If You Liked Red Rising...

...you should read THE LONG WAY TO A SMALL, ANGRY PLANET.

Final page-turn impression: The perfect road trip tale. Comfortable, engaging, contemplative.

Her debut novel and the opening to her Wayfarers trilogy, Becky Chambers finished writing The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet using a Kickstarter campaign; I have to say it was marvelously successful. The multispecies crew of the Wayfarer takes on a high-profile job (punching a wormhole from within the territory of a mysterious, violent alien race back to their own Galactic Commons), but before they can begin, they must make the long journey to their starting point–and survive everything that comes along the way.

A member of my postgraduate cohort insisted I pick this one up the moment I asked for recommendations. And if you're looking for a space tale, this is definitely one you should pick up as well.

What I Loved

The beating heart of this story is evident in the themes which are combined so beautifully into a single purpose: urging readers to live, love, change, and grow. So much of this is imbued in the Wayfarer's crew. They are the perfect blend of circumstances for an exploration of inter-species relations and cultures. From page one you cling to the familial, welcoming tone. You are in a space where it's okay to consider the conflicting perspectives surrounding each new topic.

Everything from religion to politics and social constructs are depicted in a new light–sometimes several different lights. As the plot progresses, you find yourself engaged in an anthropological study of their well-defined societies. Yet, with each new face and set of evolutionary events, you are brought back to Ashby and Sissix, Corbin and Ohan, and how the members of their piece meal family respect and accept each other.

Speaking of their societies, the world-building here is outstanding. Each race is given a very specific physical appearance and historical description, which can at times feel jarring and alien in a way you would expect it to feel if you encountered these individuals in reality. The universe was well-formed and fleshed out. I particularly made note of how everything centered on the common people, despite reference to and interaction with government or military bodies on several occasions. It was all portrayed beautifully through the eyes of everyday people who are trying to survive and do the right thing.

Chambers's characterization is out of this world. Each character was presented uniquely and held onto their peculiarities even as they grew and changed. An integral part of their development was the manifestation of personality through dialogue. Though each character was incredibly unique and could fill a novel with their own stories, Chambers balanced the interactions and revelations of each with a well executed multiple focalization from a third person perspective so that the star of the novel was truly the Wayfarer as a whole.  Because of their close, honest relationships, they even take on characteristics of ones another's racial expectations at times, demonstrating a deep connection to people who might be considered radically different from themselves.

What Fell Short

For the lovely vision its title creates,  I didn't feel that the plot built into anything terribly spectacular or unexpected. It was certainly a fun story to read, but its purpose is what makes it complex; the rest is a dressing of simple plot points.

In relation, I enjoyed the news reports and essays that the crew read or received throughout the novel, but they also felt like an overt pleading with the reader to engage with the deeper entrapments of the story rather than a necessity of the story. Vital information was supplied a time a two, but it could have easily been relayed in a way that better engaged with the crew and their reactions to such information.

There really isn't anything that failed in this telling; the most I can say is some aspects of it fall softly into the middle melancholy where most of life takes place, but a minor note to finish off: the  consistent profane language and occasional sexual references were more explicit than some readers would prefer; however, most of these instances had a specific intent to help move the story forward and engage with its purpose.

My Recommendation

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet was a pleasant acquaintance that found its way into my heart. I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in a classic science fiction tale with an emphasis on co-existence and growth within social communities. If you are concerned about mildly mature content, you may decide to skip over some parts if you choose to read it.

Do you have a different take on the novel? Please leave a comment below about your own reading experience!

Keep an eye out for the next link in the bookchain!

-SB