The Journey, not the Destination

Jun 2016 / Aug 2017
A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet / A Closed and Common Orbit - Becky Chambers – Hodder and Stoughton, 2015 / 2016
* * * * / * * * *
The very best SF novels are a perfect trifecta of interesting, nuanced characters, ideas and world-painting that make you go "wow", and an engaging plot (and if the style is original and interesting, so much the better). Getting all three of these to line up is perhaps one of the greatest challenges is writing, so it is no surprise that many writers dodge one or more parts of the trifecta while they hone their skills in other areas. Becky Chambers has adopted this approach, and it has paid off in two novels full of engaging characters and interesting settings. It's just a shame that neither of them has much in the way of a plot.
( Read more... )