Play Book Tag discussion

The Galaxy and the Ground Within - Chambers
Audio performance by Rachel Dulude
4 stars

I seem to remember Nichelle Nichols commenting that the original Star Trek screen plays were actually morality tales. The Wayfarer’s series by Becky Chambers also fits that definition; entertaining science fiction adventure with an underlying message of racial, sexual, and gender diversity. This book, the last in the series, has only one very minor human character. Chambers placed three strangers of different alien species (four species including the proprietor) at the space travel equivalent of a truck stop during a massive, but temporary, tech failure.

My favorite book in this series was the first one, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. That book was mostly a space opera adventure with satisfying interpersonal relationships. The diversity message was an integral part of the plot without becoming too much of a preaching tool. This book was entertaining and heartwarming. I thoroughly enjoyed it. But, the balance tipped a bit toward the moral lesson. I don’t object to the message, but it did make me think in terms of lesson plans and young adult discussion groups.