Review: To Be Taught, If Fortunate

To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

All the stars.

In a rich and thought-provoking novella, Hugo Award-winning author Becky Chambers offers a unique perspective on human exploration in space. From an alternate view of the the space-faring goals/requirements of genetic engineering to the emotional and philosophical toll of leaving everyone you know decades behind, to the implications of chirality for life in other planetary systems, this is a jewel of a novella. It's also a tribute to Chambers' mother, astrobiologist Nikki Chambers, a HHMI scholar and JPL researcher who does research at UC Berkeley and the University of Edinburgh. One of the things I loved about this book (and I note that by training, I am a scientist) is the closing discussion between Becky and Nikki Chambers about the relationship between science and science fiction, a discussion I've had simmering for a while now with both my husband (also a scientist) and a friend who is a writer. I can also talk about how Becky Chambers' writing has the capacity to elevate both in the eyes of her readers. I have so much love for this author.

A beautiful novella.


I received a Digital Review Copy of this book from Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review.

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