Reviews

Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers

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notainsleym's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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? Yes

4.0

Once again, Becky Chambers has introduced us to a whole ensemble of characters who are all loveable and relatable. I’m not normally one for stories like this, where they bounce back and forth on POVs and no one is fully connected to each other, but this kept me interested the whole time. And we did have a very nice over arching theme of questioning our purpose in the universe.

readingbrocks's review against another edition

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adventurous informative 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

3.5

mackle13's review against another edition

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emotional 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? It's complicated

3.0

As with the other Wayfarer books, this is a "slice of life, but in space" type book. I did enjoy it, overall, though it was a bit slow in the beginning, as there didn't seem to be much in the way that was tying the different perspectives together into a larger story, but things did come together at around the halfway point or so. Maybe a little later.

Whereas other books, the first book especially, introduced you to a space crew of varying species, and it was more about meeting and interacting with the different species, this books focuses mostly on Exodans - i.e. Humans. The only real interaction with aliens comes from one source, and also from some talking about other species, but there's really only one non-human we 'meet' in the story.

For the most part, this is a story about the diaspora. About the ways that people hold on to their old ways and customs, and the ways they let go of them. About the disagreement between these types of people, and the effects that these have on the culture as a whole, and the individuals within it.

It doesn't really offer any overarching opinion on this, or solutions, or anything. It's just like - this is a thing that happens when people leave their places behind, and this is how different people deal with it differently.

So, like I said, slice of life, but in space, dealing with the diaspora.

The characters were mostly interesting, and the speculation about how humans might act in a distant future of space travel and aliens was pretty cool.

The first in the series is still my favorite, though.

geminidragonbadger's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.75

dreamingofspaceships's review against another edition

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5.0

A stellar addition to the Wayfarers series. Becky Chambers' writing is touching and everyone is just... so kind. This is the kind of book you would want to read after a rough day or in the pangs of ennui or when you just want something nice and comforting to read. The best non-Wayfarers example that is similar to this I can think of is Katherine Addison's The Goblin Emperor.

(Also, we get a tiny glimpse of the actual Wayfarer crew from TLWTASAP, which alone is enough reason to start reading this book.)

dawngerrity's review against another edition

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Love this. Just overwhelmed by life and other books. Hope to get back to this this winter.

lncastle's review against another edition

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4.0

This is very different from the previous two Wayfarers books. I didn't like it as much, mainly due to some structural issues e.g. the lack of an overarching, interweaving narrative to tie all of the POV stories together. I felt "Record..." would have made more sense as a collection of short stories rather than as a novel made up of different POVs. This formula worked really well in the other two instalments where characters were located in the same world, but the third book needed a different approach.

Obviously, I didn't hate "Record..." and in fact I liked it a lot. I love the rich and diverse world Chambers has created. I love the themes she explores, and her writing is so full of warmth and just absolutely beautiful. I get that this book is not really meant to be punchy; it's meant to be reflective, quiet. It's about everyday people exploring what it means to be human in a world that is changing politically, environmentally, economically and socially. Not my favourite, but definitely still worth a read.