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A review by queer_bookwyrm
To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: Animal death
To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers is a scifi novella following four astronauts on a deep space mission. I very much enjoyed this story. It was very different from Chambers' Wayfarer series. Though still character focused, this story was more science heavy. Usually with novellas I wish we had more, but I think it served the story well to keep it short.
The book starts with a message to Earth from Ariadne, a spaceflight engineer, detailing the ship Meran's exploits to different planets and moons in deep space. This simplified summary tells us all about each of the crew members, their experiences and discoveries, and their hardships. They are on an ecological mission, doing their best not to contaminate or harm these new environments, and no intent to colonize.
I loved the idea of somaforming in this. This is the process of changing the human body to be better suited to its environment instead of terra forming and environment to fit human needs. This is a lot of emphasis on the science in science fiction in this, but I don't think it's too complicated for non-sciencey people (I am not sciencey).
Chambers always does such an excellent job of making you fall in love with the characters without having to give you an entire backstory heavy with a useless plot. Everyone is queer in one way or another. It's a very efficient story, so you don't feel like you've ended without satisfaction. Would I like to know what happens with the crew in the end? Yes, but I'm sure that would be another story.
Once again, I implore you to read anything by Becky Chambers.
To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers is a scifi novella following four astronauts on a deep space mission. I very much enjoyed this story. It was very different from Chambers' Wayfarer series. Though still character focused, this story was more science heavy. Usually with novellas I wish we had more, but I think it served the story well to keep it short.
The book starts with a message to Earth from Ariadne, a spaceflight engineer, detailing the ship Meran's exploits to different planets and moons in deep space. This simplified summary tells us all about each of the crew members, their experiences and discoveries, and their hardships. They are on an ecological mission, doing their best not to contaminate or harm these new environments, and no intent to colonize.
I loved the idea of somaforming in this. This is the process of changing the human body to be better suited to its environment instead of terra forming and environment to fit human needs. This is a lot of emphasis on the science in science fiction in this, but I don't think it's too complicated for non-sciencey people (I am not sciencey).
Chambers always does such an excellent job of making you fall in love with the characters without having to give you an entire backstory heavy with a useless plot. Everyone is queer in one way or another. It's a very efficient story, so you don't feel like you've ended without satisfaction. Would I like to know what happens with the crew in the end? Yes, but I'm sure that would be another story.
Once again, I implore you to read anything by Becky Chambers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death