The Long Way... To a Common Orbit flash group discussion

Comments~

"Living in space was anything but quiet. Grounders never expected that. For anyone who had grown up planetside, it took sometime to get used to the clicks and hums of a ship, the ever-present ambience that came with living inside a piece of machinery."

Again, another nice way to orient the reader. Having grown up planetside, it was a nice way to make me think about what living in a ship may be like.

So far, I'm really enjoying this writing style. Chambers is getting us through a lot of orienting to the world, the specific setting and the characters of some of the major players. I was a little worried at first that the first chapter's persona would be a secret (no name is given), but at least we go right into getting her fake background along with the captain and Corbin. I was a little reminded of Corey's Leviathan Wakes.

"The Tunnelers" was where I really started to enjoy it a great deal. I loved aspects of the Sector General sci-fi series, particularly the imaginative alien creations. I love Dr. Chef and Sissix. Kitty seems a little outre exaggerated at the moment.

Good points! I'm enjoying the rich character-building and the way we see Ashby-the-man become Ashby-the-captain right at the beginning. Loved Ashby's POV when Corbin was complaining about the new hire: "That was the warning flag, the I can't work under these conditions flag that indicated Corbin was about to go nonlinear. It was time to get him back on the rails." Hooked!

'Going nonlinear' is making an appearance at the next family get-tother. :)

Am I the only one who thinks 'red coast bugs' seem like lobsters (aka water bugs)? For Rosemary's welcome dinner I absolutely see them eating grilled lobster! Love the idea of cheap, easy protein bugs as well-suited to space travel, also the 'algae as fuel' (tho granted it doesn't get explained). Nice touches.

No, I see the 'bugs' as lobster as well. I think she mentions that they are like crab or something. Actually, it is a really clever space idea, isn't it? No messy methane byproducts. Cheap, easy, compact protein.

Going nonlinear is quite funny. Only works if you have linear people ;)

Started it, enjoying it quite a bit so far. Someone, I forget who, compared it to Chris Wooding's Ketty Jay series, and it definitely has a bit of that vibe to it.

Language is nice and clear, setting is Standard Sci-Fi without being bland about it. Dr. Chef and Sissix are great, even if I'm still trying to wrap my brain around what Dr. Chef looks like (Sissix has been tagged as 'anthropomorphic archaeopteryx', so that works).

Ha! I hear you on Dr. Chef. I stopped to try and picture him in my mind as well. I was going with a caterpillar shaped thing, which probably isn't right at all. I thought Sissix was well done, a sense of being different but still relatable.

Kind of like Kitty Jay, but overall more likeable. All of Kitty's characters have some serious flaws, particularly at first.

I have Dr. Chef brain-scanned as a giant glob of Silly Putty with a head and 6 clunky limbs … in an aloha shirt … ;)

Ha!

"Arrivals": (this is a rehash of some things I deleted from another thread.) It's a little irritating to be told by the narrative, several times, that I should dislike somebody, rather than being given the leeway to make my own opinion.

"Tipoff": tour of the ship! The flow comes to a halt frequently to explain things to Rosemary, or the reader, in these early chapters, but once the scene is set I assume that the pace will even out.

"The Tunnelers": So far I think that Sissix's expressions are a little too human, the smiles and sighs and so on, although I've read a couple of reviews that hint that there are gulfs in cultural attitude between human and "lizard."

I've read a couple of SF stories where fish is the staple animal food on spaceships. Arthropods aren't too much of a stretch from there.

"Technical Details": The back-and-forth between Welks and Lovey is interesting--in their imaginings of a Lovey with a body, Lovey seems quite willing to form herself along the lines of Welks's desire, while he insists on her wants.

I wonder why creating ambulatory AIs is illegal. To forestall the creation of AI slaves, perhaps?

So far, so fun!

Interesting thoughts, Beth. I hadn't read much about fish as stock protein, but that totally makes sense as well.

I thought most of the time Sissix felt extremely human, which may have been the point. They go into her differences more later.

With the being told not to like someone--do you mean Corbin/the algae guy (I'm so terrible with names)?

I was a little uncomfortable with some of the Jenks/Lovey dynamic, just because she seemed so human. I believed it more later in the book. I understand the cultures not wanting to go there and making it so that people can't be confused between 'real' people and 'artificial' people. The cultural/legal sanctions would need to be horrific if they have the capability but didn't use it. The question then becomes, how do they get a useable body? How can government not be tracking those things if it is such an issue?

I think Dr. Chef has been tagged in my brain now as a six-limbed otter. Which is cute, so I'm going with that.

On a less pleasant note, I will say that while governments are undoubtedly tracking things, black markets have a way of thriving. According to the Global Slavery Index, there are an estimated 58,000 people living in slavery (forced labor of one sort or another) in the United States. And back in the 90s, when the Soviet Union fell apart, there were so many Soviet weapons floating around they're still not all accounted for.

A story I recall from a documentary on the Russian Mafiya. Some London-based mobster thought that the Columbians had a good idea, and called an arms dealer contact of his asking to buy an old Soviet submarine to use for drug smuggling. So the contact asks him, "Do you want it with or without missiles?"

And this is all modern day. Now add multi-species diplomacy and the vastness of space. I'm *certain* that black markets will exist for all things.

Yep, Corbin the algae guy is the one. :) He must be nasty if an adult, open-minded, gregarious and egalitarian crew has given him the cold shoulder. Right? My own baggage is making me feel sorry for him, though, so there's a dissonance.

