To Be Taught, If Fortunate

Sunday Times best-selling novelist Becky Chambers imagines a future in which solar system explorers alter themselves rather than terraforming planets to support human existence in her new book.

One of these explorers is Ariadne. She and her crewmates, who are astronauts on an extrasolar research spacecraft, sleep between planets and wake up with distinct attributes each time. Her experience is one of a flexible body, a steady intellect, and a singular viewpoint on time passing. Back on Earth, as it usually does, civilization undergoes significant change from decade to decade.

Ariadne could wake up to discover that, by the following awakening, a cult has formed around their discoveries of the cosmos, that support for space travel back home has diminished, or that her birthplace has vanished. But their purpose is to explore, research, and return home with their newfound knowledge; it is not much affected by Earth's moods.

With all the characteristics of her previous well-known works—brilliant writing, amazing world-building, and remarkable, varied characters—Beckie's first audiobook outside of the Wayfarers series is certain to pique listeners' interest worldwide.