The Galaxy, and the Ground Within
- Downloads：7352
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-05-14 00:16:14
- Update Date：2025-09-23
- Status：finish
- Author：Becky Chambers
- ISBN：1473647665
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
With no water， no air， and no native life， the planet Gora is unremarkable。 The only thing it has going for it is a chance proximity to more popular worlds， making it a decent stopover for ships traveling between the wormholes that keep the Galactic Commons connected。 If deep space is a highway， Gora is just your average truck stop。
At the Five-Hop One-Stop， long-haul spacers can stretch their legs （if they have legs， that is）， and get fuel， transit permits， and assorted supplies。 The Five-Hop is run by an enterprising alien and her sometimes helpful child， who work hard to provide a little piece of home to everyone passing through。
When a freak technological failure halts all traffic to and from Gora， three strangers—all different species with different aims—are thrown together at the Five-Hop。 Grounded， with nothing to do but wait， the trio—an exiled artist with an appointment to keep， a cargo runner at a personal crossroads， and a mysterious individual doing her best to help those on the fringes—are compelled to confront where they’ve been， where they might go， and what they are， or could be， to each other。
At the Five-Hop One-Stop， long-haul spacers can stretch their legs （if they have legs， that is）， and get fuel， transit permits， and assorted supplies。 The Five-Hop is run by an enterprising alien and her sometimes helpful child， who work hard to provide a little piece of home to everyone passing through。
When a freak technological failure halts all traffic to and from Gora， three strangers—all different species with different aims—are thrown together at the Five-Hop。 Grounded， with nothing to do but wait， the trio—an exiled artist with an appointment to keep， a cargo runner at a personal crossroads， and a mysterious individual doing her best to help those on the fringes—are compelled to confront where they’ve been， where they might go， and what they are， or could be， to each other。
Reviews
Sheryl
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And Becky Chambers does it again。 This is a wonderful story， beautifully told。 There is something about her writing and way of storytelling that is just so comforting and absorbing。 I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series。**I won a copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway**
Alicia
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So bittersweet， I loved it （obviously） and am sorry to see the Wayfarers series conclude。 I hope we see more in this vibrant universe Chambers created。
Amanda M
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An okay end to a great seriesOverall， I loved this series and I'm sad to see it end。 The 1st book was by far the best read to me。 The books have always been pretty "woke"， but I found this fourth book to be pretty over the top with it's social justice preachiness。 Other readers may not be as distracted by this， but to me it just came off as a good deal of virtue signaling。 And that's a shame because the author is quite talented in creating a fully realized and absorbing world （or worlds） for her An okay end to a great seriesOverall， I loved this series and I'm sad to see it end。 The 1st book was by far the best read to me。 The books have always been pretty "woke"， but I found this fourth book to be pretty over the top with it's social justice preachiness。 Other readers may not be as distracted by this， but to me it just came off as a good deal of virtue signaling。 And that's a shame because the author is quite talented in creating a fully realized and absorbing world （or worlds） for her readers。 And while I can appreciate the author's vision of a future with different cultural norms， a little goes a long way。 。。。more
Buttons O'Belhans
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A slow exploration of people connecting with each other and exploring their own insecurities and growth。 Chambers really lets her person-centred writing take centre stage here。 So if you're into that， this is an enjoyable read， at turns thought-provoking and comforting。 But if you're looking for a gripping plot， you won't find it here。 Just people and their lives and growth， rendered in beautiful closeup。 A slow exploration of people connecting with each other and exploring their own insecurities and growth。 Chambers really lets her person-centred writing take centre stage here。 So if you're into that， this is an enjoyable read， at turns thought-provoking and comforting。 But if you're looking for a gripping plot， you won't find it here。 Just people and their lives and growth， rendered in beautiful closeup。 。。。more
Anna
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I love very book in this series more than the last！ Everything about this was perfect: the characters with all different needs and motives stuck on a planet for a few days， their personalities， the ray they worked together even if they didn’t get along， just everything about Tupo！ Truly beautiful。
Ari Baronofsky
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A copay novel focusing on characters stranded together during a disaster。 A sweet send off to the Wayfarers series。
Kacy❁
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This is such a heartfelt and wholesome gem of a story。 I loved every single character and loved their stories and loved the fact that they were all non-human。 The story was beautifully written and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside。
Dawn
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I don't think any of the Wayfarer sequels have quite matched the magic of the first in the series （The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet） but they all have their own charms。 Chambers' general theme of the series is "wouldn't we all be a lot happier if we accepted our differences" gets a bit sentimental at times but there's some bite as well。 She acknowledges， for example， that people who have strongly held opposing beliefs can respect each other but may struggle to be friends。 My favourite charac I don't think any of the Wayfarer sequels have quite matched the magic of the first in the series （The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet） but they all have their own charms。 Chambers' general theme of the series is "wouldn't we all be a lot happier if we accepted our differences" gets a bit sentimental at times but there's some bite as well。 She acknowledges， for example， that people who have strongly held opposing beliefs can respect each other but may struggle to be friends。 My favourite character was Tupo。 A gender-neutral child （a Laru， who don't chose their gender until they are an adult） who spends a lot of their （"xyz" in the book） time eating snacks and asking annonyingly pertinent questions。 None of the chapters are from their perspective， which is a shame because I think they'd be quite funny。 。。。more
