I loved this. The wayfarers universe is so wholesome and I just seem to adore everything Becky Chambers writes. Would have loved the novella to be a little bit longer though just purely out of a selfish need to READ MORE.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

My apologies for not reading and sending feedback sooner.

As with all Becky Chambers books, the setting and the characters were amazing. I was invested right from the off and even wish the book was a little bit longer!!

I really liked Ariadne as a narrator. They felt very real and like I was listening to someone truly talk. It really added to the overall vibe of the book.

Absolutely adored this story and bought the physical copy for myself! The writing style is amazing and it really makes you feel like you are right there with the mc!

Becky Chambers has long been an auto-buy author for me, even if I am a little behind on the reading. I finished her Wayfarers series not too long ago, and next up was this novella. In case the five star rating isn’t indication enough: I absolutely freaking loved it.

To Be Taught If Fortunate is heavier on the science aspect of science fiction that her previous books, but it is all explained in lay terms, and then built up to explore larger concepts and themes. Those concepts and themes then ultimately lead back to humanity and the big questions of life in general and. It’s just. Perfect.

The book is set over 100 years into the future, where the world’s space program has become crowd funded. It focuses on four people saying goodbye to life as they know it on Earth and heading off to explore suspected life on four worlds far away from our planet. The process involves long periods of torpor, time slipping by both faster and slower, and physical body modifications to help adjust to living on other moons and planets. Of course, it is the psychological tolls of these experiences where the true heart of the story lies.

I was fond of all four characters. All unique but all relatable in their own ways. What set them apart, what excited them, how they dealt with things, how they supported each other. It was absolutely wonderful and I could have read about them all for hundreds more pages.

What stood out most for me with this book were the emotions. For a story with a lot of science, it’s all so intrinsically rooted in the human experience and there wasn’t a section I read during which I didn’t cry. This story made me feel so much. I was almost full on sobbing by the end.

Talking of the end… well, I don’t want to spoil it. But it was my favourite kind of ending. So many questions and not enough answers. I’m still thinking about it now. About the possibilities and what they would mean.

I just really bloody loved this one, okay?

I have wanted to read a Becky chambers book for a long time after meeting her at YALC. I finally got round to it in 2020 over lockdown.

This novella follows four astronauts who are looking for life in throughout the galaxies. Through adaptation, the four can change their bodies to suit the current worlds needs. They change their own biology to fit in better with the worlds that they visit and so not to disturb it or their inhabitants. One of these people is Ariadne. Ariadne and her crew sleep between travelling to different worlds and often find themselves adapted to the new current climate when they wake up. There can be such long periods of time between worlds but it’s important that they remain strong and mentally stable.

Ariadne is the narrator of this tale as we follow her visits to these worlds. Some may feature the marvellous worlds of alien life that will capture our imaginations and some may feature the horrors of searching for such thing. But it’s their mission to do so, so they will carry on despite the challenges it faces. But when they lose contact with earth, Ariadne, Elena, Jack and Chikondi must decide whether such mission is important or whether they should return home even if nobody is there.

Becky Chambers has such a phenomenal way of writing sci-fi. Truly she was born to write such genre and this novella is no exception. Though, I received an arc of this, I feel like sci fi lends itself to audiobooks just as well, so eventually, I might do a reread of this book as an audiobook just to experience it in another way.

4 out of 5 stars.

Wow.. this books. Wow. I loved it so much. I've always loved space stories, but it was just such a different story. Well.. I guess it's also the same. It's about what I think about if I were a space exploreer. Is it okay to just invade planets, their unique species and ecosystems. Is it still what humanity wants, need and does it still match with what the austronauts wanted?
I'm going to keep readin gthis book because I love it so so much <3

Erudite, captivating and thought-provoking sci-fi tale

“We step out of our solar system into the universe seeking only peace and friendship – to teach, if we are called upon; to be taught if we are fortunate.”
– from former UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim’s message on the Voyager Golden Records included aboard Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, launched in 1977

