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awakeohsleeper 's review for:
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within
by Becky Chambers
When I reviewed Record of a Spaceborn Few, the third instalment in the Wayfarers series, I concluded by stating that "where Chambers really excels is in the world building." I was slightly wrong - this author is not just a world builder, but has exquisitely crafted an entire universe. It's always absorbing, always engaging, always interesting.
This time we revisit a character from the original novel. Pei the Aeluon captain returns, stopping off on the planet Gora on the way to visit her lover Ashby. Interspecies relationships for Aeluon are taboo and here we see Pei wrestling with her secret. Joining her at what is essentially an intergalactic version of a motorway service station crossed with an airport, are a mismatch of several different alien species: Roveg (an exiled Quelin), Speaker (an Akarak who is separated from her sister Tracker who is still on the ship) and Ouloo (the Laru owner of the aforementioned service station who is a single mother to Tupo). When a technological failure means all ships are grounded for longer than expected, these characters are forced together and in typical Chambers fashion, learn more about themselves and each other.
One joy contained for the dedicated follower of the Wayfarers series is that this book does not centre a human as one of the chief protagonists. Instead, we get to fully and deeply embrace the weird and wonderful quirks of the alien species that Chambers has created. This allows the reader to hold up a mirror to their human experience. For example, Laru children use gender neutral pronouns until they come of age. Such a detail is sensitively explained throughout thus allowing us to question our own social constructs. It's funny how concepts such as race, sexual orientation and gender seem less worth fighting about when we begin to take into consideration a whole plethora of alien species. There are many thought provoking moments as each character finds themselves, not just in the middle of a journey through space, but in the middle of a journey in their life.
Like the three novels proceeding this one, there's a lovely sense of family and unity that is gently woven throughout the story. I always feel warm and fuzzy as I immerse myself in these writings. Chambers' characters teach us to embrace difference and to learn to love when it might be easier to run away and hide. This is something that in 2021 we all so desperately need.
A copy of this book was provided for review by the publisher via NetGalley UK.
This time we revisit a character from the original novel. Pei the Aeluon captain returns, stopping off on the planet Gora on the way to visit her lover Ashby. Interspecies relationships for Aeluon are taboo and here we see Pei wrestling with her secret. Joining her at what is essentially an intergalactic version of a motorway service station crossed with an airport, are a mismatch of several different alien species: Roveg (an exiled Quelin), Speaker (an Akarak who is separated from her sister Tracker who is still on the ship) and Ouloo (the Laru owner of the aforementioned service station who is a single mother to Tupo). When a technological failure means all ships are grounded for longer than expected, these characters are forced together and in typical Chambers fashion, learn more about themselves and each other.
One joy contained for the dedicated follower of the Wayfarers series is that this book does not centre a human as one of the chief protagonists. Instead, we get to fully and deeply embrace the weird and wonderful quirks of the alien species that Chambers has created. This allows the reader to hold up a mirror to their human experience. For example, Laru children use gender neutral pronouns until they come of age. Such a detail is sensitively explained throughout thus allowing us to question our own social constructs. It's funny how concepts such as race, sexual orientation and gender seem less worth fighting about when we begin to take into consideration a whole plethora of alien species. There are many thought provoking moments as each character finds themselves, not just in the middle of a journey through space, but in the middle of a journey in their life.
Like the three novels proceeding this one, there's a lovely sense of family and unity that is gently woven throughout the story. I always feel warm and fuzzy as I immerse myself in these writings. Chambers' characters teach us to embrace difference and to learn to love when it might be easier to run away and hide. This is something that in 2021 we all so desperately need.
A copy of this book was provided for review by the publisher via NetGalley UK.