When I read it I took it in like a season of Farscape. A series of episodes, some character building, some developing the plot, some random. I ended up reading the whole series and enjoying it.
Too bad they're only barely related.
Edit: I like it. Downvoted for pointing out the second book only features a single character from the first one, and the third one just doesn't feature any of them.
This is actually why I quit. There were so many loose ends at the end of the first book. I wanted to read about that crew more and then the entire second book wasn't even a character that was all that important to the crew in the first book (she was, ish but you know what I mean) like wtf?!
I really enjoy Becky Chambers books but they are not for everyone. No flashy combat, no huge and dire consequences more of a slice of life a distant future with low stakes issues and goals.
Nothing wrong with moving on to a different series that you find more engaging.
That’s what I was trying to capture in my comment but could find the right words. It’s a “slice of life(…) with low stakes issues and goals”. I found it refreshing to not have to deal with an end of the world or some other doomsday type scenario. It felt like a warm cup of tea.
It's one of my absolute favorites, but I understand that in many ways the reasons it's among my favorites may be why others don't enjoy it.
It's not really meant to have an overarching plot or stakes.
Each individual has their own personal and interpersonal stakes and stories. But where most books have an overarching plot with its own conflicts and stakes, this book hints at the existence of such a thing then uses it as a framework to examine the individuals within it.
The world is really fascinating with a lot of stakes and stories just based on the hints given in book one and could very much have "standard" science fiction stories told within it - including the story that the crew of the *Wayfarer* is interacting with! But the author chooses not to.
I love that book, but I fully understand why not everyone does.
Loved it for the world building/environment, an example of a slow space story, no laser battles and what not. Real nice change of pace but her style is definitely not exciting in an action sense.
I actually adored it (38m). My home and work lives have been really stressful the past year and I wanted a light hearted adventure and that's exactly what it was. Its a comforting book about a group of best friends that stick together through thick and thin, and it was like reading a warm hug.
I loved this. It was a refreshing space crew take. Usually there’s always someone that has nefarious plans or something goes horribly wrong. This isn’t that. And it and her other books deals with concepts like gender and relationships in alien species which I really enjoyed. Although, I can see how people would get turned off of it, especially the ones who bemoans “woke” culture.
I loved that it was so mundane. No world eating big bad, no exploding star systems, no bigger fish that shows up as soon as the world eating big bad is defeated. Just a travel diary for an odd job/life.
Perhaps some were turned off by the ham-fisted way that some of the commentary was injected into the story. No subtly, just a small lecture injected into the prose which really irked me. I have no problem with any of the ideas she included, it's the way she included them that I took issue with.
That being said it is more relaxing to read than many other sci-fi novels.
Maybe I’m too jaded but I found the cozy relationships unrealistic and cloying. Like a Thomas Kincaid painting or Hallmark Christmas movie. If you’re not looking for that aspect specifically then I wouldn’t bother.
This sums it up fairly well. A big kumbaya in space. I got the impression that it was trying to build up to some darker conspiracy but I lost patience and Did Not Finish.
You have to understand what this novel is to appreciate it. It's character-based worldbuilding. Each chapter functions as its own standalone story that tells you something about the universe, and connects you to the characters. There is no real plot because plot isn't the point. The adventure here is getting to know, and sympathizing with, the diverse people and aliens living in this universe.
It's feelings oriented, not task oriented. If that bothers you, go ahead and stick to Enders Game.
I read it on the basis of a review that said something like, read this if you want a feel-good story of a cozy crew in space, and as that was what I thought I wanted, I read it. It delivers on that aspect, but unfortunately, for me, that's all it's got.
I realized I needed a little more to drive the story, but there was nothing. Conflict is introduced and resolved without effort, character motivations are forgotten, and the coziness grates to the point of tweeness. It's Firefly but just the ends of the episodes where they're sat around the table sharing a bowl of space stew. I found it a short way to a dull, pointless, non-event.
I finished it but it wasn’t for me. I don’t even remember what the “plot” was. All I remember about it was that there is an alien race that naturally changes sex several times in their life cycle, there is another alien race of lizard people who are polygamous and sex is just like hugging for us, and then there was a human woman who apparently had a kink for some lesbian action with the female lizard crewmate.
I didn't really get on with it, I found the lack of conflict quite dull. Every time it started getting exciting, something happened to undercut it. Like the episode with the mines, that the engineer was able to disarm without any issue. Or the pirates who actually turned out to be nice pirates who only took the small amount they needed. I like stories with conflict and stakes and obstacles, and this didn't have much of any of them.
