The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

- Becky Chambers

GOODREADS BLURB:

Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space—and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe—in this light-hearted debut space opera from a rising sci-fi star.

Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. An introspective young woman who learned early to keep to herself, she’s never met anyone remotely like the ship’s diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain.

Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy—exactly what Rosemary wants. It’s also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn’t part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary’s got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs—an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the universe.

SERIES / GENRES:

FIRST WORDS:

As she woke up in the pod, she remembered three things. First, she was traveling through open space. Second, she was about to start a new job, one she could not screw up. Third, she had bribed a government official into giving her a new identity file. None of this information was new, but it wasn’t pleasant to wake up to.

MY REVIEW:

enjoyable/easy to read:
3.5/5

All you can do, Rosemary – all any of us can do – is work to be something positive instead. That is a choice that every sapient must make every day of their life. The universe is what we make of it. It’s up to you to decide what part you will play.

I really enjoyed The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; it felt like a character study of the different species in this futuristic galaxy. Sure, there was a background plot moving along the whole time, but the story was much more focused on the characters, their interactions, and their respective species.

There were so many characters, not to mention different species, that I struggled at times to keep them straight. However, as I got to know the characters and their unique attributes, I found myself incredibly invested in their personal struggles.

My heart broke for Jenks and Lovey in the end, which surprised me. I hadn’t realised I was so invested in their relationship.

Becky Chambers has created a vibrant and exciting world that I want to keep exploring. Looking ahead in the Wayfarers series, it appears to be standalone books set within the same world with characters who have a connection to those on the Wayfarer. While I would have loved to stay on the Wayfarer and follow this cast, I'm just glad there are more books to read here.

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