A Prayer for the Crown-Shy (Monk & Robot #2)

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers is second in the Monk and Robot series of novellas. This is a beautiful series everyone should read.

Sibling Dex and Splendid Speckled Mosscap begin their journey among the humans of Panga, traveling to many villages so that Mosscap can ask people what they need from Robots. They will make many friends as they travel looking for answers.

Becky Chambers is my favorite author. I have loved each of her books, but the Monk & Robot series is something extra special. Buy the books today – you will want to read them repeatedly!

Chambers, Becky (2022). A Prayer for the Crown-Shy. New York: Tom Doherty Associates Book.

The Galaxy and the Ground Within (Wayfarers #4)

The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers is the final book of her Wayfarers science fiction series - one of my favorite book series of any genre!

The planet of Gora has not water or life. However, it is perfectly situated at the crossroads of five wormholes that see huge numbers of ships each standard. Since people often have a wait to transmit to the next gate, inns and entertainment venues have been built on the stark planet.

Once such place is the Five-Hop One-Stop. An eclectic inn that tries to cater to all forms of life that may visit. 

With a satellite system malfunction, the three strangers who have landed will be staying for longer that they thought. The two hosts, one exiled artist, one cargo runner and a mysterious person whose species is rarely seen will all have time to get to know each other better. 

Chambers is a wonderful story teller. Her characters and species of sentient beings are well thought out and fully formed. This is one of two complete series I own. I plan on rereading it about once per year! The entire series won a Hugo Award. Get started reading it today!

Chambers, Becky. (2021). The Galaxy and the Ground Within. New York: Harper Voyager. 

A Psalm for the Wild-Built (A Monk and Robot Book #1)

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers is the first book in the Monk and Robot series. 

Sibling Dex is a monk who is changing their job and planning to go on the road to offer tea service. After declining the optional training session, Dex is on the road with this Oxbike and trailer.

Tea Service is a ceremony where the monk parks, sets up a seating area and anyone can come and talk about their problems or ideas. At the end of the talk, the monk makes them a tea appropriate to the discussion / feelings expressed.

This is a part of Panga human culture centuries after the split between humans and robot. The land was divided fifty percent for humans and fifty percent for robots. 

When Sibling Dex decides that even the small villages are not as remote as they were hoping, they decide to try a pilgrimage to a former temple in the wilds.

Not too far off of the paved human road, Sibling Dex meets a robot! This is the first conversation between human and robot since the split. 

Chambers is a wonderful writer who brings humanity to her characters - regardless of species. This discussion between two very different beings illustrates what humans think of themselves versus what others might see. A beautiful book for all humans!

Chambers, Becky. (2021). A Psalm for the Wild-Built. New York: Tor.

To Be Taught if Fortunate (Wayfarers Prequel)

To Be Taught If Fortunate by Becky Chambers is a prequel novella to her Wayfarers science fiction series.

Years and years before the current Wayfarers series takes place, this novella is written by one of the early explorers of far space from Earth. It is a journal sent back to Earth from her both about their journey and what she hope has been happening on Earth in the 50 years she slept in transit.

Ariadne O'Neill and her three crewmates are on an expedition to survey four possibly habitable worlds. Her journal chronicles both the wonder and the danger of their mission as well as hope that someone on Earth is listening.

Chambers has written a beautiful novella of early space flight and exploration in her universe. It is all of the things one would think an explorer who will likely never see Earth again would want us to learn from her.

Chambers, Becky. (2019). To Be Taught if Fortunate. New York: Harper Voyager.

Record of a Spaceborn Few (Wayfarers #3)

Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers is the third book in her Wayfarers series. Start reading this series today!

When the Exodans left Earth, they set up ships for people to live in for generations. When the ships reached other sapients, those aliens gave them a faded sun to orbit. Many of the humans on the ships stayed instead of moving planet-side.

Every thing on the ships is recycled or reused. They were set up not knowing if there would ever be a way to restock materials. Now they can get supplies from outside, but it is a way of life to not waste.

An alien is coming to the ships, to study humans and see this isolated way of life in person. Isabel, the archivist whose job it is to record all important moments for the future, will be xyr guide.

Tessa (sister to the Captain of the Wayfarer in the first book) is raising two children - one of whom is terrified that the ship will blow up any moment and subject her to the vacuum of space.

Eyas is a caretaker. She is in charge of both funerals and preparing and composting the body, which is then used in the gardens to sustain new life.

Kip is a teen who must soon decide on a job within the fleet. He is pushing at boundaries as all teen do, regardless of where they live.

Sawyer is fed up with the planet he lives on and is going to move to the fleet his ancestors came from.

Together this cast of characters tells the story of humans in space. This is a lovely tale of humans finally working together for the greater good. Chamber is a masterful storyteller. Even if you are not a fan of science fiction, this series is about the people (human or otherwise) and how they interact. It is a beautiful series.

Chambers, Becky. (2018). Record of a Spaceborn Few. New York: Harper Voyager.

A Closed and Common Orbit (Wayfarer #2)

A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers is the second book in err Wayfarers science fiction series. This is a great series - even if you do not think you like science fiction!

Pepper is called by her friend to come to the ship and try to save the AI. But by save, the crew means, bring back the developed personality called Lovely who has been with them for years. When she cannot she moves the AI to a body kit.

AI are not allowed to live as sapient beings. Being in possession of a body kit will both get the AI killed and the sapient arrested. However, Pepper has a soft spot for AIs.

Told in two times - Lovelace in a body she was not designed for, trying to pass as a human and Pepper growing up on a factory planet - this is a heartfelt tale of how sapients adapt to their settings.

Chambers writes characters that readers will fondly remember for a long, long time. Her books are so good - start reading her today!

Chambers, Becky. (2016). A Closed and Common Orbit. New York: Harper Voyager.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1)

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers is the first book in her Wayfarers science fiction series. This is a great book for someone who has not read scifi and would like to check out the genre.

Rosemary is hurtling through space in a one-person pod, heading toward the ship where she just accepted a job. The ship, the Wayfarer, is a tunneling ship. In a universe where FTL has been outlawed due to the danger, tunneling ships that create wormholes are very important. It is also a very dangerous job.

The ship (and series) is peopled with a variety of species of sapients from different worlds. Chambers has created a wonderful science fiction series that is well thought out and a joy to read. I will read everything she writes!

Chambers, Becky. (2014). The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. New York: Harper Voyager.