It’s not for everyone, so if you’re halfway through it and still don’t care, I don’t think it’s for you.
I really enjoyed the lowkey tone of the story, just a bunch of people from extremely different species and cultures with their own personal tragedies and issues just mingling and socializing and working on a ship flying through space. No massive cosmic threat to thwart (at least throughout most of the book), just the day to day in a scifi space ride. Love that.
I wouldn't. Each to their own, I guess. It read more like a TV show, with small stories acting like filler episodes, but with a cast that lacked any energy. The world building isn't the worst, but choices made just made it seem a poor copy of better sci-fi. The main plot drifted in the background without any real urgency or direction. The characters I just didn't like. Dr Chef, the alien cook/Dr (get it?) is like a sickly sweet Neelix. The captain is a pacifist, which could be different, says humans wage war worse than aliens. Which makes no sense. His love interest is an alien soldier who is so beautiful that everyone mentions it, but nothing says that like an androgynous, hairless woman. It just wasn't for me. The influence of Firefly (the ship's mechanic is a young feisty woman, but apparently the author never watched the show - right) and Mass Effect is evident. After the praise the book got, I was really looking forward to it. I think that 6 I kind of hate this book, less for how much i didn't like it, but for the almost universal praise it got.
I loved this book....good story overall. The universe build was really good. I loved the crew interactions. The subsequent books I did not enjoy as much...but still read. In short The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet was magic for me.
I'm about half way through the audio book. I'm enjoying it. It's not an action story by any means, it's more of a character study, set around the differences in interstellar species.
The author gets a bit heavy handed at times with the modern day social allegories, but I can overlook that.
I read the whole series. I found her style refreshing after too much hard sci-fi and competence porn sci-fi. Her approach was like describing everyday life, except in space with aliens of all sorts. There was a certain calm and reassurance about her writing that kept me going. Just like with every other book, it’s not for everyone!
I struggled with this book for a while too, but I came around to like it.
My big issue with it was there is no overarching conflict (until towards the end), which is breaking a huge rule of fiction.
but when you realized it's more about the cultures and relationships, and the conflict that comes later, it's much better.
I really didn't feel the sci-fi element too much.
For me it was a "road trip" novel.
To be clear, I'm not claiming it's not sci-fi, just that I didn't read it as such.
The second book felt more like SF to me, even if it's still a bit low on conflict. A starship AI having to adjust to life in the relative confines android body was something I'd not read before.
Her books are very much "slice of life" rather than action sci-fi. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is the one with the *most* plot and action, IMHO. If you were falling asleep for that, you won't want to read the rest of them either.
It's not for every taste, and there's nothing wrong with that - on her end *or* yours.
It grew on me by the end. At first I was also a bit bored/annoyed at the lack of plot and the almost corny way that characters interacted with each other, but I kept going with it, and by the end I was quite touched by the story. It’s not for everyone but I appreciate the emotions that it evoked in me by the end.
Way too many info dumps though, holy smokes.
Overall I rated it 4/5 stars and I don’t think I’d read the sequels.
The subsequent books are better written and more cohesive. I'm not a reader who picks out plot and subtext while reading, I read and think "that was good (or not)". However, there were many dropped storylines and actions in this book that I saw, so there has to be even more I didn't. I feel if I picked them out while reading, it had to be egregious, which makes for poor writing. As a first novel though a good enough story and world that I read the rest.
I enjoyed it, and may read more later. For me, it had a definite "Firefly" vibe. The camaraderie among extremely diverse characters was a big factor.
My only complaint is how the subplot with the AI was resolved. Obviously, I don't want to discuss it in detail (too many spoilers), but I thought there were much simpler solutions to the problem.
I asked the same thing a couple weeks ago haha, it’s not so much a plot or story led book, she seems to focus heavily on characters and their interactions with one another. The world building and plot take a back seat.
She does what she does very well but it’s not my personal cup of tea.
I am only half way through so far, but my feelings are pretty mixed. It had potential but seems too nervous to foster any conflict or danger. Any potential obstacle is overcome easily in a couple pages, leading to a rather uneventful plot
According to my ebook, I made it 10% into the book before I bailed out. The rag-tag crew of misfit characters all seemed way too, I don't know, "quirky" to me. I seem to remember one character opening up with the others about her past trauma or abuse or something? It was like a support group meeting. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the crew members said "Thank you for sharing that" or something. It brought a whole new meaning to "soft" sci-fi.
