A Closed and Common Orbit (Wayfarers #2) (2016)

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by Becky Chambers



Author Becky Chambers follows two characters from the cast of the previous novel of this series: Sidra, formerly the AI of the starship Wayfarer, has had her personality wiped and transferred into a counterfeit humanoid form; with the help of some friends, she learns how to live and find purpose among biological beings.

 

Becky Chambers

One of those friends is Pepper, also a former member of Wayfarer’s crew, and we learn about her childhood as a clone who escaped from slavery to be raised by an AI.

 


This complex story is told through alternating timelines that converge in a satisfying manner.

 

"Delivery" (French)

There are fascinating explorations of the nature of identity and purpose.

 

"Between Two Stars" (German)

Nevertheless, this primarily planetbound narrative feels claustrophobic in comparison with the interstellar adventures of the previous volume, and the story sometimes moves too slowly.

 

"Common Closed Orbit" (Polish)

I was also disappointed that so many of Chambers’ characters whom I had come to love were completely missing here.

 

"Two Places in the Sun" (Czech)

I know that there are more books to come, so I have high hopes of seeing them again.


"A Long Journey in a Common Orbit" (Hungarian)

"Orbit, Close and Familiar" (Bulgarian)

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