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To Be Taught, If Fortunate

A Novella

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To Be Taught, If Fortunate

By: Becky Chambers
Narrated by: Patricia Rodriguez 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 BESTSELLING AUTHOR*

At the turn of the twenty-second 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 fifteen 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.

(P) 2019 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd©2019 Becky Chambers Adventure Entertainment & Celebrities Science Fiction Space Exploration Space Opera Fiction Interstellar Solar System Explorer

Critic Reviews

Becky Chambers takes space opera in a whole new and unexpected direction, her books bring me so much joy
Outstanding . . . Chambers packs an immense amount of story into a novella worthy of full-length praise
Epic in the scale of discoveries but with a miniaturist's eye for detail, and as revealing of the observers as the observed. In a word, brilliant
Some of the most forward-thinking, inspiring science fiction out there . . . a joyful antidote to crushed spirits and a celebration of the power of curiosity, love, adventure and discovery
[A] compelling exploration of home, family, and what makes us human in the midst of all that isn't, but could be. An extraordinary picture of humanity among the stars.
Rendered with startling clarity, Chambers' latest offering is a short but fierce ode to humanity and all our reaches and flaws. Unputdownable
Extraordinary . . . A future sci-fi masterwork in a new and welcome tradition
The best speculative fiction currently being written . . . Becky Chambers is a wonder, and I feel better for having her books in my life
There's a quiet beauty to Chambers' writing that envelopes you in her story and holds you tight until the very end. Proof that a novel doesn't have to depth, meaning and intelligence.
Chambers creates an energy of hope and determination with every word, bringing life to space travel and the wonders - and traumas - of Earth's possible future
An exquisite expression of our moment in time. Here's why we need to keep going boldly into space - not to exploit, but to learn. Impressive and essential
With deft prose and her usual flair for excellent characterization, Becky Chambers brings a cast of astronauts through time, space, and physical form to show us what it means to be human on this side of the galaxy
a lovely, gentle, uncompromisingly character-centred piece of work
Chambers delivers a story that simultaneously invites readers into her vision of the future, and pleads for an interrogation of our present . . . To Be Taught, If Fortunate deserves the stars and more
Becky Chambers writes aliens like no one else ... the only flaw in this series is you'll wish you could spend more time with all of them
All stars
Most relevant
This beautiful, likeable, engrossing novella asks the deep existential questions in an accessible, informative way that engages and incites curiosity and wonder. Wonder full.

Riveting, profound.

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I have now listened to three Becky Chambers novels. I have read science fiction for nearly 60 years and I am so impressed with her work! She has set real characters in her settings, with real emotions and interactions. Not “human” interactions necessarily, and that is soo impressive! I love it. I want more. And you should too. I am also impressed with performance of the reader. I wasn’t initially but I have become hooked. Keep up the good work.
Becky has a strong underlying philosophy and morality that has me identifying her as one of the first people I’d like to share dinner with, in those hypothetical dinner parties we are asked to speculate about.

A new science fiction

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Great food for thought. It describes the most surreal possibilities for space exploration and touches on the ethics around this process in a sensitive manner

Profound

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Brilliant story with a excellent insights on humanity and its future. Well written with great narration too.

Brilliant

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An interesting look at the early stages of interplanetary human exploration, Becky Chambers brings both humanity and philosophy to science fiction with a wonderfully compassionate style.

This is a thoughtful book that does not include laser battles or Star troopers so if action is your primary requirement this book is not for you. It is however full of clever ideas and intriguing questions.

Patricia Rodriguez IS the voice of Becky Chambers books and does a sublime narration. She captures the depth of the characters wonderfully and brings the unfolding story to life perfectly.

Heartfelt and thoughtful

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