The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

Average Bufph Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

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The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

the most hopeful, charming and cosy novel to curl up with

Becky Chambers

2015-03-16

LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILEY'S WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION

'A quietly profound, humane tour de force' Guardian

The beloved debut novel that will restore your faith in humanity

#SmallAngryPlanet


When Rosemary Harper joins the crew of the Wayfarer, she isn't expecting much. The ship, which has seen better days, offers her everything she could possibly want: a small, quiet spot to call home for a while, adventure in far-off corners of the galaxy, and distance from her troubled past.

But Rosemary gets more than she bargained for with the Wayfarer. The crew is a mishmash of species and personalities, from Sissix, the friendly reptillian pilot, to Kizzy and Jenks, the constantly sparring engineers who keep the ship running. Life on board is chaotic, but more or less peaceful - exactly what Rosemary wants.

Until the crew are offered the job of a lifetime: the chance to build a hyperspace tunnel to a distant planet. They'll earn enough money to live comfortably for years... if they survive the long trip through war-torn interstellar space without endangering any of the fragile alliances that keep the galaxy peaceful.

But Rosemary isn't the only person on board with secrets to hide, and the crew will soon discover that space may be vast, but spaceships are very small indeed.

PRAISE FOR THE WAYFARERS

'Never less than deeply involving'
DAILY MAIL

'Explores the quieter side of sci-fi while still wowing us with daring leaps of imagination' iBOOKS

'So much fun to read' HEAT

'Chambers is simply an exceptional talent, quietly and beautifully redefining the space opera' TOR.COM

'The most fun that I've had with a novel in a long, long time' iO9

Reviews by public Bufph profiles
  • alex-jimenez profile picture
    alex-jimenez
    April 11, 2026

    Becky Chambers' debut novel offers a fresh take on space opera through the lens of the interstellar spaceship Wayfarer. The narrative's strength lies in its rich, diverse characterizations and the exploration of identity and belonging against the backdrop of a beautifully crafted universe. Chambers weaves a story that is as much about the journey as the destination, emphasizing the importance of community and empathy in the vastness of space. The prose is accessible, yet profoundly contemplative, making it a standout piece in contemporary speculative fiction.

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