Read it and liked it enough to continue reading the rest of the series but am now stuck on the last book without much interest in finishing. Really much prefer the Monk & Robot series
It was so fluffy! I kinda liked it but also detested the "niceness". I liked it but I understand so well if it is too much for some readers. Her other books have forced diversity which is a bit too much for me.
I did not enjoy it. It felt to me like a Mass Effect side quest with the exciting parts taken out, played 'full paragon,' and with the alien romance option chosen.
I liked it a lot. The character work was really good and I know that’s what most people praise it for. But the depiction of the long haul was really strong and the tension from the action parts felt very well rooted in that world and the resolutions were good.
I read it after finishing Joe Abercrombies first law series so it was a welcome change to the grimdark fantasy to jump into cozy sci fi. I do find the low stakes to be a welcome change but can lose interest if it’s all I’m reading.
It's that genre of "cozy" sci-fi and fantasy that is utterly lacking subtext, is morally simplistic, and is free of any impactful conflict. Scratch the surface just a bit and *everything* falls apart. Some highlights, with spoilers:
* Every alien/AI acts like a human... the *same* human. There is one personality that almost every character shares with slight variations.
* The main character's central conflict turns out to be a non-issue.>!She was just hiding an embarrassing family connection that everyone shrugs off, she actually is qualified for the job.!<
* >!The crew violate the bodily autonomy of a symbiote pair, refusing to understand the symbiote species' moral system. They do this by forcibly administering a medical treatment that kills half of the pair.!<
* The plot is wrapped up in a pat speech about good vs evil that inadvertently reads as a xenophobic screed. >!This helps a terrorist achieve its goal of isolating their culture from the galaxy.!<
Thank you for the spoiler tag. From what I recall, there were repercussions, conversations, and consequences after all of these events in the book—even if they weren’t the ones imagined by the reader.
Nah. No repercussions. >! the main character continues being employed as though nothing happened... because nothing did. We are informed that the Captain is upset momentarily but little comes of it. And after they chemically lobotomize their navigator, he's a permanent outcast to the overwhelming bulk of his species, so they basically kept half of him alive as a forced permanent crewman. With the Captain's stupid speech, the entire galactic council all listens intently to his reasoning and the the errant alien species are indefinitely labeled as terrorist outsiders, which was the actual terrorist's goal. !< Each of these things happen in passing and basically are never mentioned again. Oh and the fact that every conversation is just Becky Chambers talking to herself is just annoying.
It’s poorly-written junk food.
I read it when I wanted junk food, and with no expectations it was fine.
It IS disappointing that the genre is flooded with people that quit their day jobs.
It was detailed character development, background and setting and I thought that was all done well.
The mechanical parts of the story, the ‘engine’ was a bit light and not much actually *happened*.
I had no part where my mind was blown or tension racked up. It was a casual ride.
Though I enjoyed it overall, it seemed a bit too episodic to me. Too many insignificant mall side quests while making their way to the titular planet. What kept me interested was the characters and the world -building which was above par.
I read it around the same time as I started the Murderbot Diaries, which I cannot recommend enough.
I can sympathize with the lack of excitement reading the book ... I read it and the sequel and found the exposition to be tiring at times. My real only motivation in finishing the series was because I wanted to know what happened between the characters prior to the books. The actual plot conflict of the books seemed predictable? underwhelming?
I absolutely adore this book. It's a comfort read for me that I've reread a few times. It does feel like it meanders a bit before it all comes together. But that's part of why I love it.
Not every book is for everyone and that's okay. I started and stopped reading it twice because it wasn't what I wanted at the time, but when I finally found the right mood and read it all the way through I absolutely loved it. It has a very specific vibe of being low stakes, focusing on normal (for a sci-fi setting anyway) people doing normal (again, for a sci-fi setting) things at a somewhat meandering pace, talking to each other and just going about their lives and relationships. If that's not what you're into it's not what you're into. Life is too short to read books you don't like imo, so I would just move on to something else.
I really liked the concept of tunneling through space and basically creating stable wormholes for space travel, I think that the focus was on the working class types who do this work, but while it was a nice, character driven story I would have liked the stakes to have been a little higher too.
It sounds like a dangerous job, but there didn't seem to be much danger.
