If you read nothing else we've sent home, please at least read this.
To Be Taught, If Fortunate
by Becky Chambers
Genre: Adult Sci-Fi (LGBTQ+)
About: Four astronauts go on a mission to survey four habitable planets. They aren't looking for Earth's new home, they are simply there to observe. But while on the mission, communication with Earth gets severed and it becomes a grim possibility that their may be more life on these alien planets than the one they left behind.
The Good
This is a short novella that instantly grips you. The voice is easy to read and the sci-fi elements imagined are both fantastical and super realistic - nothing in the story felt far-fetched to me while at the same time it managed to stretch my imagination. The writing flows so easily and there were many quotable lines. The other enjoyable part of the story was, of course, the characters. Dialogue is often humorous and heartfelt. The dynamic of the four members to the crew are easily felt and enviable in the simple love they have for each other.
The Bad
There really isn't much negative to say about such a short and sweet book. The only downside I can see is that this isn't a book that would make a good movie and perhaps the ending could be seen as a little unrealistic. I mean I did believe it, and believe that others would love the ending, but for me personally, I thought it went against science and survival instincts. A bit too passive or maybe overly democratic for my liking.
The Somewhat Iffy
The relationships are refreshing to read. You have trans, asexual, bi-sexual and possibly lesbian (Elena could also be bi-sexual as well, it isn't clear) representation. So love all that. Actually really loved how that worked as it was super sweet to see four adults in healthy, loving relationships that involved all four of them. But at the same time, it didn't feel the most realistic that they were able to balance this dynamic as well as they did. Or that there was no change in the relationships during the course of such life changing experiences. Even the fact that their bodies physically underwent such drastic changes made no impact on how they viewed each other. The story didn't really need it, but I would have liked to have felt some passion or change in passion during the course of the story.
Overall
Simple in the way all the great stories are. It's compelling and heartfelt and shows space travel in a new and very necessary light. A beautiful read.
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