Play Book Tag discussion

To Be Taught, If Fortunate - Becky Chambers

4 stars

This is the story of 4 astronauts sent out to explore planets that have a high possibility of having life. They are send by a crowd sourcing organization for the simple goal of scientific discovery. They know their mission will take decades (they are put into torpor during the travel to the solar system they are exploring) and they will not return to Earth until most of their friends and family are gone. The story tells about what they discover while on their mission. As someone who studied evolutionary biology, I found the science in the book very realistic and refreshing. I found myself sharing the enthusiasm of the group of explorers as they made their discoveries. The characters were all unique and interesting and they were easy to route for. The plot is a bit thin if you are not interested in the science aspects and the experience of astronauts in space, but that did not bother me at all. I am looking forward to getting to Chamber's longer books.