Today is week two of a readalong of The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers.  The readalong has been organised by Lisa at Over The Effing Rainbow and is part of this year’s Sci-Fi Month.  The details for the readalong are here and the schedule looks like this:

Week 1 (Friday, November 6th): “Transit” to “Port Coriol” (95 pages)
Week 2 (Friday, November 13th): “Port Coriol” to “The Last War” (110 pages)
Week 3 (Friday, November 20th): “The Last War” to “Heresy” (107 pages)
Week 4 (Friday, November 27th): “Heresy” to end (90 pages)

All welcome.

So, to the questions, with a timely reminder before we start that the following may contain spoilers:

1. There has been significant conversation about AI, what it means to be alive, whether or not AI should have rights, whether or not a person can fall in love with a specific instance of AI, etc. This is a bit of a sticky situation. After the discussion between Pepper and Jenks, how do you feel about Lovey’s and Jenks’ relationship? Should they move forward with their plan?

This is a really fascinating train of thought to be honest.  Clearly a person can fall in love with an AI and Jenks is the proof of that.  And I can understand why Lovey wants a body – she’s an AI, she develops and learns and I suppose having a body will give her much more freedom to do so.  Can she feel for Jenks in the same way that he does for her? It’s really difficult to know isn’t it.  Is she manipulating him in order to get a body?  It’s a possibility I suppose – and she does need him in that respect – does she equate need with love?  Again, I’m not sure.  More importantly why does she want a body – does she want a body in order to break out of her confines and learn more, does she want to progress their relationship, does she think it will please Jenks?  And, no matter what the answer – are any of those things really so bad? Then again, does Jenks need Lovey – not in the same way perhaps but certainly it must be appealing to him that Lovey has no judgement in terms of him and his stature for example. In that respect they’re both equal in that they haven’t judged each other or had prejudices based on expectations and whatever feelings they have are built on something other than appearance.  I am enjoying this storyline and I’m keen to see how it develops.  In terms of Pepper and her fears, well, perhaps there is a time in history where AIs had bodies and maybe things didn’t go so well – maybe they did rise up – a la Terminator style- although clearly a body isn’t totally necessary to cause destruction is it?  I’m not totally sure that I’ve answered anything here – in fact I seem to have come up with more questions than answers.  I’m interested to see what happens but whatever action they take – well, it could have implications for others.  So, in one respect I really find it kind of sweet but in another, well, we’ll have to see.

2. In the chapter “Intro to Harmagian Colonial History,” we see Dr. Chef’s perspective of having been a mother, though he is currently male, and Sissix’s perspective that children aren’t people yet. Ohan is referred to as they/them. The Akarak are referred to as xyr/xe. These perspectives and preferences are perspectives actually held by different groups of humans in our own world. Do you think assigning these perspectives to aliens rather than humans make them easier or harder to sympathize with?

I guess it makes it easier in a way – although barely.  Probably just that thing about looking for common ground.  People – and aliens are all different though aren’t they – as we see from this book.

3. How might the ship robbery have been different if the Wayfarer were armed?

Well, I suppose it depends on how it was armed.  I think it is a good idea to take precautions against being attacked – like a shield.  However, I think it could have potentially been a lot worse if they were more armed.  Both were only small parties but if one person started shooting then they all could have started shooting and it could have escalated massively. At the end of the day they can replace the goods.  The only injury was Ashby and that was simply as a result of a misunderstanding in communication.  So yeah, I think there’s wouldn’t be any harm in taking some precautions – just be reasonable about it.  Ashby seems to have his head screwed on in that respect anyway.

4. As I finished the fourth chapter in my section, “Cricket,” I thought it might be a good place to stop and talk about some of our favorite humorous moments so far. What scenes really tickled your funny bone? Who makes you laugh the most?

I like the humour.  It’s not like outright guffawing but I enjoy keeping my dignity when I’m reading in Public!  The humour is more subtle – like Rosemary being consoled by her Pixel plant after a dressing down by Corbin.  I liked the humour between Dr Chef and Sissix when they were talking about humans – and putting something into the food to stop them being so smelly.  Or, after the robbery Sissix saying ‘I took some time to freak out.  Didn’t you?’   I loved the chapter ‘Cricket’.  The planet and the way the people live – reminiscent of earlier settlers from history – who have little but band together to help each other.  And I liked Bear – he’s a gigantic softie isn’t he – building guns and other things – and letting Kizzy plait his hair.  Good stuff.