The Galaxy and the Ground Within

The Galaxy, and the Ground Within is the fifth and apparently final book in the Wayfarers series. To say I'm going to miss visiting this world is an understatement. The Galactic Commons are an amazing place and Becky Chambers has been telling stories there for several years now, introducing us to new characters and examining the human condition. Although there are no humans here, actually. Everyone in this story is an alien- but this just makes the insights even more gripping. 

An unforeseen accident involving satellites leads to three crews being stranded on Gora at the Five Hop waystation. The planet Gora is not a destination, but it does lie at a nexus of wormhole routes so waystations like Ouloo's serve the clientele passing along. Each crew in this story is a single person- or rather, alien- and each has their own secrets and plans. What happens when they are thrown together? 

And not just thrown together. They become friends- maybe- but along the way we have three different takes- and personalities- on what it means to be human. At least for our benefit. In- universe they're not human at all, and yet we find that in many ways they share the same hopes, dreams, fears. To be a parent, to be in love, to wrestle with moral questions. At what point do we change- or allow ourselves to change- at what point do we allow ourselves to question our moral assumptions- the way we've always done things, just because we always have? 

The queer rep here is paramount- gender fluidity is common, and there are so many questions raised here about how we do things, and what assumptions are made. This is a look at how differences can be surmounted through friendship- love, acceptance- even when we don't agree. At the same time it challenges us again to revisit our assumptions and, in a way, embrace chaos and change, instead of standing still. I want to live in a world like this- where people are accepted, and where one can see the stars, and live a life unfettered by old prejudices. Of course, not every custom or law is archaic or useless- there is always a balance.  

I'm going to miss the Wayfarers universe. I'll read anything Becky Chambers writes, and these books will always be there if I wish to revisit. This is a world I like to think about in my imagination. If you like to be uplifted, entertained, challenged- read these.