Reviews

The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers

metasarah's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

1millioncats's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

enbylievable's review against another edition

5.0

Truly the best ending I could have asked for for the Wayfarers series. It makes me sad that the series is over, but I know that no matter what Chambers comes out with next, I'll be first in line to dive in. Truly, the Wayfarers series has provided me with some of the best sci-fi I've ever read. Written by a queer author, these books check all the boxes: super cool alien species with rich histories and customs; amazingly written, queer, intersectional characters; complex relationships and dynamics; and best of all, just an incredibly good time. For any person out there who is thinking, "man, I wish there were sci-fi books out there not written by old white dudes who don't know how to portray women. I wish I had a sci-fi book with dreamy queer aliens that I could actually get into", these books are for you. Special shoutout to my friends at Lethbridge Public Library, Paige and Elisabeth, for introducing me!

thepaperbackplanner's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

This book takes place in, of all locations, what’s basically a space truck stop. I could not love it any more. The descriptions of said truck stop, what happens on and around this planet, and the characters who stopped by made me so nostalgic for past road trips and excited for future ones. But the thing I love the most about space stories that take place in a future full of alien species is just how dang human it all is. The Galaxy and the Ground Within is a book about members of a group grappling with their differences and learning more about themselves in the process. It was beautiful, funny, heartbreaking, and heartwarming all at once. This series brings me joy and hope even in times when the future feels as dark and frightening as the depths of space. I’ve followed this story from a wormhole-punching ship held together with duct tape and dreams to stations where generations of people have lived to far-flung planets to, finally, the Five-Hop One-Stop. And while I would follow it wherever it led, I’m thrilled that it ended when, how, and especially where it did. 

potplant's review against another edition

"Feeling guilty...was the least productive reaction. The only proper way to approach such inequities was to figure out the best way to wield them." 

Despite the intimate setting I wasn't bored for a second. This was deeply heartwarming to read during Covid_19. 

sweetmaples's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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? Yes

4.0

kkontraproduktiv's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

jess_mango's review against another edition

4.0

Gora is a pretty unremarkable planet. It is basically a rock with no water or air. It is a sort of rest stop on the way to somewhere else. The Five-Hop-One-Stop is a rest station on Gora where you can get food or fuel and take a break from driving your ship. It is run by an alien mom and her child. After an incident traps a group of strangers on the planet, they are forced to get to know each other. They come from various species, backgrounds etc.

This is the sort of laid-back, contemplative sci-fi that I've come to expect from Becky Chamber's Wayfarer's series. Here we don't have TOO much going on, just a lot of conversations and thoughts. Different people, different beliefs that all come to understand each other a little more after being forced to spend time together. As usual there are aspects of sexuality and gender that play a part in the story that Chambers is telling. This is inclusive, feel-good fiction at its best.

What to listen to while reading...
Alien Days by MGMT
Habits (Hippie Sabotage Remix) by Tove Lo
Breathless by Caroline Polachek
home with you by FKA Twigs
Feeling Lonely by boy pablo
Horizons by Surfaces

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!

lorendia's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? No

4.0

Sometimes the metaphor seemed heavy-handed, but who can’t love a story about 4 species connecting for a short time at a planetary truck stop? Ouloo is the cut from the same cloth as Dex (the Monk) from the Monk & Robit Series, and Becky Chambers helps us see the power of connection, curiosity, and welcoming all. 

awoodenbird's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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? It's complicated

5.0