Review: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is 4.5 stars full of fun. The plot is well developed, the characters (save one, and you may soften on him by the end) likable, regular people and low and behold, the characters evolve (what a concept, right?). With complex relationships, complex genders, and various humanoid species that have learned to live with and love one another aboard the Wayfarer, TLWtoSAP is reminiscent of Firefly. A moral dilemma in the book is resolved in a surprising (still not sure it's wholly believable or that I even agree with it) way. There are lesser moral crises that occur during the story and each time, the characters involved rise to the occasion.

This is an impressive start to a series, whose second book, "A Closed and Common Orbit," has been shortlisted for the Hugo Best Novel 2017. I look forward to seeing more from Chambers. She's come a long way since her 2012 Kickstarter campaign that allowed her to work on this novel. (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...)

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