Ariadne O’Neill (born in 2081) and her three crewmates, mission specialists Elena Quesada-Cruz, Chikondi Daka and Jack Vo, are on an interstellar mission to survey exoplanets which are known or thought to sustain life. As Lawki 6, they form part of the Lawki program developed by Open Cluster Aeronautics (OCA), a global non-governmental organisation of citizen-funded spaceflight founded by a group of frustrated scientists, academics, intellectuals and public servants tired of materialism and myopia preventing progress and evolution. The motto of OCA is “exploration for exploration’s sake” in the spirit of collective enterprise, with every citizen on Earth, billionaire or unemployed, free to donate whatever they can afford to the endeavour, with no promise of bribes or profits or anything in return, save the joy of having contributed to and been a part of humanity’s ongoing exploration of the universe.

As they travel far away from Earth in their ship Merian to the moon Aecor and terrestrial planets Mirabilis, Opera and Votum, Ariadne and her crewmates make groundbreaking discoveries that will change the faces of exobiology and planetary science. However, the regular years-old communications they receive from OCA back on Earth gradually become ever more odd and ominous, until one day the messages stop altogether …

Narrated by Ariadne in the first person, To Be Taught, If Fortunate is a fascinating, engaging and poignant account of a space mission set in the future. The characterisations and interactions of the four humans in this extraordinary environment are realistically, believably, and at times humorously rendered. Wonder and banality exist in tandem in these astronauts’ lives; overwhelming excitement and crushing tedium coexist. The book does a marvellous job of evocatively capturing both the day-to-day, stir-crazy claustrophobia of existence on the ship, and the contrasting magnitude and awe of setting foot upon the strange, magnificent landscapes of distant worlds and discovering unknown forms of alien life.

And yet, these two extremes are linked. Landing on a new planet or moon for the first time requires a form of temporary genetically engineered change known as “somaforming”, whereby the astronauts’ bodies are enhanced over time in stasis to become more suitable and to cause the least damage to each different world’s environment. Humanity’s horizons are expanding not only to the stars but on a biological level as well. In the tradition of the great science fiction works of authors such as Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, To Be Taught, If Fortunate is grounded in genuine scientific research, in particular, the work of Lisa Nip from the MIT Media Lab, to whom the author acknowledges her debt.

“Humans are nothing if not adaptable,” Ariadne observes, pointing out that the true meaning of Charles Darwin’s “survival of the fittest” does not, in fact, mean “survival of the strongest” but “survival of the most fit”, i.e. the most suited to particular environments. The theme of metamorphosis, of the capacity for adaptation and change, is a constant thread throughout the novel; however, “somaforming” is a transformation not undergone for selfish, individualistic or narcissistic reasons, but to protect the environments and indigenous life forms of other worlds. The ecological message is paramount, and the importance of preservation and protection placed above all other considerations.

With this, the inevitable questions surrounding the state of our own planet and the worthiness of space exploration are raised, and To Be Taught, If Fortunate does not shy away from them. Why should humans explore space and other worlds when we cannot solve the problems facing our own planet? Do space exploration and the knowledge it brings benefit humanity in ways not understood or valued by a system steeped in money, greed, war, material acquisition and tribal politics? Should that knowledge be valued for its own sake? Should we endanger lives, expend so much time and effort, and risk failure to acquire this knowledge? There is no mistaking which side of the argument the author is on – the entire novella effectively and convincingly makes her argument – but, at the end of the story, having presented her case, she asks the reader from within the narrative to make up their own mind. In an age in which belligerent anti-intellectualism and dangerous science denial are on the ascendant, books like To Be Taught, If Fortunate shine like beacons of light in a dark world. Most highly recommended.

Arwen Evenstar

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

I love Becky Chambers and this book was a perfect Becky Chambers. I can't wait to read more from her from this amazing universe she has created.

