[poll ]The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers, 4.5 stars

[NancyJ]

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is a great book for those of us who need a little escape from the outside world right now. It's fun, smart and thought provoking. This is an entertaining sci-fi story about the multi-species crew of a space ship that bores wormhole tunnels to speed travel between planets. (This book reminds me a little of the show/movie Firefly, with the lively characters, and the patched up ship. Though, this group does more respectable work.)

The Wayfarer crew included sapiens from 4 different planets. I liked the way the author described the alien's sapien's (humans are the aliens) characteristics and cultures. These multi-species characters add a lot of depth to the novel. I love the social science topics that are wound through the book. It was fun to recognize ideas from areas such as psychology, cultural diversity, values, ethics, organizational behavior, anthropology and gender politics. The gender and sexuality differences were really interesting and unique. The discussion of pronouns - he, she, they - might make you smile (or irritate you) if you've participated in similar discussions of the correct pronouns for trans individuals.

The newest employee on the ship, Rosemary, got her job partially because of strong recommendations from her inter-species relations professor. I imagine that the author, Becky Chambers also received high grades in her cultural diversity and social science courses. I love how the author applied her knowledge to create a rich universe with interesting creatures/sapiens from different planets. Rosemary also earned a lot of respect from the crew for the way she handled it when the ship was attacked by desperate bandits. Her knowledge of their culture helped her figure out the right approach to deal with them and avoid any more violence. She helped them get what they really needed, and in exchange they left the crew enough food and fuel to make it to their next destination. (Win-win, integrative bargaining.)

I also liked the AI character, who becomes a main character in the next book in the series, A Closed and Common Orbit. I really loved that book. I read book #2 first, which didn't spoil book #1. Book #1 has more action (and characters), while book 2 is more intimate and personal.

[NancyJ]

I hope you love it!

[Hebah]

I'm so excited for everyone getting to read this for the first time right now. It's a book that I describe as a warm hug of a read, and I can't think of a better time for it.

[Michael]

Lovely review. You captured the charm of the social richness of a multi-species microscosm abord the ship. The affinity with Firefly. As a fan of space opera, I just wish there was a bit more action and adventure in the plot. But I will take your word on volume 2 and pursue the next one.

[annapi]

I am thrilled at the love being showered on this book! I won a copy in a contest, but I never cracked the book open until I started seeing great reviews on it, and then I fell in love with it. The second book is so different from the first, but excellent in its own way, and the third is different again but still very good. I love Chambers's diverse writing.

[NancyJ]

Michael I should warn you that book two has less adventure, and it doesn’t take place on the ship. It takes place planet side, and focuses on two relatively minor characters from book one. I really loved the AI character who is now in a body.