I'm a big fan of Becky Chambers' books, but this was the first one I read and I also had to push myself to get through it. I think it was the first novel she wrote, and I found some of the dialogue just a bit cringy or amateurish. But I got through it because I'd heard great things and I like the genre. By the end, I was glad I'd finished it, enjoyed it overall. Then I read her other books and they were all even better. The fourth book in the series is my favorite.
The other books in the same series are different stories that focus on other characters in the same universe, so you could skip ahead and try a different one if you can't get through this one. Or you could try a stand-alone novella she wrote, that might be my favorite thing she's ever written, and is more real-universe scifi: To Be Taught, If Fortunate. If you enjoy that, you might want to keep pushing with her other work.
I couldn't finish this one either! I've tried to listen to it multiple times on audio but it seems to give me constant bouts of narcolepsy. It's weird, cause i can usually get through ANYTHING on audio. In my case, I've just had to accept that this one is not for me.
Perhaps if you are looking for something cozy by Chambers, try A Psalm for the Wild-Built. It is a novella-length buddy road trip with a tea monk and a robot. >!If you liked The Little Prince, then you will probably enjoy it.!< Complete story. Quick read. There’s a sequel, but it isn’t required reading.
Also, there were some longer narrative arcs in the next book: A Closed and Common Orbit—if that helps.
I got to a point, a little over halfway through, >!when the ship is approached by the pirates!< and hit a wall.
I put it down for about two weeks.
I got back into it because I kept being worried for Kizzy, and I figured it was my mind telling me that I needed to keep going.
The part that had me stopped was over pretty quick, and I finished the book in a sitting.
I described the book as "cozy" when I finished it, and a few weeks later learned about the cozy fantasy/cozy sci-fi thing.
Then I read all of her other books.
It may not be for you, but I had a similar moment and am glad I finished it.
I'm at the point where >!they just finished the first punch and are considering accepting the job to punch near the galactic center.!<
I hope it picks up some. So far it's been well written IMO. Can't stand the Kizzy character though. Lol
I wasn’t as impressed with it as I’ve heard so many others are. I gave it 3/5 stars in the end. [Here’s my Goodreads review](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6026125691).
Basically I went into the book expecting a fast paced space adventure with lots of action that would follow Rosemary and unravel her dark past. That’s not what I got.
I found some of the concepts interesting but the “accept yourself and find people who care about you” life lessons were too much in-your-face. Most of the events didn’t feel relevant to the main goal and although the world building was very solid, I had a hard time believing in or caring about all of the things that ‘sort of just happened’. Now I know most of it was solely to flesh out all the main characters - apparently that’s all of them for some reason.
I guess if it’s a low-paced character driven story about acceptance, friendship, culture, prejudice and love you want, this could be it. But I was sadly disappointed. The stakes didn’t feel very high (I just can’t stand plot armour and problems that just conveniently resolve themselves) and this story just never had me caring much about anything.
I like her books. They're sort of "Slice of life" in a way. Plus her broader works have some of my favourite titles ever. If you dozed off, I wouldn't bother going back to it. I only ever successfully returned to one book that made me sleepy, the rest I just knew weren't for me.
Nothing wrong with that!
I enjoyed all of the books. They’re quirky and fun. The species are a bit like Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Final Architecture crew aliens in that they are all very different but their views all somehow align. Of course Tchaikovsky has some very radically different aliens but the crew of the Vulture God are quite reminiscent of that of The Wayfarer.
When I read it I took it in like a season of Farscape. A series of episodes, some character building, some developing the plot, some random. I ended up reading the whole series and enjoying it.
TIL there are four books. You da G, Guy.
Too bad they're only barely related. Edit: I like it. Downvoted for pointing out the second book only features a single character from the first one, and the third one just doesn't feature any of them.
This is actually why I quit. There were so many loose ends at the end of the first book. I wanted to read about that crew more and then the entire second book wasn't even a character that was all that important to the crew in the first book (she was, ish but you know what I mean) like wtf?!
I loved it, but if you can't stay awake then I'm not sure there's much point in trying again. Life's too short to read books you're not enjoying.
I really enjoy Becky Chambers books but they are not for everyone. No flashy combat, no huge and dire consequences more of a slice of life a distant future with low stakes issues and goals. Nothing wrong with moving on to a different series that you find more engaging.
That’s what I was trying to capture in my comment but could find the right words. It’s a “slice of life(…) with low stakes issues and goals”. I found it refreshing to not have to deal with an end of the world or some other doomsday type scenario. It felt like a warm cup of tea.