After loving The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, I knew I wanted to read whatever she wrote next. I have the other two books in her Wayfarers series and was very excited to find out what she would bring in a novella.
To Be Taught, If Fortunate is a novella, it's just around 150 pages but it still packs a wonderful story. What I personally love about Becky is her ability to write very well-rounded characters with a natural diversity. In this novella we follow a space mission with 4 people and all of them are diverse in gender, sexuality and race. All this diversity is done so naturally and is just there. It doesn't feel pushed into the story just to be diverse, nor is it made the focus of the story. These are simply the characters as they are and I find that very refreshing and my favorite way of coming across diversity. The world we live in is diverse, as soon as you walk the streets you come across all kinds of people and I love it when that's reflected in a book.
As I said, this story follows 4 astronauts on a space mission. They go to a couple of different planets and while doing so we learn a little bit about the work of (future) astronauts and I enjoyed that more than I thought I would. We also get some little peaks at the earth as they talk to mission control. This is a pretty short story and at first I couldn't completely figure out what the 'point' of the story was. While I enjoyed reading about these characters and I started to care for them, there didn't seem to be that much of a plot. However, when I was almost at the end, the plot was revealed. And it hit me in the FEELS! I don't want to say to much because it all comes together wonderfully and it would be a shame to know anything upfront. But I will say the last couple of pages brought tears to my face.
I can't wait to find out what Becky writes next, and I will absolutely pick it up! She has quickly become one of my favorite science fiction authors and got me super excited to dive more into this genre.

With the fragility of the body no longer a limiting factor, human beings are at last able to explore neighbouring exoplanets long suspected to harbour life. Ariadne is one such explorer. On a mission to ecologically survey four habitable worlds fifteen light-years from Earth, she and her fellow crewmates sleep while in transit, and wake each time with different features and in different worlds.

A well-written punchy book raising some big questions about humanity and space - ethical, moral, and simply surrounding what space means to people on Earth. A sharp, short read. Didn't quite grab me, but I can't deny its strength.

https://www.waterstones.com/reviews/to-be-taught-if-fortunate/becky-chambers/9781473697164/order/created

Review from waterstones.com

I enjoyed this so much (more than book three in the series, actually) that I wish it would have been twice the length. Though it really did end in the right place and it felt whole, I just want more.

How does Becky Chambers fit more into a short novella than some sci fi authors (naming no names) manage in a thousand page epic? Beautifully written, emotional, hopeful, from one of my favourite authors.

Becky Chambers’ first novella is a story that considers the tentative deep exploration of space. And like all of her books, it abides by the two tenets of Chamberism (it’s a thing, don’t look it up) – optimism and inclusiveness.

The optimism in humanity is palpable: the space missions are not publicly or privately funded, but instead come through the third sector and are backed by citizen donations. There’s no ulterior motive, a la Cold War-style, no shareholders to appease. It is the gaining of knowledge for knowledge’s sake. In addition, throughout the mission, the astronauts are endlessly responsible in their exploration. Before stepping on each planet, they repeatedly stop to consider their effect on the foreign ecosystem. The casual and optimistic manner in which Chambers builds her futuristic vision makes for wonderfully enjoyable reading.

Secondly, an enormous diversity is represented with the novella’s small cast of four characters. Remarkable in simply how hardly remarked upon they are, the astronauts’ personal facets are brought up casually, when relevant, taking science fiction forward another important step towards transforming its norms. In addition to modernising social norms, Chambers futurises them by continuing to refine her skill in applying the found family trope with relationships that transcend the concept of ‘standard’ current day romantic and friendly relationships.

As discussed, most importantly, these two themes are not commented on much, they’re just there. More focus is given to the science. The book is harder sci-fi than the Wayfarers series – Chambers goes into detail discussing how space travel works and its ethics, what somaforming is (sneaking in some biopunk), and the vastly different planets and their indigenous populations with gleeful enthusiasm that is impossible to not share while reading.

(As a side note: due to the above point, after reading To Be Taught, I’m convinced that Chambers could write a fantastic, easy-to-understand non-fic on space exploration.)

To Be Taught, If Fortunate is a love letter to the very concept of scientific discovery, human progress and humility, and the drive to learn – a fact clear from the beginning given the humble title paraphrased from former UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim’s speech. Becky Chambers has carved out her niche in science fiction and fulfils it adroitly; those who enjoy Wayfarers will savour this novella (though may chafe at the shorter length), those who haven’t will find this a perfect litmus test for her body of work.

