the galaxy and the ground within becky chambers

Each is likable and willing to work in good faith to get along with their fellows, and each has their own reason to be upset by the unexpected interruption of travel plans.Īnd so we have a generally cozy story of strangers trying to build relationships and help each other through an unexpected difficult time. It probably helps that it’s a smaller cast, with only four perspective characters-none of them human!-allowing each more time for development. I jumped straight to The Galaxy, and the Ground Within from The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, and the increased quality of the character work is noticeable. None of the five have the capability to address the problem, so a failure that could serve as the central conflict of another novel merely sets the stage for individuals trying to deal with the interruptions to their own plans, while thrust into close proximity with strangers from alien peoples. In The Galaxy, and the Ground Within, a technological failure leaves five people (from four different species) temporarily isolated in an interstellar rest stop.

And so I was looking forward to seeing whether Best Novel finalist The Galaxy, and the Ground Within may represent another step up.īecky Chambers’ style remains Becky Chambers’ style, with interpersonal developments among the cast taking the starring role and external conflict relegated to the background. While neither of the other two hit the five-star threshold, I could see clear progression as a writer from her debut to her Best Novella finalist.

In about a month, I’ve gone from never having read anything by Becky Chambers to having read two novels and a novella.

The galaxy and the ground within becky chambers