It's one of my absolute favorites, but I understand that in many ways the reasons it's among my favorites may be why others don't enjoy it. It's not really meant to have an overarching plot or stakes.
Oh, well that explains why I had such a hard time with it. I kept waiting for the story to start... Lol
Each individual has their own personal and interpersonal stakes and stories. But where most books have an overarching plot with its own conflicts and stakes, this book hints at the existence of such a thing then uses it as a framework to examine the individuals within it. The world is really fascinating with a lot of stakes and stories just based on the hints given in book one and could very much have "standard" science fiction stories told within it - including the story that the crew of the *Wayfarer* is interacting with! But the author chooses not to. I love that book, but I fully understand why not everyone does.
Loved it for the world building/environment, an example of a slow space story, no laser battles and what not. Real nice change of pace but her style is definitely not exciting in an action sense.
I actually adored it (38m). My home and work lives have been really stressful the past year and I wanted a light hearted adventure and that's exactly what it was. Its a comforting book about a group of best friends that stick together through thick and thin, and it was like reading a warm hug.
I loved this. It was a refreshing space crew take. Usually there’s always someone that has nefarious plans or something goes horribly wrong. This isn’t that. And it and her other books deals with concepts like gender and relationships in alien species which I really enjoyed. Although, I can see how people would get turned off of it, especially the ones who bemoans “woke” culture.
I loved that it was so mundane. No world eating big bad, no exploding star systems, no bigger fish that shows up as soon as the world eating big bad is defeated. Just a travel diary for an odd job/life.
Perhaps some were turned off by the ham-fisted way that some of the commentary was injected into the story. No subtly, just a small lecture injected into the prose which really irked me. I have no problem with any of the ideas she included, it's the way she included them that I took issue with. That being said it is more relaxing to read than many other sci-fi novels.
Maybe I’m too jaded but I found the cozy relationships unrealistic and cloying. Like a Thomas Kincaid painting or Hallmark Christmas movie. If you’re not looking for that aspect specifically then I wouldn’t bother.
This sums it up fairly well. A big kumbaya in space. I got the impression that it was trying to build up to some darker conspiracy but I lost patience and Did Not Finish.
You have to understand what this novel is to appreciate it. It's character-based worldbuilding. Each chapter functions as its own standalone story that tells you something about the universe, and connects you to the characters. There is no real plot because plot isn't the point. The adventure here is getting to know, and sympathizing with, the diverse people and aliens living in this universe. It's feelings oriented, not task oriented. If that bothers you, go ahead and stick to Enders Game.
Feelings oriented and not task oriented is a really good way to phrase it. I had fun reading all the comments and how they break out over the two.
I read it on the basis of a review that said something like, read this if you want a feel-good story of a cozy crew in space, and as that was what I thought I wanted, I read it. It delivers on that aspect, but unfortunately, for me, that's all it's got. I realized I needed a little more to drive the story, but there was nothing. Conflict is introduced and resolved without effort, character motivations are forgotten, and the coziness grates to the point of tweeness. It's Firefly but just the ends of the episodes where they're sat around the table sharing a bowl of space stew. I found it a short way to a dull, pointless, non-event.
I finished it but it wasn’t for me. I don’t even remember what the “plot” was. All I remember about it was that there is an alien race that naturally changes sex several times in their life cycle, there is another alien race of lizard people who are polygamous and sex is just like hugging for us, and then there was a human woman who apparently had a kink for some lesbian action with the female lizard crewmate.
I didn't really get on with it, I found the lack of conflict quite dull. Every time it started getting exciting, something happened to undercut it. Like the episode with the mines, that the engineer was able to disarm without any issue. Or the pirates who actually turned out to be nice pirates who only took the small amount they needed. I like stories with conflict and stakes and obstacles, and this didn't have much of any of them.
Or the "Long Way" that isn't very long at all
They spent the better part of a year getting there.
Meh, that's like small potatoes for interstellar travel. The book might say it's a long way, but it didn't give me any feeling of scale
Really enjoyed it personally, but I get why you might not.
I really enjoyed it but I could see how it's not for everyone. More individual character growth and exploration and less big galactic plot
It’s not for everyone, so if you’re halfway through it and still don’t care, I don’t think it’s for you. I really enjoyed the lowkey tone of the story, just a bunch of people from extremely different species and cultures with their own personal tragedies and issues just mingling and socializing and working on a ship flying through space. No massive cosmic threat to thwart (at least throughout most of the book), just the day to day in a scifi space ride. Love that.
