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switchywitchsitch's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Freaking excellent. Visionary and creative. The ending (no spoilers) is one that has really stuck with me. I need other people to read it and talk to me about it, because I'm still not done processing six months later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Confinement
Moderate: War, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
arantzazureads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Holy shit what did I just read. This was an achingly beautiful, strangely eerie and horrifying gem, something unique I’ve never quite encountered before. It reminded me of Annihilation and The Wanderers at times. Intellectual and reflective without being presumptuous. Fun and funny and sweet without being fluffy or cozy. There were hints of this side of Chambers in the isolation and sadness of the second Wayfarers book but this little jewell is something new entirely. I loved it as an *experience* and I think I’ll be thinking about it for quite some time. Highly recommend the audiobook narration too! As a long-time space exploration lover, this was just perfect.
Content Warnings
Minor: Dysphoria, Confinement, and Suicidal thoughts
ijustreallyliketrees's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, and Suicide attempt
beccaand's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Becky Chamber's writing is always such a treat. And 100% would've wanted to grow up to be Ariadne when I was a kid.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Grief
Minor: War, Medical content, Sexual content, and Death
librarymouse's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I am filled with existential anxiety, but I adore the crew of the Merian. Ariadne is a fun narrator, Elena and Jack add necessary tension, and Chikondi is easy to love. The amorous dynamics of the crew are really neat, and I love how they differ from humanity as it is now. Collectivism and honoring the goals, sacrifices, and ethos of the organization they've loved and believe in overall is a fantastic way to tie up a thought provoking story.
This concept could have easily sent me down a panic spiral, but the groundedness of the crew and their tender and sincere humanity makes this story as comfortable as it can be, given the circumstances.
This concept could have easily sent me down a panic spiral, but the groundedness of the crew and their tender and sincere humanity makes this story as comfortable as it can be, given the circumstances.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Animal death, Confinement, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
catherinedsharp's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I did enjoy this book but it wasn’t anything that shone out to me, like other books I have read by Becky Chambers.
It presents you with beautiful descriptions, scientific explanation for any person and philosophical questions that will keep you thinking after reading.
However, it wasn’t much else; the entire point is to provide the reader with questions in my opinion.
To conclude, I did enjoy it but it wasn’t anything hugely special.
It presents you with beautiful descriptions, scientific explanation for any person and philosophical questions that will keep you thinking after reading.
However, it wasn’t much else; the entire point is to provide the reader with questions in my opinion.
To conclude, I did enjoy it but it wasn’t anything hugely special.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Confinement
marlandreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, and Animal death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Grief, and Death
ktkeps's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, and Confinement
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I didn’t know what to expect from the blurb, but I think going in blind and letting the story unfold before you is the perfect way to experience this book. This is the kind of book that reminds me why I love scifi.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Confinement
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual content
maeverose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This was so fun. Now I just wanna go visit other planets… science can you advance a little faster pls?
TL;DR — Themes/Features:
-s c i e n c e
-planet exploration
-little alien creatures
-discussions on humanity
-lgbtq rep (ace, bi/pan, trans)
-non monogamous relationship
This is a book about humanity, our relationship to science, and as always with Becky Chamber’s books it touches a bit on politics and ethics, which I love.
It’s also a book about a group of astronauts looking for and studying life on other planets. Lots of descriptions of different kinds of environments and the creatures that live there.
If you’re a space or biology nerd I think you’d love this book. It has a decent focus on the science, definitely more than Becky Chamber’s other books. On the other hand it’s not inaccessible on that front either. I’m fascinated by science but not very knowledgeable on it and I understood everything perfectly fine. It’s explained in a very accessible way.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“We walked for a time, our footsteps echoing in all directions. Had there been such echoes in this canyon before? I wondered. Was the air here accustomed to carrying sounds beyond those it created on it’s own?”
(On leaving no trace:)
“What if the exact place where your craft landed is where two bacteria of separate species met for the first time, and what if their meeting would have resulted in a symbiosis that would have led to the emergence of a new species, and you, you bastard, just wiped out that entire reality?”
(Followed a moment later by:)
“At some point, you have to accept the fact that any movement creates waves, and the only other option is to lie still and learn nothing.”
“The walls were made of thick glass, and behind it was the dense network you find below every forest. Roots interlocking like fingers, with gossamer fungus sprawled symbiotically between, allowing for the peaceful exchange of carbon and nutrients. Worms traversed roads of their own making. Pockets of water and pebbles decorated the scene. This is what a forest is, after all. Don’t believe the lie of individual trees, each a monument to it’s own self-made success. A forest is an interdependent community. Resources are shared, and life in isolation is a death sentence.”
TL;DR — Themes/Features:
-s c i e n c e
-planet exploration
-little alien creatures
-discussions on humanity
-lgbtq rep (ace, bi/pan, trans)
-non monogamous relationship
This is a book about humanity, our relationship to science, and as always with Becky Chamber’s books it touches a bit on politics and ethics, which I love.
It’s also a book about a group of astronauts looking for and studying life on other planets. Lots of descriptions of different kinds of environments and the creatures that live there.
If you’re a space or biology nerd I think you’d love this book. It has a decent focus on the science, definitely more than Becky Chamber’s other books. On the other hand it’s not inaccessible on that front either. I’m fascinated by science but not very knowledgeable on it and I understood everything perfectly fine. It’s explained in a very accessible way.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“We walked for a time, our footsteps echoing in all directions. Had there been such echoes in this canyon before? I wondered. Was the air here accustomed to carrying sounds beyond those it created on it’s own?”
(On leaving no trace:)
“What if the exact place where your craft landed is where two bacteria of separate species met for the first time, and what if their meeting would have resulted in a symbiosis that would have led to the emergence of a new species, and you, you bastard, just wiped out that entire reality?”
(Followed a moment later by:)
“At some point, you have to accept the fact that any movement creates waves, and the only other option is to lie still and learn nothing.”
“The walls were made of thick glass, and behind it was the dense network you find below every forest. Roots interlocking like fingers, with gossamer fungus sprawled symbiotically between, allowing for the peaceful exchange of carbon and nutrients. Worms traversed roads of their own making. Pockets of water and pebbles decorated the scene. This is what a forest is, after all. Don’t believe the lie of individual trees, each a monument to it’s own self-made success. A forest is an interdependent community. Resources are shared, and life in isolation is a death sentence.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Confinement
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Cursing, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, Blood, and Medical content
Detailed descriptions of moth metamorphosis, descriptions of animal and human internal anatomy in a scientific way (I didn’t find it to be gory, and I really don’t like gore so it’s probably fine but it’s there jsyk)