A review by mpho3
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I quite enjoyed the first Wayfarer's entry, A Long Way to An Angry Planet, especially the large cast of well-drawn out and distinctive characters. Common Orbit draws out two minor characters from Book 1. I was initially saddened to realize I wouldn't spend time with any of the main crew from the first series installment, but in the end, I was impressed by what Chambers did with fewer characters "at home" versus a big group of beings making their way across the universe. Chambers delivers again, as long as you're not expecting conventional storytelling where, which is also true of Angry Planet. Her books are very much in the slice-of-life vein, with the journey granted more importance than the destination. However, while Angry Planet was positioned amidst a "road trip", Common Orbit's journeys are primarily interior ones rooted in survival and resilience. In both books, Chambers expresses a diversity of gender, sexuality, and cultural or societal norms in a matter-of-fact way that bucks the tradition of violence and denunciation that dominates headlines. All in all, I find it refreshing to spend time in the world's Chambers has created. There's a reason some have taken to describing her books as "comfort" or "cozy" sci fi, even if sometimes meant disparagingly. Readers who prefer to be discomfited or seeking something less character driven should look elsewhere.