A review by mav_ka
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing

5.0

 

"Have you taken any courses in interspatial manipulation? Probably not, huh?"
"Can't say that I have."
"Space-time topology?"
"Nope."
"Transdimensional theory?"
Rosemary made an apologetic face.
"Aww!" said Kizzy, clasping her hands over her heart. "You're a physics virgin!"

═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══

It's weird to start a review by comparing a book to another completely unrelated book, but. This is what I wanted Legends & Lattes to be like.

Now, if you have been living under a rock, Legends & Lattes took the book world by storm by promising us a cozy fantasy story with low stakes. And it did deliver, but the stakes were too low for my liking. I loved it the moment I read it, but I also kind of regretted getting a physical copy. Yet one more book I will never pick up again.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is different because it is cozy sci-fi. And it certainly does not have low stakes. It immediately thrusts you into action by promising a secret -- Rosemary has just been hired by a spaceship crew who tunnel wormholes through space to keep track of their paperwork. Little do they know that she is hiding secrets and running away from a troubled past. But hey, so does the rest of the crew! 

"You can talk now, but small movements, please. The fracture hasn't fully healed yet. And your brain still needs some work."
"I could've told you that," Sissix said.

The book is very much a collection of episodes on their long journey to a small, angry planet (ha). It is easy to read and it is delightful in its writing style. I highlighted so many quotes, which was an unexpected pleasure after reading another book that had no quote-worthy text. If you want a cozy adventure that is filled with found family moments and interesting stories, pick this up. Even if you aren't normally into sci-fi, give this book a try.

What I loved about this book is how it focused on the positive without turning away from reality. All the characters have been through some shit. Some are still going through some shit. The shit in question can be very Very VERY big, or it can be tiny and mundane. It doesn't make it hurt any less for the characters. But the book focuses on how they overcome and grow around those fractures that have been carved into their very souls. It's a weirdly therapeutic experience. 

"There is peace out here in the open. I have friends and a garden in the stars and a kitchen full of tasty things. I heal people now. I cannot pretend that the war never happened, but I stopped fighting it long ago. I did not start that war. It should never have been mine to fight."

There is another thing that is grounded in reality here, and that is how, even within a found family, there are always going to be people you don't get along with 100%. The ship has two oddballs, in fact, both secluded for their own reasons. Corbin, an unlikable algae scientist or a "very valuable headache", as Captain Ashby put it; and Ohan, who keeps to himself because of a virus that is slowly eating away at his body and mind. Both have their own stories. Both are still accepted into the ship's family, regardless of how hard it is for them to get along with other members of the crew. 

And that sets a very realistic expectation for reality that I love very much! The book teaches you that you can still get along with people even if you disagree on things! Trying to find a friend group where you agree on everything is futile, but that's exactly what the books I read as a kid taught me. But as I grew up, I encountered more and more people who had different opinions and views than I did, and honestly, instead of focusing on our differences, I should have focused on what united us and enjoyed our friendships while they lasted. 

"They make me feel like... oh, what are those big ugly reptiles you have back on Earth? The extinct ones?"
"Um..." Rosemary racked her brain. "I don't know. Iguanas?"

Another interesting thing about the book is its world-building. Now, I'm more of a fantasy book reader myself, but something about this book caught my attention and never let go. Maybe I was in the right mood for it. But anyway, the world is populated with so many different alien species, and all of them get along. Well, mostly. There is, of course, always a conflict of interest or some disagreement, but the world is a lot kinder and more understanding than I could have hoped for. It's coming back to the theme of focusing on the positives; you get to read about characters overcoming their differences to be together regardless of what their species is. And it's freaking wonderful okay! It's a wonderful book to read when you are in a reading slump or just want the world to be a little kinder! I rest my case. 

Without the haze of city lights, shimmering colors shone down unhindered -- the glow of neighboring moons, the murky purple gauze of the galactic cloud, and all in between, nothing but stars, stars, stars. She lived up there, in that vast expanse of color. Every day, she saw planets and comets and stellar nurseries right up close, plain as weather. Yet, there was something about being planetside that made it feel different. Perhaps stars were supposed to be viewed from the ground.

I don't know what else to talk about that is non-spoilery, so just for those who read the book and will get this reference, here is a final quote for you: 

Because I've loved you since then.

:))))