From the Bookshelf of Apocalypse Whenever…

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1)

Becky Chambers

Start date: July 15, 2020

Finish date: August 1, 2020

Discussion: AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

Discussion leader: Gertie

Why we're reading this: Read anytime, discussion opens August 1st. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...…more
[close] Read anytime, discussion opens August 1st. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

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AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

* What is a good book for AW discussion? (Nominations pool)
By Gertie · 65 posts · 218 views

last updated Oct 18, 2025 05:31PM

* AW Book Club: what we've read
By Gertie · 16 posts · 1826 views

last updated Dec 10, 2019 09:01AM

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What Members Thought

Jun 12, 2015 Michael Logan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

I never thought I would find myself applying the word 'sweet' to a sci-fi epic, but it's honestly the most fitting word for The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. This is, in the sense of delightful, the sweetest book I've ever read.

Don't come into this expecting much in the way of plot. It's all about the characters, each of whom I grew to love. It's a book about being human, if you include various weird and wonderful aliens as human. It's a book about family, friendship, love, lust, sex, and g ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Apr 08, 2016 Christina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: dragons-jetpacks-bc, sf-fantasy-book-club-challenge-2016, 2016, dc-marvel-challenge-2016

Review to come...

4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 22, 2024 🥀 Rose 🥀 rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, space-opera

This was a very different kind of read in terms of being “science fiction”. It leans heavily into space opera and perhaps cozy? I mean it’s such a sweet and rather kind story, feels like warm chocolate next to a fire kind of story.

Our journey takes us into the galaxy where many different species live in harmony and on the Wayfarer, a ship designed to tunnel holes through space is much like a crew like the enterprise on Star Trek. Which is where this story actually relies on, characters. Not much ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 19, 2016 Esther rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, author-female, zz-2016, science-fiction, space-otherworld

This book was recommended to me as similar to Joss Whedon's Firefly. Do I agree? Mmm sort of…
Kizzy the tech could definitely be a character from the Mutant Enemy universe and there was a certain familiarity about the ensemble.
But no one would ever accuse the Wayfarer's crew of 'aiming to misbehave'. They aimed to be nice, friendly and accepting and to eat tasty meals together, which is all very admirable but just a tad boring!

There were some great aliens and good ideas but this was accompanied ...more

1 like · Like · see review