Sushma Chowdary
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The last book in the series。 I had so much fun with this world。 These characters are everything。 They are as different as they can be but same at heart。 Becky has showed through all of the books in this series that however different you think others are， there's always common ground。 Though this book wasn't that interesting as others， it's still feels good to be in this universe。 I think I would read everything that Becky chambers write。 Auto add to TBR The last book in the series。 I had so much fun with this world。 These characters are everything。 They are as different as they can be but same at heart。 Becky has showed through all of the books in this series that however different you think others are， there's always common ground。 Though this book wasn't that interesting as others， it's still feels good to be in this universe。 I think I would read everything that Becky chambers write。 Auto add to TBR 。。。more
Scott Kardel
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A wonderful end to Becky Chambers Wayfarers series of space opera books that focus on characters - most of which are not human。 Its great fun as are the rest of the books in the series。
Chilli
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Slice of life at its absolute best。 I've never felt so cosy and happy reading a book。 The best anxiety medication 🥲 Slice of life at its absolute best。 I've never felt so cosy and happy reading a book。 The best anxiety medication 🥲 。。。more
Bryony
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Special place in my heart for this series- Becky Chamber is such a great writer ❤
Angela
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I enjoyed this almost as much as Small Angry Planet。 Interesting people having interesting conversations！ More please！ Also all the characters are aliens and there is a full page and a half dedicated to them being disgusted by humans eating cheese and I just about passed out from joy reading it。
Colleen Corgel
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I can really only give this a neutral rating because I did not realize this book was the fourth and possibly last book in the series。 So I was perpetually lost and didn't quite understand what was happening， to the point where I was asking myself why I kept reading。 Yet， some how I did。 I finished the thing， without really understanding the backstories of most of these characters， and yet I found some parts really enjoyable。 I cannot stress this enough: please read the other books。 I could follo I can really only give this a neutral rating because I did not realize this book was the fourth and possibly last book in the series。 So I was perpetually lost and didn't quite understand what was happening， to the point where I was asking myself why I kept reading。 Yet， some how I did。 I finished the thing， without really understanding the backstories of most of these characters， and yet I found some parts really enjoyable。 I cannot stress this enough: please read the other books。 I could follow the plot because it was pretty simple but it seems to rely on the socio-political conflicts that may have built up during the last three books。 There are three new characters here from what I understand， and they are all long haulers like the crew of the Wayferer the ship that most of the series takes place in。 All three characters are stuck on a backwater planet after a malfunction in the planetary orbiter keeps them planetside。 They all clash as they must adjust to their new settings as they wait for the go a head to leave the planet。Based on the blurbs from the other books in the series， this fourth book is more contemplative and quiet。 It is driven by the three leads and their bemusement at the quirky innkeeper and her child。 They all have conflicting interests and conflicts， and each one is basically left to stew in their thoughts for most of the book。 I never would have thought it would work。 But here I am， finished with it， and wondering how did that work？ I don't know but it did。 I do wish I had started with the first three， and I will revisit this book once I am finished with those books。 I have a feeling that fans of the series will gobble this one up， and I do hope that new readers will start at the beginning， because there is some good stuff in here that will make a lot more sense if the whole series is read。 *I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion。 。。。more
Brian
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*Audiobook
Andrea Ptak
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Becky Chambers is the Gene Roddenberry of the 21st Century。 Though some have complained that her books lack a throughline—or a driving force that powers the story from the beginning to the end—I counter with the fact that her worldbuilding and character development is beyond compare。 Her various species are fully formed and her descriptions of the same are as vivid as Larry Niven's。 I become completely immersed in her world and never want to leave。 I know and love these "people" warts and all。 A Becky Chambers is the Gene Roddenberry of the 21st Century。 Though some have complained that her books lack a throughline—or a driving force that powers the story from the beginning to the end—I counter with the fact that her worldbuilding and character development is beyond compare。 Her various species are fully formed and her descriptions of the same are as vivid as Larry Niven's。 I become completely immersed in her world and never want to leave。 I know and love these "people" warts and all。 And I am happy to just spend a few days with them in whatever small story they may be experiencing。Did very little happen in the way of a plot in this book？ Sure。 But did I meet and fall in love with new characters and catch up and learn so much more about others？ Absolutely！Someone give this author a TV franchise—if they want one—so we can spend more time in this world。 Until then， I eagerly await Wayfarers， #5。 It can't come soon enough， IMHO。 。。。more
Kelly Fondow
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I adore every one of her books。 This one was particularly lovely。
Jessica
