A Closed and Common Orbit
by Becky Chambers · first published 2016
80% recommend10% neutral10% critical
Why HN recommends it
Warm, character-driven space opera praised for its world building and likable crew; often called the best of the Wayfarers series and a favorite for readers who enjoy cozy, humane science fiction.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Once, Lovelace had eyes and ears everywhere. She was a ship's artificial intelligence system - possessing a personality and very human emotions. But when her ship was badly damaged, Lovelace was forced to reboot and reset. Now housed in an illegal synthetic body, she's never felt so isolated. But Lovelace is not alone. Pepper, an engineer who risked her life to reinstall Lovelace's program, has remained by her side and is determined to help her.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2021–2026The Galaxy, and the Ground Within
Becky Chambers
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 54 recommend · 5 mention4 recommend · 54 recommend
2015–2026The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Becky Chambers
Recommended by 24 · mentioned by 4024 recommend · 40 mention24 recommend · 4024 recommend
2021–2026A Memory Called Empire
Arkady Martine
Recommended by 25 · mentioned by 3225 recommend · 32 mention25 recommend · 3225 recommend
2021–2026Piranesi
Susanna Clarke
Recommended by 44 · mentioned by 5544 recommend · 55 mention44 recommend · 5544 recommend
2015–2026Red Rising
Pierce Brown
Recommended by 48 · mentioned by 6048 recommend · 60 mention48 recommend · 6048 recommend
2014–2026Three-Body Problem
Cixin Liu, Ken Liu
Recommended by 233 · mentioned by 513233 recommend · 513 mention233 recommend · 513233 recommend
2008–2026Hyperion Cantos
Dan Simmons
Recommended by 53 · mentioned by 7553 recommend · 75 mention53 recommend · 7553 recommend
2010–2026The Quantum Thief
Hannu Rajaniemi
Recommended by 44 · mentioned by 7144 recommend · 71 mention44 recommend · 7144 recommend
The Wayfarers books The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and A Closed and Common Orbit were quite good. Fantastic world building and characters, although the plots seem to meander about with not too much purpose. https://www.goodreads.com/series/170872-wayfarers Recently ploughed through…
on “Ask HN: What is the best sci-fi you read this year?” ↗In science fiction: The Wayfarers books The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and A Closed and Common Orbit were quite good. Fantastic world building and characters, although the plots seem to meander about with not too much purpose. https://www.goodreads.com/series/170872-wayfarers Recently ploughed through…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2016?” ↗Lots of great recommendations here. I'll add the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers: - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet - A Closed and Common Orbit - Record of a Spaceborn Few (Her more recent "To Be Taught, If Fortunate" is unrelated to the series but also a great read.) EDIT: Formatting.
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade?” ↗Becky Chambers books are a good read - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet A Closed and Common Orbit
on “Ask HN: What are less known hard Sci-Fi books to read?” ↗Also the novel "A Closed and Common Orbit" by Becky Chambers.
on “Should we care about people who need never exist?” ↗"A Closed and Common Orbit", the second in the series) is my favorite book ever.
on “Every search bar looks like a URL bar to users” ↗I’ve read most of the SF on this list so I’ll throw out my other recommendations: I like Chambers’ Wayfarers series but IMO Closed and Common Orbit is the best one. Another recent book that stuck with me is Tchaikovsky’s Elder Race, which is told from two perspectives as both a sci fi and a fantasy story. It’s great and a quick read. I enjoyed…
on “Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of the 21st Century (So Far)” ↗agree about "closed and common orbit", I really thought that one was going to pull off a hugo-and-nebula when I read it. btw, even if you bounced off murderbot I would say check out wells's earlier fantasy novels, especially the books of…
on “Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of the 21st Century (So Far)” ↗From this book in particular, I love the scene with everyone sitting around talking about how horrifying the concept of cheese is. The rest of the quartet is wonderful, with the second book (A Closed and Common Orbit) being the MVP IMO.
on “Cosmologically Unique IDs” ↗A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers.
on “Ask HN: What are you reading these days?” ↗…was never forgotten, she was always one of the greats, long before affirmative action came. You are right about those more recent books though. I bought "The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet" and "A Closed and Common Orbit" and was thoroughly disappointed. Here is somebody, who has clearly great ideas - and is incapable of running with them, like Le Guin did. All problems, all conflict, all interestingness - is carved…