The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, A Closed and Common Orbit, and Record of a Spaceborn Few

[La Crosse]

Aliens are a draw to many science fiction readers. Creative descriptions about alien appearance and function foster a whole appreciation of certain authors over others. Becky Chambers enters a new range with her description of the early childhoods, reproductive, gender and sexual behavior, and family and social structure of aliens and space communities. For example the Aeluons have feathers and color patches to indicate emotion, and raise their young communally and live in flocks. The attachments humans have to their children are therefore difficult for them to understand. They also periodically moult-beware humans!

The author enriches her space environment with descriptions of leisure activities like a pseudo roller coaster space ship ride, and teen rebellion aboard a spaceship. How does that work out?

What kind of crime occurs in space and why? A young, inexperienced, off-world human comes to the space community seeking adventure and endangers himself and others by opening the door to a sealed room. How are the people responsible caught and punished?

What is the economic basis for a space community where food and homes are provided? What is the common coin? How do other cultures fit in to this system?

The personal and social detail creates a unique, fully-formed world for readers to imagine and enjoy.