Record of a Spaceborn Few

by Becky Chambers

Audiobook, 368 pages

Published Oct. 9, 2018 by HarperAudio.

Return to the sprawling universe of the Galactic Commons, as humans, artificial intelligence, aliens, and some beings yet undiscovered explore what it means to be a community in this exciting third adventure in the acclaimed and multi-award-nominated science fiction Wayfarers series, brimming with heartwarming characters and dazzling space adventure. Hundreds of years ago, the last humans on Earth boarded the Exodus Fleet in search of a new home among the stars. After centuries spent wandering empty space, their descendants were eventually accepted by the well-established species that govern the Milky Way. But that was long ago. Today, the Exodus Fleet is a living relic, the birthplace of many, yet a place few outsiders have ever visited. While the Exodans take great pride in their original community and traditions, their culture has been influenced by others beyond their bulkheads. As many Exodans leave for alien cities or terrestrial colonies, those who remain are left to ponder their own lives and futures: What is the purpose of a ship that has reached its destination? Why remain in space when there are habitable worlds available to live? What is the price of sustaining their carefully balanced way of life—and is it worth saving at all? A young apprentice, a lifelong spacer with young children, a planet-raised traveler, an alien academic, a caretaker for the dead, and an Archivist whose mission is to ensure no one’s story is forgotten, wrestle with these profound universal questions. The answers may seem small on the galactic scale, but to these individuals, it could mean everything.

6 editions

KnitAFett reviewed Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers (Wayfarers, #3)

3.5 Rounded down

3 stars

I had a hard time making it through the first half of this one. It felt disjointed due to jumping around between multiple groups too quickly. Once the binding event happened in the last 50% of the book, it became easier to get through and follow along. I also just had a rough time connecting to the characters. I stuck it out through the first half because I did enjoy the dive into the Exodan culture and how they're still trying to find their place in the universe. Definitely my least favorite in the series so far.

Kartoffel reviewed Unter uns die Nacht by Becky Chambers (Wayfarers, #3)

Ein nuanciertes Gemälde der "Flotte" aus den Perspektiven verschiedener Protagonist*innen

3 stars

Aus verschiedenen Perspektiven wird die "Flotte" mit Leben gefüllt. Die Story an sich ist nicht spannend, aber schön zu lesen.

el dang reviewed Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers (Wayfarers, #3)

Broadens the world of this series nicely

4 stars

I appreciated how much this book fills out the world and culture of its setting through individual characters' stories, without having to do a lot of Worldbuilding per se. I found each main character in some way relatable, and particularly enjoyed the way their initially disparate stories gradually get connected to each other. In the end I didn't find it quite as satisfying as the more tightly focussed stories of the first two books, but it's very nicely done and has a lot of very timely stuff to say about ways people care for each other or fail to, and about both emigration and immigration.