#a closed and common orbit

[ieafy]

I’m reading Becky Chambers’ Wayfarers series and this is (sort of!!) how I would imagine Pepper and Blue in my head 🥺

[callmemanatee]

I've heard fans say there should be a movie adaptation of The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, but consider this instead: a YouTube channel with a series of "vlogs" where characters from the Wayfarers books talk about what they're up to these days.

It would be small-scale, personal, and sweet. Just like the books we've grown to love.

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

THE WAYFARERS by Becky Chambers. This is one of my all-time fave go-to fluffy comfort series (with just enough heart crimes to keep things intense), and therefore is also my first ever Illumicrate order. I am Weak™ for painted edges.

[darkwindowofdreams]

me after realizing why Pepper chose that as her name

[koshercosplay]

one of the (many) things that resonated with me after reading the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers (if you haven't read them yet, GO READ THEM) is Ouloo's opinion on the exhaustion of political activism vs taking the easy way out and letting others do the work for you.

she wants to live a quiet life, and she wants people to stop killing each other. that's the extent of her politics. she doesn't know the complexities of the political landscape of the galactic commons in which she lives, nor is she obligated to become an expert in it: fundamentally, she wants people to get along, and she wants to serve them cake, and she does her best to live her life in exactly those terms. when she's confronted with her own biases, she works doubly hard on herself to overcome them, because her existence is dominated by that one, very very simple thing: be kind to others. some of the other characters look down at her for it, saying it's naive, that the world can't be made better with cake, that if she really cared she'd do something more tangible about it.

but I think there's something really valuable in that mindset. I want to be kind to others, and I want others to get along. I don't have the answers to all of the political questions in our society. but also, I don't have to. not everyone is capable of being loud and angry. I go through so much anxiety and stress, worrying that I'm not doing enough, I'm not loud enough, I'm not doing my part to change the world we live in, what if I'm just being lazy?

sometimes living your own life gently and with kindness and interacting with others from a place of love is enough. we need both kinds of people in the world. and sometimes gentle people get loud, and sometimes loud people need gentleness.

not having all the answers all the time is okay. worrying is not activism. anxiety is not activism. you are allowed to take care of your body and mind.

[apple-byter]

Call me insane but the only romance I wanna read is the socially complex interspecies relationships in Wayfarers

[stardustdiver]

I FINISHED THE WAYFAIRER SERIES AND IT WAS IMPECCABLE, 10/10

it explores interspecies relationships on a professional level, personal level, and as a society in general. potential mild spoilers ahead but this is all what i liked about the series: (theres more too i dont wanna tldr the whole series)

environments not suited for certain species so accommodations made to make them feel more at ease

harmingans more suited to moist and not too harshly scented environments, use of mobility aids akin to electric wheelchair to not touch the ground (and equipped with mist machines for the moisture they need)

aeluons who primarily use colour to speak so specific aeuleon branded grey paint being used to paint buildings

varying types of grooming care and seating, sleeping arrangements for the different species like aandrisk, aeluon, laru

dives into the varying parental styles of each species, and doesnt devalue one type in preference for another

doesnt shy away from different species asking personal questions related to the species on how they operate, because they never get to experience their sensations

uses they/them/their for the sianat species that bonds with a hivemind host, so in turn uses xey/xem/xyr for neutral pronouns

the all non-human characters in the last book discussing the concept of cheese, and being equally disgusted by it

[a-mymble-that-mumbles]

I know that a Wayfarers fandom exists somewhere. SOMEWHERE.

AND I CANT FIND IT.

Hear me now

I will find you

I will join you

And I will never be seen again.

Thank you for your time.

*i know it exists but not as much as I want it to*

[boyduroy]

Please do yourself a favor and go read the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers, it is such amazing queer science fiction that explores themes of family, belonging, and Identity

[cutespacegoblin]

Human:crying tears of joy

Alien (thinking):wtf is this human doing and what is coming out of her eyes

Alien: Do I need to drag you to the medical ward

Human:No, we just do this when we feel a lot of emotions

Alien:that's fucking creepy

Not sure why but this interaction killed me lol

[specialagentartemis]

the spectrum of AI characters’ experiences with Gender:

5. Bubs Spacesweepers: this robot is TRANS and we LOVE HER FOR IT

4. Data: constrained by the gender norms of 90s tv.  tragic

3. Hera, Sidra: [shrug] sure, I guess.  Assigned female at bootup and went ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

2.  Breq: fuck that’s right I keep forgetting gender exists for other people.  wack.  anyway  

1. Murderbot: Do Not Gender Me Or Else

(The scale, by the way, is YES!, Yes, Eh, No, and NO!)

[aberration13]

Are all Becky Chamber's books this wholesome? The kinda naive/childish optimism with which she writes about really tragic/horrible events/situations and characters is like the best most healing thing ever. I need a lifetime supply of this injected directly into my brainstem.

[sterekbros]

It's me, Liam, your Wayfarer Fandom Ambassador for @fandomtrumpshate!

It's the time of the year again! It's time to come together to support progressive non-profits through Fandom Trumps Hate donations!

Sign up to become a creator for Fandom Trumps Hate on Feb 5th!

There were no offers in Becky Chamber's universes last year and we'd love to have some this year!

A little bit about Fandom Trumps Hate

FTH is an online fanworks auction, designed to raise money for progressive nonprofit organizations that help and support marginalized people. In the past seven years, thousands of fans have joined forces to raise nearly $240,000 for a range of progressive organizations.

So, what are you willing to offer? If you are an author, artist, beta, or provide other services within fandom, all are welcome!

Check out the list below for different types of fanworks and fan labor to get an idea of what you may like to sign up for.

You can offer any type of fanwork that can be delivered digitally, including:

written fanworks (fic, poetry, remixes, etc.)

digital art, which includes but is not limited to gifsets, manips, mood boards, etc.

podfics

fanvids (including fancams)

fan labor, which includes but is not limited to betaing, brit/japan/America-picking, or offering specialist expertise.

Need more info before signing up? You can find our FAQs here, schedule here, and a list of organizations we are supporting this year here.

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

THE WAYFARERS by Becky Chambers. Featuring the most beautiful edges I own!!

[justabooklovingmetalhead]

I love the format of putting the past and present next to each other in a book and telling two stories at once that each add to the other. Project Hail Mary. A closed and common orbit. Etc. It sucks when one side is less interesting (I remember having read the lost apothecary at some point and being kind of bored by the present day parts) but when it’s done well it’s incredible

[readingaway]

Danielle Babbles About Books - A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

What are a few words that might describe your experience with the book? - Tears, heartache, bittersweet, I need to hug

Main thoughts - This was definitely my favorite book in the Wayfarers books (so far?). It's the one I was most emotional about, and with this smaller cast that's more bound to one place, and with the alternating timelines, I think it has a stronger case/ argument/ theme of "found family" and discovering or developing personhood. And what does it mean to be sentient/ a person and etc. The first book is the most popular, and has larger number of narrators, more wacky scenarios, and more interaction with others than the following three books, but, as has been said by other people, a more focused and small cast often has a greater emotional impact on the audience.

What writing things did you pick up? - Something about, with alternating POV, it's important to make the different characters' stories play off each other/ play off each others' themes. There need to be differences that will make the voice of each character distinct, but for theme, most likely these different characters will have complementary needs or goals, whether they know it or not.