The long way to a small, angry planet /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

National Bestseller!

The acclaimed modern science fiction masterpiece, Hugo Award winner for Best Series!

Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space--and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe--in this light-hearted debut space opera from a rising sci-fi star.

Rosemary Harper doesn't expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. An introspective young woman who learned early to keep to herself, she's never met anyone remotely like the ship's diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain.

Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy--exactly what Rosemary wants. It's also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn't part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary's got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs--an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn't necessarily the worst thing in the universe.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

No, the titular "small, angry planet" is not Earth. In fact, Earth has been (mostly) deserted for a few centuries in Chambers's (Whole Body Vibration) impressive futuristic novel. Rosemary Harper is running away from a mysterious past and has spent most of her money to have her identity changed. She has gotten herself a job on a tunneling ship called the Wayfarer (creating wormholes as shortcuts through the galaxy) captained by Ashby, a spacer who owns the ragged ship. Among the crew are the reptilian pilot Sissix, Doctor Chef, and engineers Jenks and quirky Kizzy. Soon after Rosemary's arrival, the Wayfarer obtains the high-paying job of tunneling to the angry planet of the Toremi. It will take the crew longer than a year, and along the way they encounter pirates, experience interspecies sex, and make stops at several planets. Narrator Rachel Dulude does a wonderful job of distinguishing the characters with distinct voices and makes the new languages and names more accessible than they appear in print. VERDICT For sf fans interested in an examination of sexuality, gender, genocide, and hope. Highly recommended. ["This delightful debut space opera is less brisk in terms of action than is typical of the genre, but it is no less engaging": LJ 5/15/16 review of the Harper Voyager hc.]-Jason L. Steagall, -Gateway Technical Coll. Lib., Elkhorn, WI © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.