In 2019 I started writing science fiction. I had written some projects for others in other genres, but I couldn’t find what I needed in science fiction books. I love the genre as a whole, and I have fond memories of watching Star Trek: The Next Generation with my grandmother. In literature, I saw a void, and I was without a guide on finding what I needed. I had given up and focused on reading fantasy (not a bad trade off, but not scratching the itch that I needed: the longing for a science fiction with care and conscience that I saw growing up). I started writing instead.

Years later, now April 2025, realizing I might be able to get my works published, I learned about comps and so on, and I asked around for things I wanted to see or that I tried in my writing. Everyone I now talked to that knew even a little about books and sci-fi or new tools for finding subplots and themes etc said “you need to read Becky Chambers… go find Long Way to a Small Angry Planet.”

I did it, I got myself a copy on a whim while out at a store with a small sci-fi section. It was the last copy. I hadn’t picked up a new book to read in four years, and I was a bit nervous that this buildup for what people said was a “book for me” would fall flat.

Enough about the fear and worry,

I LOVED this book. Becky Chambers returned to me a want to read, and a want to read in a genre I love in other media. It had the right amount of handwaving tech without getting into “simple solutions from a magic device,”

it had heart and care it had a reptile/raptor/tall strong scaly lady as a pilot!

It had sweet moments and care. It had issues that resolved in a number of ways, but all glorifying resolution, not destruction. Even the destruction spawning the end spiral was a MOMENT surrounded by resolution, drive toward better and recovery. Even, hopefully without spoiling anything, a difficult choice regarding their navigator met a difficult conclusion, but one understandable in care, even if rough and unwelcome in the moment for those involved.

This book filled a void so well that, had I known her books existed before I started writing, I would not have felt the need to write until exhausting her books and through a few rereads.

I have moved on to A Close and Common Orbit as well as the next book below. I greatly enjoy Close and Common Orbit. It is my evening read while the next is my daytime read.

I saw the cover, it was also on the list of “You’ll like this,” but I wasn’t sold on it just yet. I still had this nagging feeling that I was going to get a few chapters in and not go back to it. I had not finished Long Way yet.

Again, I was wrong. Slowly but surely, Becky Chambers and Martha Wells are returning my love of reading more than technical manuals and the cold, dry prose of textbooks.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book through to the end. I felt sad in the end but understanding of his character and the reasons.

Anyone can find identity in this character, I’m sure, but as someone who spends a lot of time watching YouTube, catching up on fun little videos or random histories of CRT etc… between calls to solve simple, repeating problems infrequently in my day job, I can definitely empathize with his grumbles about having to pause a show when he finally does get to relax.

I can’t wait to get through the rest (I found a few multi-title volumes on my next trip to the store, trying to keep the book order straight). I really hope he meets up with [spoiler… shhh] in later books, but I will be happy to read regardless.