Becky Chambers' Wayfarer series has been on my TBR for years, sci-fi is most definitely one of my favourite genres but I just haven't managed to read them yet. So when I saw the hype regarding this exciting new novella on Netgalley, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to read Becky's work without dedicating myself to a series. Reading To Be Taught, If Fortunate has only cemented the belief that I am really missing out by not reading the Wayfarer books!

This book was mind blowing, to think it's a novella it packs such an emotional story into a short book. You know the little emoji with its head exploding; that was me when I finished reading TBFIF, it definitely took me a while to gather my thoughts together.

When I started reading this book, which is written as a letter to an anonymous receiver on Earth, I felt very out of my depth. The author clearly has a vast knowledge and interest in all things science so the terminology and descriptions can be somewhat like an academic textbook rather than a fictional novel but this definitely only added to the realism of the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this short but enlightening read about four astronauts exploring and investigating four very different planets, light years away from Earth. During their voyage the crew begin to question their duty and their interests, as well as the interests of humanity as a whole, whether they're right or wrong to impose themselves on other planets and their unique organisms and eco systems.

This novel reads like a true and real report from an astronaut in space who is facing a very difficult and emotional dilemma. There is so much feeling behind each word and action. All I can say after finishing this novella is I will definitely be grabbing the Wayfarer books next time I'm in the library!

Once again Becky Chambers has crafted a thoughtful and nuanced exploration of life in space and I really enjoyed it. This novella follows the 4 person team sent to explore a three planet system and its associated moon. As I have come to expect from Chambers, the interpersonal relationships between the astronauts are really well drawn and diverse and despite spending less than 150 pages with these characters, you get a real sense of their motivations and personalities, which in my mind, is a true skill. I also loved the idea that instead of terraforming alien worlds, humanity has invented the means to genetically alter our bodies to better adapt to the conditions of the planet. This strikes me as an incredibly ethical way to explore the cosmos and I really appreciated it. My only criticism of the book was that the ending did feel a little bit abrupt - perhaps an extra few pages wouldn't have gone a miss! Overall though, this was a fascinating departure from the Wayfarers series that really showcased the range that Chambers has as an author.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I devoured Becky Chambers' Wayfarer series which are very character-driven whilst also being about inter-species and inter-planetary. To Be Taught, If Fortunate is similar in it being about a team in the not-hugely-distant future exploring far-flung lands, I enjoyed this story but jut not as much as her other work.

It being a novella is what I felt the disappointment most, as there is a lot happening in the overall plot and so much of it could be developed hugely if it were a full novel. i am thinking specifically about the exploration of the planets which as they were distinctly different environments - and with Chambers' fantastic imagination for these alien worlds - these could have been so much more interesting. As it is though, these feels rushed and then we're suddenly back to the spaceship scenes.

The book themes and scenarios does make the reader think about where the future could be heading, and also what would happen if you were in these situations. The latter of these becomes more prevalent as the story pans out and the team begin to consider their communication, or lack of, with the worlds they have left behind. The issue heightened by the fact the news links is decades out of date due to there stasis periods when travelling so they have nobody to directly answer to or discuss plans/scenarios with.

A more scientific look at the fun planet-hopping ride than I expected - which will turn some readers off, but I found of great interest - but not a fleshed out as it could have been. Still glad I got the chance to read it.

As with Becky Chamber’s previous books, this is populated with warm, fully-formed characters, whose journey is as much about their humanity as it is about their discoveries. Beautiful.

Earth is in ruin, global warming effects are destroying Earth and humanity. Humans have sent astronauts out to the far reaches to potential inhabited planets. We observe through the crew of one of these ships as they travel to four planets. As the journey takes them years their bodies go into a stasis which adapts their bodies to suit the planet.

I really enjoyed reading about the different planets and creatures. I liked the banter of the crew, which the author does so well! This is the second book I've read this year that focuses on the effects of global warming and humanity's punishment for it. Very very interesting. If you like this you may also like The Quiet at the End of the World