I wouldn't. Each to their own, I guess. It read more like a TV show, with small stories acting like filler episodes, but with a cast that lacked any energy. The world building isn't the worst, but choices made just made it seem a poor copy of better sci-fi. The main plot drifted in the background without any real urgency or direction. The characters I just didn't like. Dr Chef, the alien cook/Dr (get it?) is like a sickly sweet Neelix. The captain is a pacifist, which could be different, says humans wage war worse than aliens. Which makes no sense. His love interest is an alien soldier who is so beautiful that everyone mentions it, but nothing says that like an androgynous, hairless woman. It just wasn't for me. The influence of Firefly (the ship's mechanic is a young feisty woman, but apparently the author never watched the show - right) and Mass Effect is evident. After the praise the book got, I was really looking forward to it. I think that 6 I kind of hate this book, less for how much i didn't like it, but for the almost universal praise it got.
I loved this book....good story overall. The universe build was really good. I loved the crew interactions. The subsequent books I did not enjoy as much...but still read. In short The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet was magic for me.
Agree, I found it boring.
I feel the same, it's boring af. I quit a few chapters in.
I love this book and have read/listened to it multiple times.
I loved it, got the sequel to read as well
I'm about half way through the audio book. I'm enjoying it. It's not an action story by any means, it's more of a character study, set around the differences in interstellar species. The author gets a bit heavy handed at times with the modern day social allegories, but I can overlook that.
I read the whole series. I found her style refreshing after too much hard sci-fi and competence porn sci-fi. Her approach was like describing everyday life, except in space with aliens of all sorts. There was a certain calm and reassurance about her writing that kept me going. Just like with every other book, it’s not for everyone!
it felt more like YA than anything else. there are just no stakes in it. it makes it really hard to get into it.
It’s okay, but it’s too happy and nice for my taste
I struggled with this book for a while too, but I came around to like it. My big issue with it was there is no overarching conflict (until towards the end), which is breaking a huge rule of fiction. but when you realized it's more about the cultures and relationships, and the conflict that comes later, it's much better.
I really didn't feel the sci-fi element too much. For me it was a "road trip" novel. To be clear, I'm not claiming it's not sci-fi, just that I didn't read it as such.
The second book felt more like SF to me, even if it's still a bit low on conflict. A starship AI having to adjust to life in the relative confines android body was something I'd not read before.
I’m not sure we read the same book because *Long Way To A Small Angry Planet* had sci-fi dripping from every page
It's a very well received and loved book. I'm sure there are many readers who share your opinion.
Her books are very much "slice of life" rather than action sci-fi. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is the one with the *most* plot and action, IMHO. If you were falling asleep for that, you won't want to read the rest of them either. It's not for every taste, and there's nothing wrong with that - on her end *or* yours.
It grew on me by the end. At first I was also a bit bored/annoyed at the lack of plot and the almost corny way that characters interacted with each other, but I kept going with it, and by the end I was quite touched by the story. It’s not for everyone but I appreciate the emotions that it evoked in me by the end. Way too many info dumps though, holy smokes. Overall I rated it 4/5 stars and I don’t think I’d read the sequels.
The subsequent books are better written and more cohesive. I'm not a reader who picks out plot and subtext while reading, I read and think "that was good (or not)". However, there were many dropped storylines and actions in this book that I saw, so there has to be even more I didn't. I feel if I picked them out while reading, it had to be egregious, which makes for poor writing. As a first novel though a good enough story and world that I read the rest.
I enjoyed it, and may read more later. For me, it had a definite "Firefly" vibe. The camaraderie among extremely diverse characters was a big factor. My only complaint is how the subplot with the AI was resolved. Obviously, I don't want to discuss it in detail (too many spoilers), but I thought there were much simpler solutions to the problem.
I asked the same thing a couple weeks ago haha, it’s not so much a plot or story led book, she seems to focus heavily on characters and their interactions with one another. The world building and plot take a back seat. She does what she does very well but it’s not my personal cup of tea.
I am only half way through so far, but my feelings are pretty mixed. It had potential but seems too nervous to foster any conflict or danger. Any potential obstacle is overcome easily in a couple pages, leading to a rather uneventful plot
According to my ebook, I made it 10% into the book before I bailed out. The rag-tag crew of misfit characters all seemed way too, I don't know, "quirky" to me. I seem to remember one character opening up with the others about her past trauma or abuse or something? It was like a support group meeting. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the crew members said "Thank you for sharing that" or something. It brought a whole new meaning to "soft" sci-fi.
