A review by messymimms
To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers

adventurous informative 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

4.25

Every time I read a Becky Chambers book (yes, the two whole times) I feel fortunate to be taught. Taught about something new, hopeful and inspiring. 

The relationships between the characters of this book are not explained or displayed, but so much closeness is hinted at. You just know there’s so much behind it. Experience, love, complexity. Even if you wish you could witness it a little more. 

As someone who took an astrobiology module on Coursera once (an expert), I loved the detail of this book. As always, the worldbuilding is epic yet thoughtful. The critters are excellent. Far-fetched and grounded and begging to be televised, honestly. Becky Chambers, CGI is ready for you. I’m ready. 

As a bit of a philosopher (still not an expert but more so than I am in astrobiology) I loved the reflective, tender thread running through this novel. “Why are we here? What are we doing? Why are we doing it?” Ontologists, metaphysicians, epistemologists; my dudes, this one’s for you. 

If anything, I wish this had been longer, I wish I was able to hear the crew’s deliberations and meander longer on these strange worlds. I wish I knew a tiny bit more of what was going on inside the characters’ heads, their history, their lives. But as Ariadne says, some things aren’t to be shared. I guess.

Still, it filled my mind with a sense of wonder. Which is one of my top one things a book can do. I guess it’s bigger on the inside. 
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