With the year drawing to a close, I started thinking about what my favorite read was. It’s been a big library year, so I went to my trusty reading spreadsheet (nothing fancy, just books, authors, lengths, and dates) to see who the contenders were. It hit me pretty quickly – the book I loved the most was The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers.
The left image is the UK cover, which I like a lot better than the US one on the right. I feel like the UK cover does a better job of pulling in readers who wouldn’t normally read a science fiction space book.
I’ve always been a big science fiction fan, and love books that find the interesting parts of a mundane life. The world that Becky Chambers built in this novel (which is actually one of three) was so enthralling to me. It follows the crew of a spaceship as they complete a job across the galaxy. You get to meet new species, learn about different cultural customs, and see the world from an entirely new set of eyes. I loved the rich background and world building, and the plot line was quick and smart. Becky Chambers did an episode of Book Riot’s Recommended (listen here) and talked about The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. She says “I didn’t think anybody would be interested in reading this book that was really just this slice of life about these people and the places they go to. ” The thing is, that is EXACTLY what I’m looking for in a book. It’s why I also love Commonwealth by Ann Patchett and Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner.
If you want to lose yourself in an entirely new world, learn about some cool alien species, and become extremely emotionally invested in the life of an AI, then this book’s for you.
SJP Books 