has their experience of class shaped their understanding of themselves and their view of the world? What are the points of contention between them, and where do they agree?