The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1) in Fantasy-Faction.com

Mar 08, 2017 David Zampa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, space-opera, ensemble-cast, good-fun, literary, deep-thinkers

Let me start with the most important thing you need to know about this book. There's a lot of words out there on the internet that promote this novel as a fit for fans of Firefly, and here's the thing: IT IS! If you're like me you've searched high and low for ways to fill the Firefly void, and I'm happy to report that this book fits the bill in terms of its realistic tone (see: balance of cheerful and serious, complete with a spectrum of emotions from the characters that range all the way from g Let me start with the most important thing you need to know about this book. There's a lot of words out there on the internet that promote this novel as a fit for fans of Firefly, and here's the thing: IT IS! If you're like me you've searched high and low for ways to fill the Firefly void, and I'm happy to report that this book fits the bill in terms of its realistic tone (see: balance of cheerful and serious, complete with a spectrum of emotions from the characters that range all the way from genuine humor to deep sadness), dynamic world, and it's brilliant cast of ensemble characters. Which bring me to my next point...

Despite what it says in the sales copy pitch, Rosemary Harper is not by any stretch of the imagination the main character of this book. She's prominent. She has a complete, compelling plot arch. But she is but one member of an nine character ensemble who each get equal attention within the narrative and who all have complete, compelling plot archs. The book almost feels like a series of intertwined short stories, with very little in the way of an over-arching story. For most books this would be something that would cause me to bitch and moan and tell you all the ways the story suffers for being stretched so thin, but ALWtaSAP (I know, right?) fails to suffer from this "problem" in dramatic fashion. Seriously. It's not like it's unaffected by the structure, either. At a third of the way through, I started wondering when the heck the main conflict was going to start. Later, still riveted, I did that thing where I turned the book and pinched the remaining pages, mystified that I'd crossed the half way point, and yet had still seen no sign of a primary antagonist. Three quarters through, no real change. But the difference here is that the book never suffers. It's not a flaw. I didn't care. Every character, every mini-plot, every incidental stop and random detour was fascinating. Each character's story, back story, forward story, whatever, is fun and relatable.

Lastly, I'd like to talk a bit more about the realism of the world portrayed in this book, and what I mean by that. Let's face it, science fiction is frackin' cynical. I don't know why, but authors' approach to science fiction these days has become the literary equivalent of smashing a bunch of bacon between two slices of fresh baked nihilism and feeding it to a pig. I for one have read (and loved, don't get me wrong) ENOUGH stories about humans finally finding life outside the solar system, only to become embroiled in inevitable war. I'm tired of aliens written solely as incomprehensible, homogeneous non-people, and I'm damn sure tired of the post-apocalypse. This book is none of that. It envisions a future where human life continues to be full of good and full of bad, and the other intelligent species are shockingly capable of the same diversity.

This is a good book. It'll make you feel good. It's freakin' excellent. I'm looking forward to the sequel later this month, already have it pre-ordered, though I will say I'm disappointed it won't follow the same ensemble cast. Still, after this book, I officially trust in Becky Chambers' writing. ...more

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Feb 05, 2017 Patremagne rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, dnf

DNFing at around 50%.

I had to search around reviews to see whether I was going insane or not, as everyone seems to adore this book. A character-driven book with no interesting characters and a lack of a decent plot/pace doesn't make for a good read (or listen in this case). Everyone was entirely too nice, conflicts were resolved quickly, cleanly, and without much aftermath. It just feels too cozy, too safe, and somewhat patronizing in the "can't we all just be friends and love each other, no mat ...more

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Aug 31, 2015 Paul rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Updated 2018 review:
Rescored back to a 4, haha. You can see my video review of this updated score here: https://youtu.be/VGGNUciKDlw

Original 2015 review:
*Rescored from a 4 to a 3. This book has not sat with me well since I finished it. I feel that this is a weak narrative that was covered up by social commentary that was over the top sentimental.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers was one of my most anticipated reads this year. Other people’s opinions that I value highly, pr ...more

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Sep 21, 2017 Seán rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Had a long review typed out and this stupid laptop deleted it. So the short version:

I enjoyed it, likeable characters with depth, interesting world-building, some initial annoying 'in-your-face-quirkiness' that is worth sticking out, no real plot but that's not the point, chapters almost like short stories focusing on an individual race/character - is basically 'the crew member downtime missions in Mass Effect' in book form.

Recommend reading it after a heavier series and come in with a relaxed a ...more

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Aug 06, 2017 Kevin rated it it was amazing

4.5 stars. Really enjoyable read with great characters.

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Nov 14, 2015 G.R. Matthews rated it really liked it

It is an enjoyable, character fuelled story set in a well realised universe.

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Mar 28, 2017 Dee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: hijinks, sci-fi, 2015

This was a delightful, thoughtful, thought-provoking exploration of a bunch of very varied people - and the correspondingly varied issues that attend their personhood. Not necessarily for everyone, because the strictly Conflict-Related-Events are pretty few and far between, and not necessarily linked up into a chain of Proper Plot. This one is about 150% concerned with its characters and questions of what defines humanity (distinct, in this book, from Humanity, in a way that I found absolutely d ...more

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Sep 03, 2015 Ian Marchant rated it really liked it

Struggled at the start with this. Not sure what changed but sometime in the second two thirds maybe, I found that I needed to keep on going and going. Loved it in the end and it was really one of those where I wanted there to be a second and third part.

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Aug 22, 2016 Jason McDonald rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016

Well, when I picked up this book, I didn't know what to expect. I had read quite a few reviews last year, when the book was getting praise, and honestly forgot about it after that. Life gets in the way of books sometimes. Fast forward a few months, and I started to read the book after remembering that I have it. Well, it took me a while to get into the story, because I thought it was weirdly written.
It kept doing this jumping around, both in time and through different characters.

And honestly, ...more

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May 16, 2016 Jeni rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sci-fi, read-in-2016

Loved this.

A real fun mix of characters aboard the spaceship 'Wayfarer' have a very eventful year.

The book is a quick, easy read and, there are no huge chunks of overly technical science-y stuff to wade through - all the info that is necessary is imparted conversationally and is very simply explained.
There is a wide range of fascinating alien races encountered along the way, and the interactions between them and the crew - some of whom are also alien - provide some of the more suspenseful mom ...more

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