The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

[anarresa]

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
By Becky Chambers
4 stars

When I read a review for this book my first thought was “Star Trek” and I was happy to go pick it up. Now that I am finished it’s more like a mix of “Farscape” and “Firefly”, but unique, and I am delighted I read it.

In the imprecise future a lovingly maintained old ship builds wormholes of moderate size and complexity, earning its crew a steady income. The crew has been a team for years, with all the love and conflict that goes into living with your co-workers. To get some extra contracts, and take some paperwork off his shoulders, the captain hires a certified clerk, Rosemary, and the reader is introduced to the crew and all of space through her land-locked Martian eyes. Rosemary is not the only character, perhaps not even the main character. Everyone on the ship has their own story, from the AI Lovey, the paired Navigator Ohan, the lizard-like pilot Sissix, the fantastic and strange doctor-chef Dr. Chef and the humans from nearly as varied backgrounds, captain Ashby, kooky mechanic Kizzy, wild computer tech Jenks and dour algaeist Corbin. In this novel some are more prominent than others but if Chambers continues writing books in this universe (and I’m sure she will) I have no doubt we will learn more about them all. There is plenty of space adventure in the book as well. The crew is on a long but lucrative mission to the unfamiliar Core and encounters several mechanical and personnel troubles on the way.

[annapi]

I have this in my TBR and your review is encouraging me to pick it up soon! Especially the reference to Firefly, my favorite TV series/movie!