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mirandyli's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A quick cute read about queers in space. Very informative from a scientific perspective.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, and Abandonment
nina_rae_131's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
“If you read nothing else we’ve sent home, please at least read this.”
To Be Taught, If Fortunate is written to an Earth who has forgotten the four astronauts they sent into deep space decades prior. It is accessible to people from all backgrounds. The scientific concepts are explained. They avoid jargon and don’t dive too deeply into the specifics. In some parts, it was overexplained to the point that I found myself skimming, but I have a background in ecology and evolution.
To Be Taught, If Fortunate is written to an Earth who has forgotten the four astronauts they sent into deep space decades prior. It is accessible to people from all backgrounds. The scientific concepts are explained. They avoid jargon and don’t dive too deeply into the specifics. In some parts, it was overexplained to the point that I found myself skimming, but I have a background in ecology and evolution.
Ariadne, our narrator, is not a scientist but an engineer. She is a jack of all trades, master of none, and helps all three of her co-astronauts across three exoplanets and a moon. The author explores how conditions on these planets vary from Earth and the changes humans have to endure to survive there. She writes about the joy of discovery through the new animals and plants she describes. She explores the responsibility humans have to leave no trace (exploration, not colonization). She also looks at the effects of isolation and how the world moved on after the astronauts started their journey.
It feels like nonfiction, which I enjoyed, but may not be for everybody. There were lots of descriptions about the planets’ ecology, along with the research the astronauts did. There is not a lot of action. It also focuses on the relationships between the characters, the love and friendship, the strain of isolation, etc.
I would recommend this book to people who want to know the unknown. To the people who look up into the stars or deep into the ocean and wonder what is hiding in the dark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Abandonment
innerweststreetlibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is a sweet, or perhaps bittersweet, exploration of ideas about the possible future of space exploration. I enjoyed the altruistic vision of a future human society that considers the ethics and impact of colonisation. The world building is fun too!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Confinement
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
jebecky's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Vomit, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Ableism and Medical content
mythian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
bluemonkey14's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is my first time reading any of Chambers' work, it was recommended to me as a thought-provoking, philosophical type of read and it really delivered on that. It isn't a cosy read, but I didn't find it super bleak either. Yes, the book leaves a lot of questions plot-wise, but I think more important are the questions it leaves with the reader.
I think if you go into this expecting everything to be wrapped up nicely, you'll end up disappointed. But if you go in looking to expand your mind, think about some big issues and questions, and go away with some "homework", you'll absolutely love it.
I think if you go into this expecting everything to be wrapped up nicely, you'll end up disappointed. But if you go in looking to expand your mind, think about some big issues and questions, and go away with some "homework", you'll absolutely love it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
eni_iilorak's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Grief
babudarabu's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Medical content, Abandonment, and Dysphoria
_david_'s review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book is exactly the type of story and focus I want from a sci-fi space exploration book.
The book and its descriptions of their discoveries sparked a magical feeling in me that I haven't felt since I was a child: Of looking up to the sky and wondering what's out there.
The focus is on the characters and their mindset. It shows the curiosity of scientists and how different a stressful situation can influence people. I loved the diversity of planets and what was on them. A planet doesn't have to be an oasis bursting with flora and fauna to be mesmerizing.
I loved the mindset of the crew, that they were observers, not colonizers. I wish OCA was real. I don't think there's a book with a more fitting title than this one.
The story felt a lot longer than it was, in a good way. It felt very full without feeling rushed or too fast paced. There was a moment just before the ending that I can imagine to be dull to someone without a (bio)chemistry background, but the narrator acknowledges that and it makes use of its dullness to make the ending even stronger. I really liked the ending.
The reason that I give this book 4 stars instead of 5 is that the characters did not all feel feel fully rounded. The quirks and parts of the personalities which were described were strong and interesting. I think what I would've liked to see was a little less predictability in the three side-characters personalities.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
sweetcaptainlily's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
An amazing love letter to science and space exploration. Absolutely beautiful. It captures the devotion to the pursuit of knowledge so well
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Confinement
Moderate: Suicide and Abandonment