Agreed that the AI situation with Lovey raises some discomfiting questions. I'm interested in seeing where Chambers takes that relationship.

Mikhail wrote: "And this is all modern day. Now add multi-species diplomacy and the vastness of space. I'm *certain* that black markets will exist for all things.

I believe the black market will be around, I was more idly speculating on the concept of an artificial body in this world. Do we have robots? Somehow, when I read, I thought it would be completely human physiologically, but realized during this discussion that I wasn't sure. Either way, seems like expensive/exclusive tech that would make it easier to track. (Is it body-switching/brain downloading ala Richard Morgan's Altered Carbon ?)

Just chiming in without reading the other comments yet because I'm not all the way through these chapters.
I just met Kizzy and Jenks. I love all the characters already. Thanks again for inviting me and getting this on my radar!

Yay! Glad you joined, Emily, and that you are enjoying it.

I'm visualizing Dr. Chef as a caterpillar with an otter head and gill things on his neck. I think he's my favorite so far. (only 55 pages in though so that is subject to change!)

I love how the ship's crew is a small family complete with its dysfunctions and favorites. I was afraid that this book was going to be more 'technical' science fiction than character based and I'm so relieved to find that isn't the case.

Haven't read all the comments yes, but the crew is gathering around the dinner table, talking about porn and shoes... I feel like I could live with these people.

Glad to hear it is working (more or less) for you, Heidi. :) I'm usually not much of a technical sci fi either, unless its the survivalist take on it.

Naomi wrote: "Haven't read all the comments yes, but the crew is gathering around the dinner table, talking about porn and shoes... I feel like I could live with these people."

:D For an inter-species crew, they do seem to find the common denominators (mostly).

I tend to think that's the book's greatest strength. These are totally people you want to be around. They're realistic and fun (and remind me of some of my zanier friends).

Mikhail, I agree with you. I think the book's greatest strength is that these are people I wouldn't mind being around. Although, they might all be a bit too perfect...hard to say.

Ack! I'm so behind.

I was OOT for a week or so and I'm just about to hit "Tip Off."

I do want to say that my OCD hates that there is no ToC and/or numbered chapters. I like to know what # I'm at and I can't do that with out a ToC.

I am enjoying the writing thus far. I've strayed from SciFi as more and more of it is so Hard - I don't always do well with the Hard SciFi.

It's very character-driven sci-fi, MrsJ., so hopefully that'll continue to work for you :)

Still lagging behind but enjoying this a lot.
I actually like Corbin and don't feel like I'm not supposed to. He's a grump and a worrier, but I think he's going to show more layers as the story progresses. I'm sure you all know if I'm right or wrong about that by now. My kindle tells me I'm 20% through.
I like how the world building is working so far, done more in fun dialogue than characters reflecting for pages on how their world works or hefty expository on the part of the author.

True, a lot of the world building is through dialogue. Probably one reason we needed Rosemary -- she acts as the naive reader.

Carol. wrote: "True, a lot of the world building is through dialogue. Probably one reason we needed Rosemary -- she acts as the naive reader."

I totally agree Carol - it almost feels as though she is there to be our eyes, I'm actually looking forward to her getting a little more fleshed out and characterful.

I have to admit that I'm finding Kizzy a little grating - unpopular opinion maybe, but the Firefly comparison is too much there (Kizzy/Kaylee, bubbly excitable ship's mechanic?) and Kizzy is that bit too far over the top. I'm missing Kaylee - she would totally get on with this lot. The other characters are pretty intriguing thus far though - and Dr Chef is wonderful in particular!

You know, while I like Firefly, I didn't get too attached since hubby hates to watch reruns of almost anything.

So Kizzy managed not to irritate me and I didn't really compare her to anyone.

I watched Firefly for my first time a few years back, and Kizzy definitely seemed like a Kaylee take off--the optimism, the cheer, the impaired sense of style, creative, loyal, mechanically gifted, plain-speaking... yeah, for sure. But the 'socks match my hat' song won me over.

What endeared Kizzy to me were the portions in the latter half of the book where we see things from her point of view. I think she gains some depth there from her earlier somewhat cute-and-shallow presentation. In the long run she was one of two favorites.

Carol. wrote: ""Living in space was anything but quiet. Grounders never expected that. For anyone who had grown up planetside, it took sometime to get used to the clicks and hums of a ship, the ever-present ambie..."

This pasage sold the bopok for me, it's very evocative. Reminds me of Clarke's description of space life (I think from Rendezvous with Rama or may be "2001".

Carol. wrote: "True, a lot of the world building is through dialogue. Probably one reason we needed Rosemary -- she acts as the naive reader."

Kind of galaxy building really, a lot of work must have gone into it. I'm sorry I'm doing this "read along" wrong, as you know, I already finished the book! I just like to read from beginning to end then discuss it. (´∀｀*)

Heh, Apatt, whatever way you want to read. I'm sure people are still checking in occasionally (if they get notified!)

Funny that that was the phrase that sold you... I set up the thread before reading, and I was struck by that description as well. Reminded me of how a boat has it's own noises, or even a house--air filters, random creaks, trees dropping sticks, rabid squirrels, etc. ;)

Tell me about it! Notifications are crap here. :-(

I can't really say what sold me on finishing - I just went from "meh" to realizing I was having fun.

Right? It kind of sneaks up on you.

(unlike notifications)