description A Closed and Common Orbit Overview
A Closed and Common Orbit is a 2016 science fiction novel by Becky Chambers and the second book in the Wayfarers series. It follows an artificial intelligence placed in an illegal humanoid body and, in a parallel narrative, recounts the childhood of the technician who helps her adapt. Although connected to The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, it focuses on a smaller group of characters and explores embodiment, personhood, memory, chosen family, and the social status of artificial intelligence.
help A Closed and Common Orbit FAQ
Do I need to read The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet before A Closed and Common Orbit?
A Closed and Common Orbit is the second book in Becky Chambers' Wayfarers series, but it follows a different set of primary characters than the first book. It can be read as a standalone, though reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet first provides helpful context about the broader universe.
Who are the main characters in A Closed and Common Orbit?
The novel follows two parallel storylines: one about an AI named Lovelace placed in an illegal humanoid body kit, and the other about a human named Jane who survived as a child on an abusive corporate-run planet. Their stories are connected by Pepper, the technician who helps Lovelace adjust to her new physical form.
Is A Closed and Common Orbit part of a series?
Yes, A Closed and Common Orbit is the second book in Becky Chambers' Wayfarers series, which also includes Record of a Spaceborn Few and The Galaxy, and the Ground Within. Each book in the series focuses on different characters within the same shared universe.
Did A Closed and Common Orbit win any awards?
A Closed and Common Orbit was a finalist for the 2017 Hugo Award for Best Novel. Becky Chambers' Wayfarers series has been widely recognized in science fiction, with the series itself winning the Hugo Award for Best Series.
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