Eph (they, them) reviewed A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
Review of 'A Closed and Common Orbit' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Chambers is a great author and I love immersing myself into her universes.
Früher hatte Lovelace ihre Augen und Ohren überall. Als KI-System der Wayfarer bekam sie alles mit, was auf ihrem Raumschiff passierte, und sie sorgte für das Wohlbefinden der Crew, für die Lovelace immer mehr eine Freundin war als nur ein System.
Dann kam der totale Systemausfall. Ihre Crew sah nur eine Möglichkeit, Lovelace zu retten: ein Reboot all ihrer Systeme. Als sie aufwacht, ist sie in einem Bodykit gefangen, eingeschränkt auf modifizierte menschliche Körperfunktionen - in einer Gesellschaft, in der eine solche Umwandlung verboten ist. Doch Lovelace ist nicht allein: Pepper, eine chaotische Technikerin, die ihr Leben riskiert hat, um die künstliche Intelligenz zu retten, hilft Lovelace, ihren Platz in der Welt zu finden. Denn Pepper weiß selbst nur zu genau, wie es ist, ganz auf sich allein gestellt zu sein und das Universum neu kennenzulernen…
Chambers is a great author and I love immersing myself into her universes.
I absolutely adored this book. I realise that part of this is that it was a perfect little escape while I was stuck at home with covid, but I do also think it's really wonderful.
It has some similar strengths to the first in the series, in that it's mostly about the relationships between a few outcast characters that become a chosen family and just happen to be in space. But if anything I think it's better written (I guess Chambers getting into her stride with book 2), and benefits from being a more focussed story of a smaller number of characters. And has some weightier things to say about embodiment, the tension between fitting in and freedom, and loyalty & reciprocity.
I am excited about the rest of the series.
A wonderful sequel
This book went an entirely different direction from the first in the series, yet it was just as enjoyable. My favorite part of the book was the structure in which the two stories were told in parallel, coming together into a great finish. Can't wait for the third one!