A review by dlrosebyh
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

adventurous emotional 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

3.25

Lovelace was previously only an artificial intelligence on a ship. She must start again in a synthetic body in a society where people of her type are forbidden when she awakens in a new body after a complete system shutdown and reboot. Never has she felt so alone.

She is not, however, truly alone. Pepper, one of the engineers who risked life and limb to reinstall Lovelace, is determined to help her acclimate to her new surroundings. Pepper is an expert at beginning fresh, after all.

Avoid making the same mistake I did and read this book without expecting a plot-heavy story because the action doesn't start until the last 5%. Nothing in particular was wrong with it—it brought me all sorts of comfort—but i was just not in the mood for it. As a mood reader, i needed something plot heavy, so it kind of wrecked the experience for me.

This sequel follows an AI and a human with knowledge of AIs. In the first book, we meet them but don't follow them. This book is fantastic if you enjoy reading in-depth character studies and analyses. If you love character driven stories— no plot, just vibes— then this one is for you.
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