Who Would Like This Book:
Looking for a warm, feel-good space adventure with a focus on character dynamics? This book is a comfort read for anyone who loves found-family stories and colorful, diverse casts. Instead of galaxy-saving action, you'll get everyday life aboard the Wayfarer - lots of alien cultures, witty banter, and meaningful relationships. If you adored Firefly, crave team-centric sci-fi, or just want to embrace a more optimistic vision of the future, you’ll be right at home here.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Not everyone connects with A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. If you prefer action-packed plots, high-stakes drama, or hard science fiction, you might find this too slow, too cozy, or a bit meandering. Some readers were disappointed by the book's episodic, almost slice-of-life structure and felt the crew’s harmony was too idealistic or cloying. If you're not into stories that emphasize character introspection over explosive plot, this may not be your jam.
About:
'The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet' by Becky Chambers follows the journey of the crew aboard the Wayfarer, a mixed species group traveling through space to a distant planet. The novel is a character-driven science fiction tale that delves into themes of relationships, personal growth, and diverse cultures. With a focus on the crew's interactions and daily lives, the story unfolds as a cozy and intimate exploration of the universe where humans are a minor part of the Galactic Commons. The narrative combines elements of space opera with episodic adventures, providing insightful glimpses into human and sapient nature.
The writing style of the book is described as light and engaging, with a strong emphasis on character development and world-building. The author intricately introduces multiple alien species, each with distinct characteristics and cultural backgrounds, creating a rich tapestry of diverse perspectives and experiences. Despite the lack of traditional dramatic tension, the novel offers a heartfelt and enjoyable read that resonates with fans of character-driven narratives and space exploration.
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From The Publisher:
National Bestseller!
The acclaimed modern science fiction masterpiece, Hugo Award winner for Best Series!
Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space-and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe-in this light-hearted debut space opera from a rising sci-fi star.
Rosemary Harper doesn't expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. An introspective young woman who learned early to keep to herself, she's never met anyone remotely like the ship's diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain.
Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy-exactly what Rosemary wants. It's also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn't part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary's got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs-an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn't necessarily the worst thing in the universe.
Ratings (431)
Incredible (119) | |
Loved It (139) | |
Liked It (98) | |
It Was OK (41) | |
Did Not Like (30) | |
Hated It (4) |
Reader Stats (1078):
Read It (429) | |
Currently Reading (11) | |
Want To Read (465) | |
Did Not Finish (32) | |
Not Interested (141) |
12 comment(s)
Do yourself a favor and read this book
I've ran out of books to read, so I picked this up, and it is...an odd one.
It is what I would consider soft science fiction where the plot is between characters who just so happen to be on a spaceship. There's a mini-human making out with a metal AI panel he is in love with. A human getting kinky with a lizard alien thing, and a human captain getting more kinky with a fish person thing that can't talk. I really don't know why I'm reading this, but it is better than no books. It is not something I'd pick up normally but I'm sure it is a good book for those who like this type of stuff.
That being said. Will I read the next book? Sure why not. It isn't a bad book, it is just odd and focuses more on stuff I don't care about, but who knows where the series plot will end up. The writing isn't bad, the narrator is good, and thought it is odd as long as it doesn't turn into trash it is a easy light read, and it is simple enough to skip ahead if it gets too heavy on interpersonal issues.
It was an alright read. I enjoyed the science fiction and world building, but I found the plot a little dull, and I wasn't a fan of the "romances" throughout the story.
What a wonderful book! I am so impressed by Becky Chambers. This is the second book of hers that I've read, and I loved both. I remember reading articles about how you don't have to create likable characters in your fiction, and I was so unhappy about it, because I don't want to read about people who are dicks. As much as I like a good plot, being a slave to the plot might be a bit overdone. Both books that I read by Becky Chambers had a lot more characterization than plot, and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more of her books.
Will come back. On hold for now.
This is an odd book to review. I enjoyed it, but ... not a lot happened. There wasn't really any grand conflict to get through, or any thing like that. It was an in-depth exploration of these characters as they go about their job in the universe.
And it was lovely, in a lot of ways. Thematically, I think it's about love - taboo love (which there are several examples of), cross-species love, and the love of friends that have formed their own little family, a hub of safety and care set against the vastness of space.
Things that we think are going to be potentially huge moments -
the reveal of Rosemary's identity, and/or it blowing up in her face at some point; the interaction with the war-obsessed Toremi Ka; even this major situation with their is-she-or-isn't-she-a-valuable-sentient-life AI, Lovey
- all really play as minor blips in the story of this crew. Heck, we don't even see most of the crew find out about Rosemary. This book is about the life they are making together, and all the events are just window dressing. The interaction between the characters is all.
Which meant that the actual plot had a bit of 2-dimensional feel to it. But it didn't hurt my enjoyment in the way I would have expected, because I very much liked these characters.
That said, given that they're not really in the remainder of the series, I don't think I'll read onward. But I'm glad to have read this book.
Gran space opera, que se centra en lo importante, los personajes de la nave. Además unos personajes que no son soldados, que ni pueden ni quieren solucionar los conflictos con violencia, y que se ven sobrepasados con los resultados.
La historia son como los capítulos de una serie: Todos casi independientes, pero arrastrando las consecuencias de los anteriores, y además la escala de las situaciones va subiendo progresivamente.
Me ha recordado mucho a la segunda saga de "La vieja guardia" de Scalzi, porque comparten muchas de las características, pero este libro desprende mucho más optimismo, tal vez por no estar directamente involucrado en ninguna guerra.
Reading this book felt kind of like watching a season of Star Trek: Voyager. It's very episodic, focused on character growth and relationships, into the cultural difference between species, a bit fuzzy on the science, and fun but not great art.
I read a lot of sci-fi, probably more than any human should, but I have *never* read anything quite like this.
Chambers created a fantastically inclusive, positive story that features a novel plot line—even if some of the tech & fringe objects are present in other space-based books (which, as a reader, I appreciated & found it added to the overall value of the story; familiar yet in a brand new context). The characters are not only realistic, but their progression, quirks, and development are seamless and add to the overarching theme of the book.
It’s so refreshing to read a novel where the women are complex, layered individuals rather than foil archetypes. There is room for any and all types of people, scales or no scales, pairs or heretics, organic or AI. Though the story is kind and overtly approachable, there is still plenty of action & intrigue along the way. Though if you’re looking for a fast-paced page turner filled with gore and mystery, you may look elsewhere to satisfy that itch.
But ultimately I think this is a novel every sci-fi nerd should get their claws on; come for the story, stay for the writing.
My one and only critique would be the grammatical misuse of “sometime” which should instead be “some time” (and similarly “anytime” vs. “any time”). But this editing issue is a minor star in a vast galaxy and hardly occludes the brilliance thereof.
Will absolutely read the rest of the series
Boring
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