The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1) by Becky Chambers (2015) 423 pages ★★★★★ Winner of the 2019 Hugo Award for Best SeriesĪ modern space opera in a universe teeming with lifeĪ 23-year-old woman is fleeing her life on Mars under the assumed name Rosemary Harper. (She was able to finish writing the book only by raising the necessary money from 83 generous souls on Kickstarter.) Chambers’ characters are beautifully complex, the dialogue often sings, and her detailed and fascinating future universe emerges seamlessly from the story.

The series debuted with The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, a delightful departure from all the bad habits exhibited in the genre’s infancy. Now a young American author, Becky Chambers, has come onto the scene with the first two novels in a modern space opera series, with a third on the way later this year. But today’s writers do a much better job.

In the early days of the genre, the typical space opera was characterized by one-dimensional characters, awkward dialogue, and lengthy scene-setting digressions. Both series have been bestsellers in recent years, and Bujold has won five Hugo Awards for hers. Notable latter-day examples include Lois McMaster Bujold’s long-running Vorkosigan Saga and John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War series. Back in the 1930s, science fiction was dominated by such sophomoric fare, and the genre has reappeared periodically ever since. The term conjures up visions of intergalactic battles, ugly alien monsters, and heroic human commanders besting all against impossible odds.

Great space opera books