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A review by ohlhauc
To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
This was an enjoyable, light read. The writing was poetic and yet accessible, and the descriptions of each planet the team of four visits were enchanting. There were two things that didn't work for me.
The first is character development. The author does a precise and excellent job at giving each character a clear personality and while they each showed differing responses to stress, overall I felt the characters were flat. They didn't grow throughout the narrative and significant emotional moments were quickly brushed over. While compartmentalization would be unexpected during space exploration, the lack of exploration into the characters' motives, reasons, or thoughts to the situation at hand made me feel disconnected. Like their bodies were suspended in a torpor state, it felt like their emotional and character growth were too.
Second, the novella brought up fascinating themes and questions like the nobility of science, the point of discovery and exploration, the drawbacks of corporate or government-initiated science programs, the destructive impact of contact, and more. Unfortunately, these ideas were not fleshed out or deeply discussed as the characters focused on their reactions to the humdrum and occasional chaos of exploration.
Overall, the premise for this story was amazing and the writing was top notch but it was too short. As a result, ideas and characters were only half-baked, and that's a shame.
The first is character development. The author does a precise and excellent job at giving each character a clear personality and while they each showed differing responses to stress, overall I felt the characters were flat. They didn't grow throughout the narrative and significant emotional moments were quickly brushed over. While compartmentalization would be unexpected during space exploration, the lack of exploration into the characters' motives, reasons, or thoughts to the situation at hand made me feel disconnected. Like their bodies were suspended in a torpor state, it felt like their emotional and character growth were too.
Second, the novella brought up fascinating themes and questions like the nobility of science, the point of discovery and exploration, the drawbacks of corporate or government-initiated science programs, the destructive impact of contact, and more. Unfortunately, these ideas were not fleshed out or deeply discussed as the characters focused on their reactions to the humdrum and occasional chaos of exploration.
Overall, the premise for this story was amazing and the writing was top notch but it was too short. As a result, ideas and characters were only half-baked, and that's a shame.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts