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4.46 AVERAGE
4.46 AVERAGE
Really charming. Perhaps the most similar the first book in the series, and I think you can really see the improvements in the writing. Just tighter, more assured, trusts the reader more. I still think Monk and Robot is a whole step above, but you can really see in the series how she got from here to there.
As readers of the series might expect, the last of the four Wayfarers novels does nothing to tie up any loose ends in Becky Chambers' little pocket of colonised space. The Galaxy and the Ground Within once again grants us a peek at a disparate group of space-faring folks in the Galactic Commons, compelled to bond and fracture in the wake of events beyond their control. We leave their company with their choices sending their own ripples out into the universe.
But this fourth entry definitely represents a culmination of sorts, at least for me - it's here that I think Chambers finally refines her chosen multiple-protagonist format with a degree of polish missing from A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. The plot here feels a lot tighter, closer to A Closed and Common Orbit even though there are twice as many viewpoints to contend with as Chambers' second entry.
I wasn't a huge fan of the human-centric perspectives of the third book, Record of a Spaceborn Few - in a universe full of diverse cultures, it felt a bit limiting to re-tread familiar dramas aboard human lifeships escaping a dying Earth. Happily, for those that agree with me, Galaxy pivots entirely away from humanity and brings in sapient species that we've spent very little time with. The only familiar character is Pei, the daring Aeluon supply-runner and Ashby's romantic interest from the first book. Being the most human-adjacent, Pei is perhaps the audience's surrogate in a story that brings some of the fringe species into the spotlight. The long-necked, goofy-sounding Laru are represented by a planet-side motel owner and her adolescent child, who together look after Pei after an incident cuts off travel and communication. Joining them are an exiled political dissident of the ultra-conservative and insect-like Quelin, and a rare diplomat - of sorts - from the notoriously piratical Akarak species, last seen terrifying the crew of the Wayfarer back in the first tale.
It seems like Chambers really wanted to flex some socio-political ponderings here by giving voice to species that have already been established as marginalised, or at least on the fringe of society. There are easy parallels to be made between the rebel Quelin and political dissidents from many real-world states imposing intense ideological restrictions. The Akarak gives us some poignant reflections of a culture forced into a nomadic life by ancient war, only for their nomadic life and divergent biology to be considered incompatible in modern, bureaucratic peace. In Pei we have the thorny perspective of a culture relying on their own difficult history of survival to justify their colonialist tendencies in the present.
As with the vast majority of Chambers' storytelling, the only antagonist is circumstance and coincidence, with ethical arguments and cultural misunderstandings rippling out into a local crisis that the group must contend with together. Chambers is more careful than ever to present no heroes or villains among these disparate cultures - each makes wince-worthy mistakes while trying to communicate, but each also makes important counterpoints to another's rhetoric. Ultimately, each gives and receives moments of kindness and perspective, that expand out into larger stories of potential social change that we are left to imagine.
The appeal of Chambers' work is her ability to weave strands of communal hope out of small, relatable stories - something for us as readers to hold onto, a welcome salve in an overwhelming time of seemingly insurmountable ethical crises. She reminds us of the possibilities of real positive change rippling out from simple choices to be kind within the communities we make, or that we are forced into by our circumstances. Sure, it's a little saccharine at times - if you found any of Chambers' preceding titles cloying, the fourth book is not going to change your mind. But if you like a dash of hope in your genre fiction, and you like sci-fi that focuses on relatable relationships more than mind-boggling technological concepts, you could do a lot worse than the Wayfarers series. This is my tied favourite of the quartet, along with A Closed and Common Orbit.
PS: If you haven't read any Chambers before, I strongly recommend you read the first book in the series before selecting from the rest - although each book is standalone, A Long Way sets up a lot of the core elements of the Wayfarers universe that make reading the rest a little smoother. That said, I believe The Galaxy and the Ground Within stands on its own as a sweet and engaging story of strangers thrown together by circumstance.
But this fourth entry definitely represents a culmination of sorts, at least for me - it's here that I think Chambers finally refines her chosen multiple-protagonist format with a degree of polish missing from A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. The plot here feels a lot tighter, closer to A Closed and Common Orbit even though there are twice as many viewpoints to contend with as Chambers' second entry.
I wasn't a huge fan of the human-centric perspectives of the third book, Record of a Spaceborn Few - in a universe full of diverse cultures, it felt a bit limiting to re-tread familiar dramas aboard human lifeships escaping a dying Earth. Happily, for those that agree with me, Galaxy pivots entirely away from humanity and brings in sapient species that we've spent very little time with. The only familiar character is Pei, the daring Aeluon supply-runner and Ashby's romantic interest from the first book. Being the most human-adjacent, Pei is perhaps the audience's surrogate in a story that brings some of the fringe species into the spotlight. The long-necked, goofy-sounding Laru are represented by a planet-side motel owner and her adolescent child, who together look after Pei after an incident cuts off travel and communication. Joining them are an exiled political dissident of the ultra-conservative and insect-like Quelin, and a rare diplomat - of sorts - from the notoriously piratical Akarak species, last seen terrifying the crew of the Wayfarer back in the first tale.