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So so so good。 No plot， just “people” coming together to learn about each other and be changed and I loved every single one of them。
Melissa
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I need more of this series， I could honestly read it forever。
Cj Jenkins
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Becky Chambers writes the most compelling characters。 I marvelled at her creativity in a book where there were no humans whatsoever， how much detail she puts into each species。 How much life she breaths into each interaction。 I'm torn on this one because on one hand， it wasn't my favorite （Long Way to a Small Angry Planet takes the cake）。 But on the other hand， it was the last of the wayfairers books， which I only discovered at the end， and it made me sad I won't hear the stories of her delightf Becky Chambers writes the most compelling characters。 I marvelled at her creativity in a book where there were no humans whatsoever， how much detail she puts into each species。 How much life she breaths into each interaction。 I'm torn on this one because on one hand， it wasn't my favorite （Long Way to a Small Angry Planet takes the cake）。 But on the other hand， it was the last of the wayfairers books， which I only discovered at the end， and it made me sad I won't hear the stories of her delightful characters again。 。。。more
Charles
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I！ love！ aliens！！！
Amanda Vu
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Love， love， love。 Another stunning addition to the wayfarers series。 The characters， as always， tug at your heart strings， reminding us of the beauty that comes from everything that makes us different but also makes us all the same。 bravo Chambers！！
Neptune
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I adore this fun， cozy series so much， and the fourth and final installment did not disappoint。 Reading each one， the same thought occurred to me: "No one writes sci-fi like Becky Chambers。" Her stories are rich yet quiet， comforting yet realistic， and her wonderful characters win me over every single time。 I think it's fair to say that lots of sci-fi leans into a tone like "look how different this is！！" whereas her books lean the other way: "look how the same this is， even in a distant future， I adore this fun， cozy series so much， and the fourth and final installment did not disappoint。 Reading each one， the same thought occurred to me: "No one writes sci-fi like Becky Chambers。" Her stories are rich yet quiet， comforting yet realistic， and her wonderful characters win me over every single time。 I think it's fair to say that lots of sci-fi leans into a tone like "look how different this is！！" whereas her books lean the other way: "look how the same this is， even in a distant future， when ordinary people cross paths and help each other and form new friendships。"Of the four books， I wouldn't call this one my favorite （that's #2）， but it did hook me the fastest。 （A pit stop for weary travelers of all sorts 。。。。 in space？？ Extremely yes！） It also felt the cutest to me。 And "cute" is probably a human way of looking at a story populated largely by non-humanoid aliens， I guess。 But I loved this little menagerie， and I want a fluffy little plush Tupo， and I make no apologies！ Actually， if I'm being totally honest， this book more than the others made me want Wayfarers merch。 Like， where's my Five-Hop shirt and Gora Museum of Natural History sticker？？ Asking the important questions here。I'm a little sad that this concludes this series， since there seems so much more room to explore， but I'm also very excited to see what Chambers writes next！ 。。。more
Clarke
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I love this universe， the characters， the diversity of species and cultures。。。everything is amazing。 It's nice to have a sci-fi series that doesn't have to be action packed and adventure filled， though I love those too， but just getting to learn about the world Becky Chambers has built is a treat。 I love this universe， the characters， the diversity of species and cultures。。。everything is amazing。 It's nice to have a sci-fi series that doesn't have to be action packed and adventure filled， though I love those too， but just getting to learn about the world Becky Chambers has built is a treat。 。。。more
Marie Valenzuela
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Becky Chambers never ceases to amaze me with her novels。 The Galaxy and the Ground Within （the latest installment in her Wayfarers series） is a carefully plotted story populated with fully developed characters from different species and planets。 Unlike most series， each of Chambers' books presents a different aspect of the universe， each with its own cast of characters， instead of following a single character or major plotline。 Each book stands on its own， and can be read in any order。 If this i Becky Chambers never ceases to amaze me with her novels。 The Galaxy and the Ground Within （the latest installment in her Wayfarers series） is a carefully plotted story populated with fully developed characters from different species and planets。 Unlike most series， each of Chambers' books presents a different aspect of the universe， each with its own cast of characters， instead of following a single character or major plotline。 Each book stands on its own， and can be read in any order。 If this is your first read， I strongly encourage you to read her other books。 You can thank me later。 。。。more
carla
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Someone once called Becky Chambers’ writing cozy SciFi and I can think of no better term。 Loved this book and the amazing characters she created。 Easy and delightful little story which isn’t super plot driven but very sweet。
June
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Second best in the series
Emma
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Oh oh oh oh。 It’s just。。。 I’m just。。。。 basically every other space sci fi series I’ve read are first and foremost about war in some shape or form。 It’s so refreshing to read a series where that is not the case。 Instead you get the moments in between。 Where five strangers from different species get stuck on a planet truck stop because a tech malfunction。 That’s it。 That’s the book。 Give me moooooooore
Jay
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Another wholesome and hilarious read from Becky Chambers。 I just love the universe that she built here， with alien species that are truly alien， and cultures， worldviews， and bodily experiences of their own。
Steve Tetreault
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