MY MONTH WITH... BECKY CHAMBERS | Warm, funny and contemplative science fiction...

[@RaynorReadsStuff]

Really interesting video Alex. I have got to get round to reading some Becky Chambers 😊

[@alex_unabridged]

Thanks Debs! ☺I wholehearted recommend both of these of course, but I'd suggest starting with To Be Taught If Fortunate - it's a warm, compact and contemplative piece of science fiction. That or the first Monk and Robot book (A Psalm for the Wildbuilt) if you want a hug in book form 😉

[@anthonyprice4862]

Ah, so pleased you enjoyed more of Becky Chambers. I own these two books and can now press on reading them with far less trepidation!

[@alex_unabridged]

@@anthonyprice4862 oh I think you’ll like them a lot! They’re both full of Chambers’ signature warmth and thoughtfulness. To Be Taught If Fortunate in particular, the more I think about that one the more I love it - it’s rivalling Psalm for the Wild Built for the top spot on my Chambers book ranking! Let me know how you get on with them when you’ve read them! 😀

[@tyghe_bright]

I've read To Be Taught if Fortunate and LOVED it, and the first Monk and Robot book--which was like a hug. I'm really looking forward to reading more.

[@alex_unabridged]

I knew I'd enjoy To Be Taught If Fortunate, but didn't expect to love it as much as I did! I think I preferred it to 'Long Way', not that that one wasn't fabulous as well. The first Monk and Robot book will take some knocking off the top spot for me as it's the one that introduced me to Chambers work and was such as glorious surprise in how much joy I felt reading it and getting to know the characters. But I do think 'To Be Taught' came close for sure. Have you read the second Monk and Robot book yet?

[@tyghe_bright]

@@alex_unabridged Not yet, but I will soon!

[@troytradup]

So glad to hear Becky Chambers holds up beyond Monk and Robot!

[@alex_unabridged]

Abso-flippin'-lutely she does! She is my ultimate comfort author, and one I'm a little jealous/in awe of as a writer. Not sure how you'd get on with 'Long Way' (don't think you'd hate it or anything like that, but not sure if it's your jam or not), but I do recommend trying 'To Be Taught If Fortunate'. I think you'd probably get on well with that, it's nice and compact and has some interesting ideas/questions in it. 😀

[@troytradup]

@@alex_unabridged Another close friend pushed "Long Way" on me pretty aggressively when it first came out. I'll get to it one day. I honestly don't think I've ever seen a copy of "To Be Taught" in the wild. I'll start watching for it.

[@alex_unabridged]

@@troytradup yeah, keep your eyes peeled! It’s not too hard to find over here, there’s usually a copy floating around in the big chain stores and there’s always a few in the queer bookshops. I got a copy out of the library but I’ll be buying one for keeps when I next get the chance! Is a definite keeper, I’ll read it again for sure 👍

[@troytradup]

@@alex_unabridged I'll probably end up at B&N for the July Criterion sale one of these days. I'll make a special point to seek it out. Pretty sure I haven't seen it at Dreamhaven or Uncle Hugo's.