The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

by Becky Chambers
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet cover
Good Books rating 3.9
Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)
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Paperback • £10.99
Amazon
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Technical
  • ID: 7789
  • Added: 2025-12-16
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9781473619777
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2015-03-16
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 2

Rosemary Harper seeks solace and adventure aboard the Wayfarer, a ship filled with a diverse and eccentric crew. From the friendly reptilian pilot Sissix to the bickering engineers Kizzy and Jenks, life on board is chaotic yet peaceful. However, their peaceful existence is disrupted when they are offered a high-stakes job to build a hyperspace tunnel to a distant planet. The journey through war-torn space tests their alliances and reveals hidden secrets, making space feel very small indeed. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is a debut novel that has been longlisted for the Bailey's Women's Prize for Fiction. It is praised for its humane exploration of space and its ability to restore faith in humanity. The novel is a tour de force that combines adventure, imagination, and quiet profundity, making it a must-read for science fiction enthusiasts.

Reviews
Amazon · 2025-12-16
delightful 4.00

This book is a fun, light, character-driven piece of space opera. It's perfect for readers looking for a more relaxed and character-focused story in the genre.

This book is a delightful read for those who enjoy character-driven space opera. The reviewer notes that it's a fun and light-hearted story that focuses more on the characters and their interactions than on the plot. The book's strength lies in its ability to create a sense of camaraderie and acceptance among its diverse cast of characters. The reviewer appreciates the book's emphasis on character development and the exploration of themes such as friendship and acceptance. However, they also note that the plot is relatively minimal, which might not appeal to readers looking for a more traditional space opera with a lot of action and adventure. Overall, the reviewer recommends this book to readers who enjoy a more relaxed and character-focused story in the space opera genre.

Quick quotes

    This is a difficult one to review; if all you are after is a fun, light, character driven bit of space opera this fits the bill.

    It's perfect for readers looking for a more relaxed and character-focused story in the genre.

    The book's strength lies in its ability to create a sense of camaraderie and acceptance among its diverse cast of characters.

Fantasy Literature · 2025-12-16
gentle 3.80

The plot is minimal, focusing instead on the characters and their individual journeys. The book feels more like a gentle Young Adult novel about friendship and acceptance than a traditional space opera.

This book is more about the journey and the characters than it is about the plot. The reviewer notes that the narrative is focused on the characters and their personal growth, making it feel more like a coming-of-age story set in space. The book's strength lies in its ability to create a sense of camaraderie and acceptance among its diverse cast of characters. The reviewer appreciates the book's emphasis on character development and the exploration of themes such as friendship and acceptance. However, they also note that the plot is relatively minimal, which might not appeal to readers looking for a more traditional space opera with a lot of action and adventure.

Quick quotes

    It seems like a lot, but in actuality, the plot here is relatively minimal, with the narrative much more focused on the characters, both their individual journeys and their interactions with each other.

    Chamber's book feels very much like a gentle Young Adult novel about friendship and acceptance, rather than the Space Opera it is billed as.

    The book's strength lies in its ability to create a sense of camaraderie and acceptance among its diverse cast of characters.

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