Beth’s Comments (group member since Sep 01, 2016)

Beth’s comments from the The Long Way... To a Common Orbit flash group group.

I've forgotten anything I ever learned about Socrates, alas. There's definitely a trend toward didacticism. The chapter I'm currently reading (in the next section) so far has been almost entirely a lecture...

I'm not alone!! :D But seriously, thanks, Carly, it's good to know that there's somebody else who isn't comfortable with the narrative's/other characters' behavior toward him.

The market was cool, and Cricket is pretty cool, too. The subject of how the family got water was brought up. There is some plant life, some cacti or whatnot, not to mention the huge swarm of giant bugs that also would need water to live, so there's got to be something but it isn't specified.

"Tweaking your body, it's all about trying to make your physical self fit with who you are inside." I liked this quote, and the idea that the tech is at a point that you might be able to get the two into harmony with each other, albeit sometimes with a misstep or two along the way.

Ember is reckless and also very anxious to emulate the adults around her with an eye modification, and Bear and Nib are "nope, not until you're fully grown." Some things never change!

Space pirate bird (?) people! I appreciate the non-violent conflict resolution although it feels like the author is depending too heavily on coincidence to make it work. Rosemary just happens to be the only crew member who knows a language the Akaraks can speak. If she hadn't, then what?

The situation between Welks and Lovey continues to be uncomfortable to read. This entire dialogue...

Welks: "So. We're doing this?"
Lovey: "Sounds like it to me."

...doesn't smack of enthusiastic consent to me. It sounds more like she's conceding to his desires under mild duress.

This seems to be pointing in the direction of Ohan taking a different path than following the Wane to its usual conclusion, or being tempted to do so.

in re: the encyclopedia entry. I read "xyr differences" as "eks why arr differences" and was confused, until I saw "xe" a sentence or two later and belatedly realized "xyr" is a possessive form of it. I'm unsure of the difference between "xe" and "xyr," and "they" and "their" used as a gender-neutral singular, i.e. "The owner of that car left their lights on."

The pearl still has the grain of sand in its center, after all. I'll buy that as a metaphor.

"Hmm, are you saying your impression is that it comes from a more 'this is the best social norm' perspective and less honoring what people are?"

This comes close to the mark, yes.

"I mean, just because he is autistic doesn't mean he doesn't have emotional needs at times, although they may happen/be expressed/be met in a different way than most are used to."

Yep!

My interpretation of Corbin as on a spectrum--and therefore at least partially at the mercy of his brain structure/functioning when it comes to his dealings with other people--makes me think that the crew's treatment of him is wrong.

It's pretty evident that we're expected to despise the guy. The story and I are just going to have to disagree on that. :)

I read it "Jeanette Weeks" very early on, too. Maybe "gene-tweaks" with a hyphen would have made it more clear.

"The Job": Oh, there's the plot, and the explanation for the title of our book!

"Port Coriol": The narration feels naive in the very early parts of this chapter--the port is scruffy and kind of seedy, but nothing really nasty happens there. No brain-damaged drug addicts, no sex trafficking? Mm-hmm.

I really enjoyed the descriptions. The market where you can get anything if you look hard enough, the underground mod and bot district, are all so cool. (I'll pass on the cricket sandwiches, though.)

I'm going to put the next bit behind a spoiler wall: (view spoiler)[so there's the older "lizard" (can't remember the name of the race) female in the market that Sissix gives physical comfort to. She is described in ways that make me think that she is on a spectrum, maybe something like autism?... and I also get that same vibe from Corbin. This stranger is cuddled and cosseted; Corbin--part of their crew--is snubbed.

Now, I'm not saying that the crew should be physically affectionate with him against their inclinations (or his). Not at all. Just that there's just a parallel between these characters that the text doesn't acknowledge. The narrative seems to want me to think that Kizzy, Sissix, et al., are the ultimate in nicey-nice but I also see blind spots and a streak of intolerance. Their attitude toward "those Geiist assholes" also made me raise a brow. (hide spoiler)]

I think I will have to get used to the narration stopping for a page or two of explanation every time a new race or concept is introduced. It happened about five times in this chapter. :)

I'm enjoying the episodic-ness. It makes the novel feel like a serial or TV show. I can read a chapter or two at a time without feeling like I'm breaking the flow of the story, which makes this novel a nice thing to read during breaks and before bed!

Agreed on Kizzy's explanations. Using a berry in breakfast cereal didn't explain things at all! It does enhance her being kind of spastic/spacey. Maybe it was Dr. Chef's more serious explanation that made that scene feel long.

Yep, Corbin the algae guy is the one. :) He must be nasty if an adult, open-minded, gregarious and egalitarian crew has given him the cold shoulder. Right? My own baggage is making me feel sorry for him, though, so there's a dissonance.

Agreed that the AI situation with Lovey raises some discomfiting questions. I'm interested in seeing where Chambers takes that relationship.

The explain-y stuff was a little too long, in my opinion, but I did like the part where they made the tunnel. The crew is a good team when it's important.

"Arrivals": (this is a rehash of some things I deleted from another thread.) It's a little irritating to be told by the narrative, several times, that I should dislike somebody, rather than being given the leeway to make my own opinion.

"Tipoff": tour of the ship! The flow comes to a halt frequently to explain things to Rosemary, or the reader, in these early chapters, but once the scene is set I assume that the pace will even out.

"The Tunnelers": So far I think that Sissix's expressions are a little too human, the smiles and sighs and so on, although I've read a couple of reviews that hint that there are gulfs in cultural attitude between human and "lizard."

I've read a couple of SF stories where fish is the staple animal food on spaceships. Arthropods aren't too much of a stretch from there.

"Technical Details": The back-and-forth between Welks and Lovey is interesting--in their imaginings of a Lovey with a body, Lovey seems quite willing to form herself along the lines of Welks's desire, while he insists on her wants.

I wonder why creating ambulatory AIs is illegal. To forestall the creation of AI slaves, perhaps?

So far, so fun!

(Edited to reflect the place in the book this thread is actually for.)

One thing I liked about this very short chapter is how it, in very few words, tells us some things about the universe. Rosemary hires a scruffy transport, which tells us both that she's in an impecunious position and that there's class and/or wealth distinction in play.

Speaking of that transport, it seems like something that would be scary to wake up to. Especially if you are claustrophobic.

E-book for me. Hi everyone!

I honestly don't know a lot about this book except that it's character-centric and is optimistic? That was enough to put it on the to-read and here we are.