Series: Wayfarers by Becky Chambers ("Record of a Spaceborn Few")

[Melanie, the neutral party]

It hasn't been released in the US yet. But I plan to read when I can.

[Anna]

Oh right, I always forget that tiny detail :S US release seems to be April, I doubt I'll be able to wait that long.

I'll read it when I feel like it, and make a random comment here months before (or after) others read it, so it'll be exactly the same as if I was "buddy reading" it XD

[Jacqueline]

It was released in Australia last Tuesday. I picked it up yesterday and am going to read it after I have reminded myself of who is actually in the Wayfarers crew so I can get into this a bit easier. Looks like my copy of number 1 is at the farm and I won’t be back there until Monday so it will have to wait I suppose.

[Amanda]

Jacqueline wrote: "It was released in Australia last Tuesday. I picked it up yesterday and am going to read it after I have reminded myself of who is actually in the Wayfarers crew so I can get into this a bit easier..."

Each of the other books so far has focused on a different set of characters, just in the same world, and this one appears to be the same, so unless you want a refresher on the worldbuilding you can probably jump right in.

[Jacqueline]

Yeah they’re set in the same world in a different place with different characters but they are all connected to the Wayfarers crew in some way or other. Record of a Spaceborn Few was Ashby’s family in the Exodus fleet. Closed and Common Orbit was, of course, the continuing story of the Wayfarers AI. I need to remind myself of the Wayfarers crew to be able to understand the link between this one and the original one. Yes they’re all pretty much stand alone but they are still connected.

[Anna]

I think, based on the chapter headers, that the familiar face here is Pei. We meet her first in book one, as Ashby's lover. She is Aeluon, and that makes me squee thinking maybe we'll finally make a deep dive into that culture? I've been wanting that since book one.

I could be wrong, I don't think I've even read the blurb, because I don't need to :)

[Jacqueline]

Thanks Anna. I’m pretty sure I remember Pei.

[Joon]

I read the first book a few years ago but I'll be reading it and the rest of the series over the next couple months.

[Anna]

Well I started #4 and:


- no rereading of previous books is necessary (tho I wouldn't start here, you still need to have a basic understanding of the world)

- it is indeed Pei who is the previously known character, but there are also a bunch of other POVs, so it's like #3 in that sense

- there is a hilarious discussion about cheese, and so far I'm having a lovely time chilling with it :) (the book, not cheese)

[Jacqueline]

I am currently in the middle of listening to The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet and I am enjoying it more and more. I have a few in the car but this one just caught my eye and I put it on when I was stuck in the car for 8 hours on Good Friday. Didn’t want to think too much. I loved it when I eye read it but this has taken it up another level. Every time I get in the car and go shopping or wherever I leave it running just a little bit longer so I can listen to more of the story.

I’m going to get to number 4 when I get home later this week (hopefully after I finish The Last Emperox) but this has been like stepping into a warm bath. So familiar but I am discovering new bits I’ve forgotten or just glossed over. I’m going to have to find books 2 and 3 on audiobook too.

[Melanie, the neutral party]

The latest episode of Imaginary Worlds is an AMAZING interview with Becky Chambers: https://www.imaginaryworldspodcast.or...