Laith
Becky Chambers has quickly become the author I turn to when I'm feeling blue. She writes some of the most hopeful and uplifting stories in the sci-fi space, and this book is no exception. We return to the richly imagined universe of the Wayfarer, to a station chock-full of unique alien races intermingled with humans. Chambers expands her world, this time choosing to focus on the status of AI and clones. I can't overstate how much I love her tendency to tell stories that explore the human condition through non-human characters. That's exactly what A Closed and Common Orbit is: an exploration of humanity through human-adjacent characters.
In many ways, this book is a sequel in name only. The crew of the Wayfarer are left to their own devices as we follow the new version of Lovelace, now known as Sidra, placed into a humanoid body kit as she adapts to life among humans. Returning from the previous novel is the tinkerer/tech Pepper, who takes on the role of caretaker to Sidra. Chambers goes on to tell a touching story within a story; the novel bounces between the perspective of Sidra as she adapts to her new human form and the perspective of Jane-23 (the young Pepper), an escaped clone surviving alone in a vast scrapyard. Jane enlists the help of a scrapped shipboard AI known as OWL, learning first to survive and later about the world beyond.
Both stories are interesting explorations across the range of the human experience, from things as simple as hunger and the pleasure of taste to more complex and solemn subjects. Sidra struggles to accept her redefined role and to find a new purpose for her existence; Jane similarly seeks to understand her place in the world, all the while battling for survival. These dual narratives are balanced perfectly. In particular, the pacing of each perspective never drags far behind the other, and the larger narrative never failed to maintain my interest. The real strength of this book is how each of the main characters is discovering the world before our eyes, allowing the reader to rediscover a world that was already fleshed out in the first book.
Speaking of the first book, it's not necessary to read it to follow what's going on here. Yes, this book features characters from the first book, but they were on the periphery in that first entry, and they are given their own full introductions and backstory here. This might be recency bias talking, but this is as good a place as the first to jump into the Wayfarers series, I know that I preferred this novel across the board. I will note that the writing style and themes in this second entry are more in line with the remaining bulk of Chambers' catalog; if you like this book, I would strongly recommend reading Monk & Robot- particularly if you also end up preferring this to the first entry.
A Closed and Common Orbit is a compelling and thought-provoking addition to the Wayfarers series. Chambers' unique ability to explore deep, human themes through non-human characters shines in this novel, making it an excellent read for both newcomers to the series and established fans alike. Her hopeful and uplifting approach to sci-fi continues to set her apart in the genre, making this book a perfect choice for those seeking a more optimistic view of the future.
Becky Chambers has quickly become the author I turn to when I'm feeling blue. She writes some of the most hopeful and uplifting stories in the sci-fi space, and this book is no exception. We return to the richly imagined universe of the Wayfarer, to a station chock-full of unique alien races intermingled with humans. Chambers expands her world, this time choosing to focus on the status of AI and clones. I can't overstate how much I love her tendency to tell stories that explore the human condition through non-human characters. That's exactly what A Closed and Common Orbit is: an exploration of humanity through human-adjacent characters.
In many ways, this book is a sequel in name only. The crew of the Wayfarer are left to their own devices as we follow the new version of Lovelace, now known as Sidra, placed into a humanoid body kit as she adapts to life among humans. Returning from the previous novel is the tinkerer/tech Pepper, who takes on the role of caretaker to Sidra. Chambers goes on to tell a touching story within a story; the novel bounces between the perspective of Sidra as she adapts to her new human form and the perspective of Jane-23 (the young Pepper), an escaped clone surviving alone in a vast scrapyard. Jane enlists the help of a scrapped shipboard AI known as OWL, learning first to survive and later about the world beyond.
Both stories are interesting explorations across the range of the human experience, from things as simple as hunger and the pleasure of taste to more complex and solemn subjects. Sidra struggles to accept her redefined role and to find a new purpose for her existence; Jane similarly seeks to understand her place in the world, all the while battling for survival. These dual narratives are balanced perfectly. In particular, the pacing of each perspective never drags far behind the other, and the larger narrative never failed to maintain my interest. The real strength of this book is how each of the main characters is discovering the world before our eyes, allowing the reader to rediscover a world that was already fleshed out in the first book.
Speaking of the first book, it's not necessary to read it to follow what's going on here. Yes, this book features characters from the first book, but they were on the periphery in that first entry, and they are given their own full introductions and backstory here. This might be recency bias talking, but this is as good a place as the first to jump into the Wayfarers series, I know that I preferred this novel across the board. I will note that the writing style and themes in this second entry are more in line with the remaining bulk of Chambers' catalog; if you like this book, I would strongly recommend reading Monk & Robot- particularly if you also end up preferring this to the first entry.
A Closed and Common Orbit is a compelling and thought-provoking addition to the Wayfarers series. Chambers' unique ability to explore deep, human themes through non-human characters shines in this novel, making it an excellent read for both newcomers to the series and established fans alike. Her hopeful and uplifting approach to sci-fi continues to set her apart in the genre, making this book a perfect choice for those seeking a more optimistic view of the future.