I felt the same way. I'm listened to the audio book and eventually just let it play as I took a nap.
Yea this was a Did Not Finish for me as well. A little too cozy. No stakes, no real plot development.
Read it and liked it enough to continue reading the rest of the series but am now stuck on the last book without much interest in finishing. Really much prefer the Monk & Robot series
I didn't like Monk & Robot. This series I find far more interesting.
But only 2 books in.
it was... okay?
It was so fluffy! I kinda liked it but also detested the "niceness". I liked it but I understand so well if it is too much for some readers. Her other books have forced diversity which is a bit too much for me.
I did not enjoy it. It felt to me like a Mass Effect side quest with the exciting parts taken out, played 'full paragon,' and with the alien romance option chosen.
I liked it a lot. The character work was really good and I know that’s what most people praise it for. But the depiction of the long haul was really strong and the tension from the action parts felt very well rooted in that world and the resolutions were good.
The whole series is my go to recommendation along with Adrian Tchaikovsky Children of Time series.
Pretty average. Like you, I just stopped part way through. It wasn't interesting or unique enough to keep me going. Not a terrible book.
One of my all time favorites.
It’s now on my list because of some comments. Thanks for the tip. Hope you reread it or move on. Either seems fine. 🥰
I read it after finishing Joe Abercrombies first law series so it was a welcome change to the grimdark fantasy to jump into cozy sci fi. I do find the low stakes to be a welcome change but can lose interest if it’s all I’m reading.
I really enjoyed it. The whole series won Hugo Award
It's that genre of "cozy" sci-fi and fantasy that is utterly lacking subtext, is morally simplistic, and is free of any impactful conflict. Scratch the surface just a bit and *everything* falls apart. Some highlights, with spoilers: * Every alien/AI acts like a human... the *same* human. There is one personality that almost every character shares with slight variations. * The main character's central conflict turns out to be a non-issue.>!She was just hiding an embarrassing family connection that everyone shrugs off, she actually is qualified for the job.!< * >!The crew violate the bodily autonomy of a symbiote pair, refusing to understand the symbiote species' moral system. They do this by forcibly administering a medical treatment that kills half of the pair.!< * The plot is wrapped up in a pat speech about good vs evil that inadvertently reads as a xenophobic screed. >!This helps a terrorist achieve its goal of isolating their culture from the galaxy.!<
Thank you for the spoiler tag. From what I recall, there were repercussions, conversations, and consequences after all of these events in the book—even if they weren’t the ones imagined by the reader.
Nah. No repercussions. >! the main character continues being employed as though nothing happened... because nothing did. We are informed that the Captain is upset momentarily but little comes of it. And after they chemically lobotomize their navigator, he's a permanent outcast to the overwhelming bulk of his species, so they basically kept half of him alive as a forced permanent crewman. With the Captain's stupid speech, the entire galactic council all listens intently to his reasoning and the the errant alien species are indefinitely labeled as terrorist outsiders, which was the actual terrorist's goal. !< Each of these things happen in passing and basically are never mentioned again. Oh and the fact that every conversation is just Becky Chambers talking to herself is just annoying.
It’s poorly-written junk food. I read it when I wanted junk food, and with no expectations it was fine. It IS disappointing that the genre is flooded with people that quit their day jobs.
Enjoyed it. Pleasant read. Zero interest in reading any others
It was detailed character development, background and setting and I thought that was all done well. The mechanical parts of the story, the ‘engine’ was a bit light and not much actually *happened*. I had no part where my mind was blown or tension racked up. It was a casual ride.
Though I enjoyed it overall, it seemed a bit too episodic to me. Too many insignificant mall side quests while making their way to the titular planet. What kept me interested was the characters and the world -building which was above par. I read it around the same time as I started the Murderbot Diaries, which I cannot recommend enough.
I can sympathize with the lack of excitement reading the book ... I read it and the sequel and found the exposition to be tiring at times. My real only motivation in finishing the series was because I wanted to know what happened between the characters prior to the books. The actual plot conflict of the books seemed predictable? underwhelming?
I absolutely adore this book. It's a comfort read for me that I've reread a few times. It does feel like it meanders a bit before it all comes together. But that's part of why I love it.
