April: The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet

[Anita]

This month's sci-fi read is The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers.

Somewhere within our crowded sky, a crew of wormhole builders hops from planet to planet, on their way to the job of a lifetime. To the galaxy at large, humanity is a minor species, and one patched-up construction vessel is a mere speck on the starchart. This is an everyday sort of ship, just trying to get from here to there.

But all voyages leave their mark, and even the most ordinary of people have stories worth telling. A young Martian woman, hoping the vastness of space will put some distance between herself and the life she‘s left behind. An alien pilot, navigating life without her own kind. A pacifist captain, awaiting the return of a loved one at war.

Set against a backdrop of curious cultures and distant worlds, this episodic tale weaves together the adventures of nine eclectic characters, each on a journey of their own.

Let us know if you're reading this with us this month, or if you're one of the many fans (perhaps already reading book 2?) What do you think about this sci-fi story?

[Anita]

Just started this last night and it was easy to fall in to. Really just getting to know the crew of the Wayfarer right now, but there seems to be a great amount of character development for all of them.

[Anita]

I Want this book to go on forever. Seriously, Sci-Fi fans should mark this as a necessary read. I've seen it likened to Firefly and it annoyed me but when i read, I see this book played out as an amazing tv series that I would love forever. Surprisingly though (!) the least developed character - I'm roughly 350 pages in - is CAPTAIN Ashby. weird. least amount of personal back story so far. I hope some of you pick this up this month, it's really good

[Ribbon]

My husband and I are both working our ways through the audiobook while commuting. Audible keeps asking if we want to sync with each other. Noooo!

It took a bit to stop my mind from trying to match up characters to Firefly and other sci fi characters. The book being pitched with Firefly comparisons got me started. But they all prove themselves to be their own characters. I imagine Doctor Chef and the navigator as Farscape style muppets.

[Anita]

ha Rachel I know exactly what you mean. The Firefly references had my mind projecting visuals, and even by the end I still couldn't shake a couple characters of their Firefly counterparts in my mind, and I imagined Navigator as one of those Mystics from the Dark Crystal lol.

I really enjoyed it, and got the comparison to Firefly as a hopeful plea for a tv show. I totally read it like one, I could see the different "episodes" and everything in the way the story is told with little encounters and such along the way.

[Calvey]

Just starting...Not often I can finish a book in time to start one of the monthlies. Looking forward to it.

[Jessica]

I really enjoyed this book and definitely want to read the next one. Thanks for making me branch out and add a little outer space adventure to my life :)

[Calvey]

I enjoyed the book, thought it was a great start to a series. Hopefully she will continue with more books and characters from the Wayfarer

Good pick!

[Alexander]

I somehow missed that this was the book last month, but by pure coincidence I did just read it! It's a delightful book.

I loved the way it was structured, it definitely feels like a TV series. There's a loose overarching story, with short stories fitting into the frame giving each character some screen time. It reads really well.

[Eujean2]

For those who mentioned they want another book, you are in luck! The 2nd book in the series is not a direct sequel, but does take place in the same universe. It's planned as one of my summer reads: A Closed and Common Orbit (It also looks like there is a 3rd in the series planned for next year.)

[Ribbon]

I did not enjoy A Closed and Common Orbit nearly as much. It alternates between two stories but they don't mesh or contrast very well. There's no physical journey through the universe like the first book either. Still lots of social commentary and philosophical questions.

I didn't dislike it but I'm not likely to reread it, which I probably would reread the first. I'll have my eye out for the eventual third in the series.