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montoyacat's review against another edition
5.0
I changed my rating from 4 to 5 stars, because I realized that even though this book reminded me of a tv show I loved the characters and how they interacted with each other!
thetbrstack's review against another edition
3.0
A fun book that's an exploration of the foibles and frustrations of humans -- and to a larger extent, all sentient beings.
pratimav's review against another edition
4.5
4.5 stars
This book leads with a cozy, found family premise, and it concludes with some emotional gut punches, but still manages to stay hopeful. I really loved it as a whole.
This book leads with a cozy, found family premise, and it concludes with some emotional gut punches, but still manages to stay hopeful. I really loved it as a whole.
mmrachelmm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
The coziest, most comforting sci fi I’ve ever read.
marsius's review against another edition
5.0
Less of a novel than a series of vignettes, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet reads in many ways like a mid-2000s television season. There is a sort of overarching narrative, but it's mostly self-contained episodes featuring an ensemble cast that advance the backing story a couple degrees with each tale. The thing is, that ensemble cast is fantastic. Becky Chambers may not have written a particularly compelling overarching narrative, but she writes incredible characters and built a lovely, complex, and interconnected universe.
The characters alone are worth the read. Chambers writes fantastic female characters (in large part by sticking to the simple truth that women are people) full of agency and complexity, and she does so without ever seeming pushy or in a way that seems like she's giving her male characters the short shrift. She's built a universe necessarily built around tolerance because you can't really work together in a multispecies coalition if you're ruled by prejudice. The characters acknowledge each others differences and acknowledge when their reactions are perhaps not ideal. Queer characters and culture abound, and there is clearly a well thought-out, well developed universe in Chambers's head.
It is perhaps a bit too feel-good of science fiction. It honestly should be saccharine and not great, but there is something compelling in this world and in these characters that manages to hold it together even as it swings the pedestal perhaps too far into the happy side. Even so, I am very much looking forward to reading more of Chambers's work. The characters development and world building alone make it absolutely worth the investment. And if some network wants to throw a few million at Chambers to make a miniseries, I'd be all the happier for it.
The characters alone are worth the read. Chambers writes fantastic female characters (in large part by sticking to the simple truth that women are people) full of agency and complexity, and she does so without ever seeming pushy or in a way that seems like she's giving her male characters the short shrift. She's built a universe necessarily built around tolerance because you can't really work together in a multispecies coalition if you're ruled by prejudice. The characters acknowledge each others differences and acknowledge when their reactions are perhaps not ideal. Queer characters and culture abound, and there is clearly a well thought-out, well developed universe in Chambers's head.
It is perhaps a bit too feel-good of science fiction. It honestly should be saccharine and not great, but there is something compelling in this world and in these characters that manages to hold it together even as it swings the pedestal perhaps too far into the happy side. Even so, I am very much looking forward to reading more of Chambers's work. The characters development and world building alone make it absolutely worth the investment. And if some network wants to throw a few million at Chambers to make a miniseries, I'd be all the happier for it.
gnaxx's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
5.0
rajs's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book. If I had to tell you what it was about, I would go with "inter-species relationships". It starts out a little slow, as you're introduced to the crew of the Wayfarer, but then the second half of the book kind of jumps from one event to the next. I may read the next book in the series eventually, but it's not at the top of my list.
jonnypw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
3.5
americantangerine's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
5.0