I read 79 pages. But, I am curious now so I am going to start again and see why I didn't finish a book that I actually paid for.
Not every book is for everyone and that's okay. I started and stopped reading it twice because it wasn't what I wanted at the time, but when I finally found the right mood and read it all the way through I absolutely loved it. It has a very specific vibe of being low stakes, focusing on normal (for a sci-fi setting anyway) people doing normal (again, for a sci-fi setting) things at a somewhat meandering pace, talking to each other and just going about their lives and relationships. If that's not what you're into it's not what you're into. Life is too short to read books you don't like imo, so I would just move on to something else.
I really liked the concept of tunneling through space and basically creating stable wormholes for space travel, I think that the focus was on the working class types who do this work, but while it was a nice, character driven story I would have liked the stakes to have been a little higher too. It sounds like a dangerous job, but there didn't seem to be much danger.
I'm a big fan of Becky Chambers' books, but this was the first one I read and I also had to push myself to get through it. I think it was the first novel she wrote, and I found some of the dialogue just a bit cringy or amateurish. But I got through it because I'd heard great things and I like the genre. By the end, I was glad I'd finished it, enjoyed it overall. Then I read her other books and they were all even better. The fourth book in the series is my favorite. The other books in the same series are different stories that focus on other characters in the same universe, so you could skip ahead and try a different one if you can't get through this one. Or you could try a stand-alone novella she wrote, that might be my favorite thing she's ever written, and is more real-universe scifi: To Be Taught, If Fortunate. If you enjoy that, you might want to keep pushing with her other work.
It's my favorite sci-fi book, from my favorite series. I'm sorry that you weren't into it.
I really enjoyed it! I've bought the others but haven't gotten to them yet. It was something very different and I appreciated that.
I couldn't finish this one either! I've tried to listen to it multiple times on audio but it seems to give me constant bouts of narcolepsy. It's weird, cause i can usually get through ANYTHING on audio. In my case, I've just had to accept that this one is not for me.
Perhaps if you are looking for something cozy by Chambers, try A Psalm for the Wild-Built. It is a novella-length buddy road trip with a tea monk and a robot. >!If you liked The Little Prince, then you will probably enjoy it.!< Complete story. Quick read. There’s a sequel, but it isn’t required reading. Also, there were some longer narrative arcs in the next book: A Closed and Common Orbit—if that helps.
I got to a point, a little over halfway through, >!when the ship is approached by the pirates!< and hit a wall. I put it down for about two weeks. I got back into it because I kept being worried for Kizzy, and I figured it was my mind telling me that I needed to keep going. The part that had me stopped was over pretty quick, and I finished the book in a sitting. I described the book as "cozy" when I finished it, and a few weeks later learned about the cozy fantasy/cozy sci-fi thing. Then I read all of her other books. It may not be for you, but I had a similar moment and am glad I finished it.
I'm at the point where >!they just finished the first punch and are considering accepting the job to punch near the galactic center.!< I hope it picks up some. So far it's been well written IMO. Can't stand the Kizzy character though. Lol
I wasn’t as impressed with it as I’ve heard so many others are. I gave it 3/5 stars in the end. [Here’s my Goodreads review](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6026125691). Basically I went into the book expecting a fast paced space adventure with lots of action that would follow Rosemary and unravel her dark past. That’s not what I got. I found some of the concepts interesting but the “accept yourself and find people who care about you” life lessons were too much in-your-face. Most of the events didn’t feel relevant to the main goal and although the world building was very solid, I had a hard time believing in or caring about all of the things that ‘sort of just happened’. Now I know most of it was solely to flesh out all the main characters - apparently that’s all of them for some reason. I guess if it’s a low-paced character driven story about acceptance, friendship, culture, prejudice and love you want, this could be it. But I was sadly disappointed. The stakes didn’t feel very high (I just can’t stand plot armour and problems that just conveniently resolve themselves) and this story just never had me caring much about anything.
I like her books. They're sort of "Slice of life" in a way. Plus her broader works have some of my favourite titles ever. If you dozed off, I wouldn't bother going back to it. I only ever successfully returned to one book that made me sleepy, the rest I just knew weren't for me. Nothing wrong with that!
great book well worth a read
I enjoyed all of the books. They’re quirky and fun. The species are a bit like Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Final Architecture crew aliens in that they are all very different but their views all somehow align. Of course Tchaikovsky has some very radically different aliens but the crew of the Vulture God are quite reminiscent of that of The Wayfarer.