To Be Taught, If Fortunate

By: Becky Chambers

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

"Extraordinary...A future sci-fi masterwork in a new and welcome tradition." (Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat)

A stand-alone science fiction novella from the award-winning, best-selling, critically acclaimed author of the Wayfarer series.

At the turn of the 22nd century, scientists make a breakthrough in human spaceflight. Through a revolutionary method known as somaforming, astronauts can survive in hostile environments off Earth using synthetic biological supplementations. They can produce antifreeze in subzero temperatures, absorb radiation and convert it for food, and conveniently adjust to the pull of different gravitational forces. With the fragility of the body no longer a limiting factor, human beings are at last able to journey to neighboring exoplanets long known to harbor life.

A team of these explorers, Ariadne O’Neill and her three crewmates, are hard at work in a planetary system 15 light-years from Sol, on a mission to ecologically survey four habitable worlds. But as Ariadne shifts through both form and time, the culture back on Earth has also been transformed. Faced with the possibility of returning to a planet that has forgotten those who have left, Ariadne begins to chronicle the story of the wonders and dangers of her mission, in the hope that someone back home might still be listening.

©2019 Becky Chambers (P)2019 HarperAudio

A Contemplative Story, Worth the Listen

This novella is full of poignant moments on what it means to be an explorer and a scientist. It gets into the gritty details of the work while still fleshing out and maintaining the humanity of a small, diverse group of characters – all framed with an insightful inquiry to the imagined reader.

This was a reflective, hopeful read that is probably – if I'm being honest – not for everyone. Much of the narrative is philosophic in nature, and while there is action, it is often punctuated with long stretches of curious narrative and interpersonal development. The fact that there doesn't seem to be an unnecessary component in the entire narrative, which does offset the contemplative components. The plot is tight and well developed and the whole thing is self-contained, making this a brilliant but quick read.

Fans of Becky Chambers' Wayfarer novels will enjoy this, generally, but it is not related to that work. I also think 'To be Taught, If Fortunate' is on the whole a demonstration of the author's amazing progression since the first entry of that series, which set a high bar to start. the narrator did justice to the story as well, setting the tone the whole way through.

Space Exploration and Humanity

I enjoyed this story, both the pacing and the science of it. It made me feel lonely and slightly sad at moments, the thought of space and only having a handful of humans to talk to while watching history happen from a distance.

But it was a good story, I liked the writing and the exploration aspect.

My favorite yet

I have listened to the Wayfarer series, but this is my favorite Becky Chambers book yet. I like their love of scientific inquiry, the imagined worlds, and even the uncertain ending.
The narrator is MUCH better than the narrator for the Wayfarer series.

pure "science" fiction

the author packs a lot of science into this riveting journey to new worlds and leaves you with the big questions about the fundamental mysteries about who we are and this strange stage of the universe that we play out our lives on

stellar story, written and narrated masterfully

I cannot express what a joy it has been listening to Chambers' books. They have been original and precious and a wonderful, educational, and philosophical experience.

Great listen but a disappointing ending

I love Becky Chamber’s books and her writing style but this time I just couldn’t agree with the ending. I felt like it was too indecisive and out of character. Maybe if there was more dialogue leading up to that moment it would have made more sense to me. Still like the book though, definitely worth listening to. The narrator is great as always.

Heartwarming and heartbreaking!

To Be Taught, If Fortunate
by Becky Chambers
I love all the other books she has written and enjoyed this one too but I was disappointed with the ending. Of all the choices that was possible, the least rational one was chosen and didn't fit with the book.
The characters and plot were good. The book was short so the character's development wasn't the usual Chambers exquisite but still I felt I knew them enough to know they would not have chosen the ending! Ugh!
I gave the book a 3 1/2 rounding to a 4!
Terrific narration. I got this from Audible.

Early interstellar flight

This is not part of her other series but deals with a 4-person crew exploring science and ecologies. Fascinating characters and premises. As with her other stories a minimum of violence and concentration on characters. What type of people would agree to isolate themselves and leave all they know for decades on a long mission? What type of organization would be set up to support scientific space exploration while the world also fights a severe climate crisis? Overall excellent.

Exceptional

Beautiful, poignant, the best kind of sci-fi in my opinion. I'll read anything Becky Chambers writes.

Outstanding.

Typically when you try to read an authors work in reverse publication order things get rougher as you go. Not so the case with Becky Chambers. Psalm for the Wild Built and its sequel may be my favorite but To Be Taught if Fortunate really is outstanding,