Book 7 - 2020
Book 7: To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers - 135 pages
Description from bookdepository.co.uk:
At the turn of the twenty-second century, scientists make a breakthrough in human spaceflight. Through a revolutionary method known as somaforming, astronauts can survive in hostile environments off Earth using synthetic biological supplementations. They can produce antifreeze in sub-zero temperatures, absorb radiation and convert it for food, and conveniently adjust to the pull of different gravitational forces. With the fragility of the body no longer a limiting factor, human beings are at last able to explore neighbouring exoplanets long suspected to harbour life.
Ariadne is one such explorer. On a mission to ecologically survey four habitable worlds fifteen light-years from Earth, she and her fellow crewmates sleep while in transit, and wake each time with different features. But as they shift through both form and time, life back on Earth has also changed. Faced with the possibility of returning to a planet that has forgotten those who have left, Ariadne begins to chronicle the wonders and dangers of her journey, in the hope that someone back home might still be listening.
Thoughts:
I have loved every one of Chambers' other books, so I was excited to hear about this novella and picked it up as a present to myself after a weekend of marking exams. All I knew was that the story was about the concept of changing one's body in order to adapt to another planet, rather than trying to force the existing human form to cope with radiation, different gravity, days, chemical compositions etc - a concept called 'sonaforming'. I'd call this book a love letter to science. At times, it almost feels like I was reading something akin to the numerous astronaut biographies I've read. This was clearly intentional based on how the story opens and ends. The ideas are intriguing, the enthusiasm of the characters interesting, the final outcome noble. The characters might be a little too noble - there's not exactly conflict - but that seems to be Chambers' style. There is a heartbreaking scene with an alien creature about half way through that reminded me of Chambers' 'The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet' - its laid out very well, and I felt it in my bones. The sonaforming doesn't make up as much of the story as I thought it might, rather its a means to an end. Ultimately, I found it fascinating, heavy at times, thought provoking.
7 / 50 books. 14% done!
2010 / 15000 pages. 13% done!
Currently reading:
Journey to the West by Cheng-En Wu - 673 pages
Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich & Dorien Kelly - 310 pages
Vox by Christina Dalcher - 326 pages
And coming up:
The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant: Volume 3: White Gold Wielder by Stephen Donaldson - 500 pages
The Odyssey by Homer - 324 pages
Wolfe Island by Lucy Treloar - 386 pages
Description from bookdepository.co.uk:
At the turn of the twenty-second century, scientists make a breakthrough in human spaceflight. Through a revolutionary method known as somaforming, astronauts can survive in hostile environments off Earth using synthetic biological supplementations. They can produce antifreeze in sub-zero temperatures, absorb radiation and convert it for food, and conveniently adjust to the pull of different gravitational forces. With the fragility of the body no longer a limiting factor, human beings are at last able to explore neighbouring exoplanets long suspected to harbour life.
Ariadne is one such explorer. On a mission to ecologically survey four habitable worlds fifteen light-years from Earth, she and her fellow crewmates sleep while in transit, and wake each time with different features. But as they shift through both form and time, life back on Earth has also changed. Faced with the possibility of returning to a planet that has forgotten those who have left, Ariadne begins to chronicle the wonders and dangers of her journey, in the hope that someone back home might still be listening.
Thoughts:
I have loved every one of Chambers' other books, so I was excited to hear about this novella and picked it up as a present to myself after a weekend of marking exams. All I knew was that the story was about the concept of changing one's body in order to adapt to another planet, rather than trying to force the existing human form to cope with radiation, different gravity, days, chemical compositions etc - a concept called 'sonaforming'. I'd call this book a love letter to science. At times, it almost feels like I was reading something akin to the numerous astronaut biographies I've read. This was clearly intentional based on how the story opens and ends. The ideas are intriguing, the enthusiasm of the characters interesting, the final outcome noble. The characters might be a little too noble - there's not exactly conflict - but that seems to be Chambers' style. There is a heartbreaking scene with an alien creature about half way through that reminded me of Chambers' 'The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet' - its laid out very well, and I felt it in my bones. The sonaforming doesn't make up as much of the story as I thought it might, rather its a means to an end. Ultimately, I found it fascinating, heavy at times, thought provoking.
7 / 50 books. 14% done!
2010 / 15000 pages. 13% done!
Currently reading:
Journey to the West by Cheng-En Wu - 673 pages
Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich & Dorien Kelly - 310 pages
Vox by Christina Dalcher - 326 pages
And coming up:
The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant: Volume 3: White Gold Wielder by Stephen Donaldson - 500 pages
The Odyssey by Homer - 324 pages
Wolfe Island by Lucy Treloar - 386 pages