It seems like Chambers really wanted to flex some socio-political ponderings here by giving voice to species that have already been established as marginalised, or at least on the fringe of society. There are easy parallels to be made between the rebel Quelin and political dissidents from many real-world states imposing intense ideological restrictions. The Akarak gives us some poignant reflections of a culture forced into a nomadic life by ancient war, only for their nomadic life and divergent biology to be considered incompatible in modern, bureaucratic peace. In Pei we have the thorny perspective of a culture relying on their own difficult history of survival to justify their colonialist tendencies in the present.
As with the vast majority of Chambers' storytelling, the only antagonist is circumstance and coincidence, with ethical arguments and cultural misunderstandings rippling out into a local crisis that the group must contend with together. Chambers is more careful than ever to present no heroes or villains among these disparate cultures - each makes wince-worthy mistakes while trying to communicate, but each also makes important counterpoints to another's rhetoric. Ultimately, each gives and receives moments of kindness and perspective, that expand out into larger stories of potential social change that we are left to imagine.
The appeal of Chambers' work is her ability to weave strands of communal hope out of small, relatable stories - something for us as readers to hold onto, a welcome salve in an overwhelming time of seemingly insurmountable ethical crises. She reminds us of the possibilities of real positive change rippling out from simple choices to be kind within the communities we make, or that we are forced into by our circumstances. Sure, it's a little saccharine at times - if you found any of Chambers' preceding titles cloying, the fourth book is not going to change your mind. But if you like a dash of hope in your genre fiction, and you like sci-fi that focuses on relatable relationships more than mind-boggling technological concepts, you could do a lot worse than the Wayfarers series. This is my tied favourite of the quartet, along with A Closed and Common Orbit.
PS: If you haven't read any Chambers before, I strongly recommend you read the first book in the series before selecting from the rest - although each book is standalone, A Long Way sets up a lot of the core elements of the Wayfarers universe that make reading the rest a little smoother. That said, I believe The Galaxy and the Ground Within stands on its own as a sweet and engaging story of strangers thrown together by circumstance.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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
This was a lovely finish to this four book series. It absolutely could go into further volumes, and I feel that’s one of the great things about the universe Becky Chambers built here. We can imagine the characters having more adventures, and fabulous opportunities for interspecies politics and finding ways to get along even better. But I’m satisfied that we don’t need further adventures.
There are some wonderful themes about getting along, and about perceptions getting in the way of that. I also thank the author for a great take on gender and on coming out.
There are some wonderful themes about getting along, and about perceptions getting in the way of that. I also thank the author for a great take on gender and on coming out.
I really enjoyed this book. I deducted a tiny bit because the epilogue left out some characters, and there won't be any other books in this universe. I want to know what happened to everyone else!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
adventurous
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:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
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:
Complicated
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within was everything I’ve come to expect from a Becky Chambers book! It was sweet, and full of questions about what it means to be a person, and what community means.
The whole Wayfarers series has been such a delight to read, and the final book was no different. I loved getting to know old characters, new sapient species and people, and another corner of the Galactic Commons. Our five central characters were lovely to read about, and seeing how they impacted each other in their brief time together was really beautiful.
Read The Wayfarers series if you love
🩵 space operas
🩶 multi-species communities
🩵 family in every shape and size
🩶 themes of community and personhood
🩵 slice of life that isn’t low-stakes
I can’t wait to read more from Becky Chambers!
The whole Wayfarers series has been such a delight to read, and the final book was no different. I loved getting to know old characters, new sapient species and people, and another corner of the Galactic Commons. Our five central characters were lovely to read about, and seeing how they impacted each other in their brief time together was really beautiful.
Read The Wayfarers series if you love
🩵 space operas
🩶 multi-species communities
🩵 family in every shape and size
🩶 themes of community and personhood
🩵 slice of life that isn’t low-stakes
I can’t wait to read more from Becky Chambers!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Medical content
Minor: Sexual content, Colonisation, War
Yet another long, comforting hug in book form.
Becky Chambers is a master at crafting societies so utterly different from our own and yet you feel immediately drawn into to their most vulnerable aspects. Each character is a joy, each interaction natural and thought provoking in simple and profound ways. I think these stories are proof that things don’t have to be miserable to glean meaning from the experience.
I cannot wait for more from this author!
Becky Chambers is a master at crafting societies so utterly different from our own and yet you feel immediately drawn into to their most vulnerable aspects. Each character is a joy, each interaction natural and thought provoking in simple and profound ways. I think these stories are proof that things don’t have to be miserable to glean meaning from the experience.
I cannot wait for more from this author!