To Be Taught, If Fortunate cover art

To Be Taught, If Fortunate

A Novella

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To Be Taught, If Fortunate

By: Becky Chambers
Narrated by: Patricia Rodriguez
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About this listen

In the future, instead of terraforming planets to sustain human life, explorers of the galaxy transform themselves.

From the Sunday Times best-selling author.

At the turn of the 22nd century, scientists make a breakthrough in human spaceflight. Through a revolutionary method known as somaforming, astronauts can survive in hostile environments off Earth using synthetic biological supplementations. They can produce antifreeze in sub-zero temperatures, absorb radiation and convert it for food and conveniently adjust to the pull of different gravitational forces. 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 15 light-years from Earth, she and her fellow crewmates sleep while in transit and wake each time with different features. But as they shift through both form and time, life back on Earth has also changed. Faced with the possibility of returning to a planet that has forgotten those who have left, Ariadne begins to chronicle the wonders and dangers of her journey, in the hope that someone back home might still be listening.

©2019 Becky Chambers (P)2019 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Adventure Science Fiction Space Exploration Space Opera Fiction Interstellar Solar System Thought-Provoking Heartfelt Explorer

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All stars
Most relevant  
The voice acting was the best I've ever heard! Made me feel like a wondering child again. Full of Joy!
The story caught my imagination imencly! One chapter I'm perticular was very lake luster but apart from that awesome book!

Awesome acting. Wonderful voice. Decent story.

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This was a lovely and relaxing, yet thoroughly engaging listen. Which was just what I wanted and exactly why I chose it, as I knew what to expect from Becky Chambers and narrator Patricia Rodriguez, having listened to the whole of the Wayfarers series (which I highly recommend if you like sci fi with real heart). Beautifully and thoughtfully written, and wonderfully narrated. And the end brought a tear to my eye. Touching and food for thought.. Perfect. :)

Another great story by Becky Chambers

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loved it! couldn't stop listening once I started the story captures you after the first few paragraphs and you want to answer the same questions the main character is asking.

awesome!

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I love this narrator for Becky Chambers’ work and am eagerly anticipating the next novel. I can’t praise Chambers enough for her tender, intimate exploration of what it means to be an inhabitant of this astonishing universe.

Beautiful and poignant

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Becky Chambers is a fantastic author. This and the Wayfarer trilogy are brilliant reads. Her characters are well realised and rounded.
Patricia Rodriguez captures her story incredibly well. She is incredibly clear and is consistent the entire way through.
I heartily recommend this listen.

Brilliant listen

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I found this one a little confused and not really going anywhere. Much worse, though, there are numerous places where the dialogue in the recording leaps in volume compared to the normal narration, shouted speech was yelled painfully into my ear. This made it a real struggle to listen through, sadly. I love this author but can't recommend this book.

A little wishy washy with bad volume jumps

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A beautiful novella telling the adventures and misadventures of four human space travellers on a mission so very far away from Earth that they don't expect to be back in time to meet any of their families and friends again. They explore four different planets in a solar system that can host life, and meet very different conditions and unexpected, fascinating inhabitants or lack of them. The story is at times optimistic and light, at other times dark and seemingly hopeless. Love for science and discovery for the sake of it is at the core of it and crucial to the protagonists. Until one day they realise news from earth had stopped arriving at some point, and they must choose how to proceed with their mission, whether to proceed at all. There doesn't seem to be any strong link to the previous novels by this author. The audiobook narrator did a great job, as usual.

Four astronauts exploring 4 very different planets

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Becky Chambers consistently and excellently manages to dive into the humanity of space travel in new and interesting ways. This is not a wayfarers book, nor in the same universe, but it is a space book and a fantastic one at that. Patricia Rodriguez is the perfect reader for these books and she brings everything to life. I was initially skeptical that this was a short book, but within 10 minutes I was convinced. If you liked all 3 wayfarers, you'll love this.

Astonishing

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I hope there is a sequel. Becky Chambers is that something different in the sci fi genre and doesn't need a grand space opera to make a story compelling. Just great writing about regular people in their regular situations ( which aren't regular for the reader).

Short and fantastic

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I enjoyed this novella and I loved the stance it took on exploration and discovery. I really respect Becky for writing something so thoughtful on a topic which, as a biologist is always not far from my mind. Humility and connection to our tiny place in this universe (and eachother) is and always will be crucial to good science.
I also appreciate the way accessibility was definitely carefully considered when writing this novella. However I would like to point out to Becky that most of her audience, considering this is a science fiction book, will understand the meaning of things like exoplanets and in some cases she explains simple science concepts in detail in a manner that may be considered condescending or "talking down" which has the opposite effect to what I think she was going for (openness to give room for learning).
I also find the tone to be almost too positive sometimes considering all that these characters face but that is just a personal preference.

All in all this is still a beautiful novella and it makes me wish STEM fields and academia were more able to keep this kind of spark and love for discovery and learning alive in those it often draws more often.

Glittery

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