Reviews

To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers

jaina8851's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective 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

WOW this was incredible!!! I just absolutely loved so much about this. There were so many unique ideas in here about space exploration that I've never heard of before. The tone was a flawless blend of hopeful and mournful, bittersweetly reflective and awe-inspiring. In one of those delightful "reading serendipity" coincidences, I just read "Paradises Lost" by Ursula K LeGuin's Birthday of the World a couple of weeks ago, and it was a genuine delight to compare and contrast these stories while I read this one. I'm grateful to the *multiple* friends who told me I had to read this one, because it was so, so good.

miss_majuu's review against another edition

5.0

«I'm an observer, not a conqueror. I have no interest in changing another world to suit me. I choose the lighter touch: changing myself to suit them.»


Becky Chambers doing it again. Damn. I just love this niche of science fiction she does. Everything about it is amazing and I can't wait to see what she does in the future. Especially love how casually all the representation is mentioned, it just warms my heart.
Again the entire look on the human race and its development was perfection.
The entire concept of being addressed by the main character also was incredible clever.

sjstuart's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective slow-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

4.0

Coming to this having read A Psalm for the Wild-Built, I knew to expect a cozy vibe and support-class main characters who are unfailingly reasonable while trying to work out their own issues. Still, it was still a nice surprise to see that aggressively positive stance in a more sharp-edged sci-fi setting, with cold sleep and hard vacuum and interstellar isolation.

Bonus points because it is basically a love letter to pure science.

artist_lace's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

awoodenbird's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

megang519's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

selenatothemax's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful 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

4.25

romato's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

jessld's review against another edition

adventurous reflective fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

kdahlo's review against another edition

5.0

I loved the biology in this book, and I thought the scientist POV felt true to life. Short and thoughtful little book.