Als die junge Marsianerin Rosemary Harper auf der Wayfarer anheuert, wird sie von äußerst gemischten Gefühlen heimgesucht - der ramponierte Raumkreuzer hat schon bessere Zeiten gesehen, und der Job scheint reine Routine: Wurmlöcher durchs Weltall zu bohren, um Verbindungswege zwischen weit entfernten Galaxien anzulegen, ist auf den ersten Blick alles andere als glamourös.
Die Crewmitglieder, mit denen sie nun auf engstem Raum zusammenlebt, gehören den unterschiedlichsten galaktischen Spezies an. Da gibt es die Pilotin Sissix, ein freundliches und polyamoröses reptilienähnliches Wesen, den Mechaniker Jenks, der in die KI des Raumschiffs verliebt ist, und den weisen und gütigen Dr. Chef, der einer aussterbenden Spezies angehört.
Doch dann nimmt Kapitän Ashby den ebenso profitablen wie riskanten Auftrag an, einen Raumtunnel zu einem weit entfernten Planeten anzulegen, auf dem die kriegerische Rasse der Toremi lebt. Für Rosemary verwandelt sich die Flucht vor der eigenen Vergangenheit in das größte Abenteuer ihres Lebens.
Je moet er een beetje van houden denk ik, het is een beetje fluffy en lief met allemaal aardige mensen die het beste met elkaar voor hebben. De Grote Geheimen waar het in de flaptekst over gaat zijn niet heel erg wereldschokkend, en zelfs de (weinige) slechteriken zijn grotendeels niet echt slecht. Niet echt een nagelbijter dus. Maar ach, het is bijna kerst, en we kunnen wel wat woke feelgood gebruiken in de wereld.
Wow, not what I expected: actual character development in a sci-fi title with lots of new species, cultures, and morphologies. How refreshing to take the time for this and not just plot plot plot! It does drag just a teeny bit: I wanted more to happen at one point. But I have faith Chambers can calibrate plot and character development for the rest of this series. Excited to read the rest.
I started reading the book because I was curious about where the plot was heading. Then when it ended I realized I had stopped caring that much about what the end would be. Make no mistake, there's a plot there, and it's good enough. It was not a story that made you stop and think, nor was it hard to follow, but it was a good space adventure.
But, what drew me in was that this book felt like that Mos Eisley cantina, filled with weird and wondrous creatures. Just like in Star Wars, the creatures where not alien as such. They where totally relatable, and mostly funny and exotic suits. Sure, you could say that they where not believable as aliens, but I don't think that was the idea anyway. This was a book about strangers coming together and their relationships developing in interesting directions. Frankly, I …
I started reading the book because I was curious about where the plot was heading. Then when it ended I realized I had stopped caring that much about what the end would be. Make no mistake, there's a plot there, and it's good enough. It was not a story that made you stop and think, nor was it hard to follow, but it was a good space adventure.
But, what drew me in was that this book felt like that Mos Eisley cantina, filled with weird and wondrous creatures. Just like in Star Wars, the creatures where not alien as such. They where totally relatable, and mostly funny and exotic suits. Sure, you could say that they where not believable as aliens, but I don't think that was the idea anyway. This was a book about strangers coming together and their relationships developing in interesting directions. Frankly, I would have skipped this book if the cover text had tried to sell it as a book about relationships. I came for the space adventure, but stayed for the characters.
I felt good reading this book, and that must be a good sign, right? Anyway, it was what I needed.
Optimistic sci fi about a long journey and chosen family
5 stars
So wonderful. I heard that this was an "optimistic" read, and it's true; the characters tackle the adversity they face by being emotionally intelligent, thoughtful, supportive, ethical. It scratched the same itch as, say, Kim Stanley Robinson. Chosen family was a constant theme. To switch mediums, it felt like a mix between Firefly, Star Trek, and She Ra.
I inhaled it! So good!
So wonderful. I heard that this was an "optimistic" read, and it's true; the characters tackle the adversity they face by being emotionally intelligent, thoughtful, supportive, ethical. It scratched the same itch as, say, Kim Stanley Robinson. Chosen family was a constant theme. To switch mediums, it felt like a mix between Firefly, Star Trek, and She Ra.
