The Galaxy, and the Ground Within

A Novel

By: Becky Chambers

Narrated by: Rachel Dulude

Return to the sprawling, Hugo Award-winning universe of the Galactic Commons to explore another corner of the cosmos—one often mentioned, but not yet explored—in this absorbing entry in the Wayfarers series, which blends heart-warming characters and imaginative adventure.

With no water, no air, and no native life, the planet Gora is unremarkable. The only thing it has going for it is a chance proximity to more popular worlds, making it a decent stopover for ships traveling between the wormholes that keep the Galactic Commons connected. If deep space is a highway, Gora is just your average truck stop.

At the Five-Hop One-Stop, long-haul spacers can stretch their legs (if they have legs, that is), and get fuel, transit permits, and assorted supplies. The Five-Hop is run by an enterprising alien and her sometimes helpful child, who work hard to provide a little piece of home to everyone passing through.

When a freak technological failure halts all traffic to and from Gora, three strangers—all different species with different aims—are thrown together at the Five-Hop. Grounded, with nothing to do but wait, the trio—an exiled artist with an appointment to keep, a cargo runner at a personal crossroads, and a mysterious individual doing her best to help those on the fringes—are compelled to confront where they’ve been, where they might go, and what they are, or could be, to each other.

character-driven, slice of life, found family

This novel is a breath of fresh air for me. It’s not plot-heavy. A small group of strangers are stranded together for four days and become a family. It’s introspective as heck and leaves me with a calm, peaceful feeling.

Love this author/narrator duo

This series has such vivid imagery and engaging plot twists. Zero anxiety but all the fun of sci-fi. 10/10

Gets to the heart of social issues amd humanity by way of alien cultures

What I love about Becky Chambers books is that she does have hard science about space exploration and alien cultures but somehow it really is about humanity. What makes a being human regardless of their biology.

Very Good

As with other books that this author has written you have to bend reality a bit to get into the story. However with that done the stories just feel great.

painting with words

The author's weird choices invite a kind of poetry. The language is organic and colorful, thought provoking.