Thread by @mektastic

Hello Twitter. I have read A Long Way to a Small angry Planet and we need to talk. You ready? Because this is going to be like me, rambling and squeeing and flailing. This book is by Becky Chambers and it is science fiction. It is sprawling and lush and magical.

I haven't read a lot of science fiction. I can probably count less than ten books. My poorly researched think piece on the entire genre based on a single book I read will come shortly. No, but really! I brushed this book off b/c it was SF.

Anyway, I don't know that I'm really qualified to talk about what I want in science fiction because I haven't read enough of the genre to really know. but this? I want more of this. So much more! Basically, a woman is trying to escape her past so she joins a ship crew.

She has to acclimate to the ship and its different crew with all of their various personalities and biases and quirks. I don't want to give away the plot, but there are plots within plots. We get to see how life is from the perspective of each crew member.

Basically, humans were apparently the last to be accepted in to the galactic colony. I don't know that I've really read or seen a movie where the humans weren't on top and everyone else has to fall in line. The humans fucked up Earth. Boy does this sound familiar.

But let me tell you about the rest. A scientist with an attitude, a doctor whose species is nearly wiped out, a pilot whose culture revolves around touch, a navigator who refers to themselves as we, An AI that is sentient, two techs that are bFF's, and a pacifist ship captain.

I feel like I am oversimplifying the characters. Each of them are layered, with quirks and flaws and habits. each deals with situations differently and sometimes the crew are not always in agreement. We get to see so many places in this book!

We learn, through narrative, dialogue, and planet visits, about the history of places, cultures, how history repeats itself. We learn that the lens of life is ever-widening, and that minds can be broadened and expanded, sometimes even changed.

and I mean, all of these things are important. There is also a lot of tech talk that happens which is also important and pertinent. There are plots and complicated relationships. And here is why I love this book so freakin much.

A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet is a love letter to found family. The crew considers each other family, even the ones that are disagreeable. The relationships are complicated. Sometimes certain members say things to the other members that are unreasonable.

I felt like I was wrapped up in family and a nice warm blanket. The way that they hope and hurt for each other, how they enfold Rosemary in to their lives, how they comfort one another when the shit hits the fan, that is family.

Also, sometimes family means that you don't always like every single member. In the words of a comedian I heard, you might cry at their funeral but you don't want to spend holidays with them? That holds true for some of the members. But at the core? Family.

This book was like a hug, a blanket, and a delightful respite. The end was very good, but damn it, I cried. I hope that if you try it, you will love it as much as I did. Also, please come flail with me. We all need to chat.

I just want to say that as a romance reader, I was satisfied with the ending, but this is definitely not a romance. So, you know, adjust expectations accordingly. But my god. Please read it and tell me what you think!