Wayfarers Series in Order by Becky Chambers

"The Galaxy, and the Ground Within" is a science fiction novel by Becky Chambers, published in 2021 by Harper Voyager. It is the fourth and final book in the Wayfarers series. The book follows four travelers from different planets who are stranded at a rest stop on a long, isolated road. They must learn to coexist and understand each other's backgrounds while waiting for their ships to be repaired. The novel explores themes of isolation, connection, and the importance of community. The characters have meaty debates, and the book is full of delightful descriptions of alien cultures. Despite being set in space, the book is a slice of life that resonates with our own unexpected pause and how an unplanned and undesired halt to where we think we're going can change things irrevocably.

"Record of a Spaceborn Few" is the third standalone novel in the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers. Published in 2018, it is a science fiction novel that delves into the lives of characters living in the Exodus fleet, which was briefly mentioned in the preceding books. The novel follows the perspectives of five characters: Tessa, a laborer and mother of two; Kip, a restless teenager; Isabel, an elderly archivist; Sawyer, a recent immigrant; and Eyas, a "caretaker" who performs Exodan funerary practices. Through their stories, the book explores themes of human connection, community, and the search for meaning in a vast and ever-changing universe. With Chambers' signature blend of heart-warming character relationships and dazzling adventure, "Record of a Spaceborn Few" offers a thought-provoking exploration of life in the Exodus fleet and the complexities of human existence in a future society. It is a standalone novel that can be enjoyed on its own, but it is also part of the larger Wayfarers series.

"A Closed and Common Orbit" is a companion novel to "The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet" by Becky Chambers. The book follows the story of Lovelace, an artificial intelligence who was once a ship's AI. After a system shut-down and reboot, Lovelace wakes up in a new body and must navigate the challenges of being human. She learns about the limitations of having a physical form with only two eyes and a limited memory. Throughout the book, Lovelace encounters a gender-fluid alien who helps her understand her new existence. The writing in the book is praised for its exquisite quality, and Chambers' worldbuilding is commended for its originality and diversity. The story takes place in Port Coriol, a vibrant and bustling setting that adds to the immersive experience. "A Closed and Common Orbit" explores themes of identity, humanity, and the bonds that form between different species in a shared universe.

"The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet" is a science fiction novel by Becky Chambers, the first in the author's Wayfarers series. The story follows Rosemary Harper, a young woman with a troubled past, who joins the crew of the Wayfarer, a patched-up ship that creates hyperspace tunnels for long-distance space travel. The novel is more focused on character development than plot, and it explores themes of humanity, diversity, and acceptance. The book is well-written and beautifully crafted, with a large cast of drastically different characters. While some readers may have trouble connecting with the crew, the amount of care and attention Chambers has put into these characters and her vision of the galaxy is deeply apparent. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is a philosophical work that raises questions about what it means to be human.