It tells the story of Sutty , an Earthling sent to be an Ekumen observer , on the planet Aka , and her experiences . It tells the story of Sutty , a Terran sent to be an Ekumen observer , on the planet Aka , and her experiences with the conflict there between the Corporation , a repressive State capitalist ( or corporatist ) government and the indigenous resistance , which is centered on the traditions of the Telling ( for which the book is named ) .