Dragons & Jetpacks discussion

Being as A Long Way To A Small Angry Planet was voted the favourite book of last year by the group (myself included), we thought we'd pick the sequel for a Mod read. And if you haven't read the first book, then please do yourself a favour! It is good!

Just like its predecessor, A Closed and Common Orbit is not really your typical all-out SF action thriller, but more of an interesting character study with some wonderful characterisations.

I'm so looking forward to this book! I loved the first one so much =)

I'm about 20% in and I'm starting to get hooked. Lovelaces new persona is really starting to be developed. It's very strange to imagine thinking of your body as a separate entity to yourself - "the kit". I'm finding the constant interuptions to Janes story a bit of an annoyance. I want to see Lovey come back!

I liked how the contrast between Loveys life and Janes own as the stories move on. Both have an interesting development to them

Finished it this morning. I really got into both stories as they progressed but I just find it annoying when they switch to another story line just as it gets interesting. I know It's a common way of telling stories and I understand why it's done, but I'm not keen on it - that's the reason for my 4* rating.
I enjoyed the book nearly as much as the first one. It looked at human need to find purpose in life in contrast to animals who are content just to be. Nearly an advert for Mindfulness! It's an interesting thought - what if some day someone built an AI with no purpose, just to see what it would do?
One question that wasn't raised in the book is what will happen as time goes by and Lovelace (not even going to try to spell her other name - I listened on audio) doesn't age? It's the old vampire quandary. How to disguise mortality, let alone cope with the inevitable pain it brings? Maybe that'll be the theme of her next book ;-p

The one question that

Isnt there a lot of genetic engineering and modification going on , maybe it won't be as obvious in a universe with all that

That true. And they probably live a lot longer.

Meant to say thankyou Roger for choosing this book :-)

. I did enjoy it a lot and I find with series that I tend to let them them drift away unless I have a reson to read the next installment.

Oh, but Lovelace does age- or her platform will. It is programmed into it and the book is very specific about it. She will even receive a warning, once the plattform has reached it's "date of expiry". However, what I was missing was what would happen then, when her body becomes unusable. Mabye she can transfer into another kit?

Melikka wrote: "Oh, but Lovelace does age- or her platform will. It is programmed into it and the book is very specific about it. She will even receive a warning, once the plattform has reached it's "date of expir..."

I don't think that was in the audiobook, or maybe I snoozed! Thank you Melikka. I hope she can transfer, but as she is illeagal I doubt it will be simple. Maybe her progress is set it end when that happens. I wouldn't want her to spent eternity in a pile of rusty parts!

I really liked this book. As with the first one, it wasn't very heavy on the action but it was a heart rendering tale of coming of age to me. I loved the interaction between the AI's and the actual bodied. It is very much a book about inter species relationships and tolerance and I think it was done amazing well. Will def. pick up any more books in the series when they come out.

I liked it also. Not as much as the previous one, but enough to gave 4 stars.

I liked both stories of Jane and Sidra.

And the little nod to the Wayfarers.

I loved this book so much. I love them both!

I purchased the audiobook with an audible credit and powered through it within 24 hours. I just couldn't stop listening to it! I even shed a manly tear (and a big bucked of girly ones) at a few points along the way.

In response to the earlier messages about the lifespan of the body kit - the quote from the manual stated that the kit would age normally for the species it looked like, then cease to function at an appropriate time. A standard year before that happened, the AI would be notified, so it could make arrangements to transfer if it wanted to do so.

Margo wrote: "Meant to say thankyou Roger for choosing this book :-)

. I did enjoy it a lot and I find with series that I tend to let them them drift away unless I have a reson to read the next installment."

You're welcome, I didn't make the decision alone :)

As others have said this book was not action packed but was a very good read, I've always found AI an very interesting topic and really liked the way this book approached. The different species are very cool to, the author has fleshed them out really well and really extensively. I like how they all have different cultures, ones that are very well defined, but are very respectful of other peoples.

I'm about halfway in now. Sidra/Lovelace is getting her tattoo from Tak, reaching out to find who she is. I shed a tear over the part when she describes her feelings about being the one to end Lovey, and how the Wayfarer crew can't stand to be near her for their grief over it. How sad would that be! Knowing you came to be and terminated another who was so beloved.

I'm finding the Jane chapters more and more interesting and want to stay there for a while. I love the interaction with Owl, her new foster-mother of sorts. I can see how Pepper feels so strongly about AI's after getting a view of her younger years.

*sniffle, sniffle* "oh, oh sweetheart. I'm here. I'm here now." That hit me hard in the gut.

While I did really enjoy this book, a couple of things bothered me. Firstly, I'm not really sure why it would be illegal to have an AI in a body. It makes no sense to me. AIs are all over that place controlling ships and shops and stuff, what difference does it make?

Also, Coriol, the moon where they are living is described as "a planet tidally locked with its sun, a moon tidally locked with its planet", that would mean the planet had a dark side but the moon would have a day/night cycle.

AIs controlling ships and such are merely tools (remember how rare it is for organics to treat them as sentient and deserving respect for doing their job, just like Star Wars droids).

AIs given our forms might start demanding rights and equal treatment. Then you have to deal with the crisis of conscience about having enslaved others and figure out how to redraw the lines about what you can enslave to make life easier.

Shawnie wrote: "*sniffle, sniffle* "oh, oh sweetheart. I'm here. I'm here now." That hit me hard in the gut."

Such a moving section of the book, I read it a few times to take it all in.

Just finished it and really enjoyed myself. I didn't love it as much as the first book but it will still be held in high regards.
I'm hoping future books explore the past and present of other members of the Wayfarer.

I just started reading this one - yes I am few months behind, I blame the library. :)

I'm about 25% of the way in and I just love the world and character development. I do have to say, I read A Long Way to Small, Angry Planet when it was the book of the month here, close to a year ago - I think, and I am having a hard time remembering all the different species.

Pepper and Blue are great characters and I'm glad we are getting to know them better. Sidra is fascinating.

I had a hard time remembering all the species and names from A Long Way too. It didn't seem to matter much since this one branches off with mostly new characters.

Finished it! I don't know what is it about these books that I just love. Usually I need books with lots of action and less world/character building. However, this author really knows how to tickle my reading buds.

I find it interesting that an AI makes me think about what makes us human (sapient). I was hoping for a visit from the Wayfarer at the end, but I get it Lovey is gone.

I didn't realize this was a previous BOTM of this group. I finished the first book last month. I'm looking forward to this one!

Currently listening to this. So far its very much like book 1- a character study in space. I like the worldbuilding even if I prefer more action and conflict in my stories. If I were reading this I wouldn't enjoy it as much, but the narrator is fantastic!

Which Narrator do you have Hope? I had Patricia Rodriguez and she was great :)

Scott wrote: "Which Narrator do you have Hope? I had Patricia Rodriguez and she was great :)"

I have Rachel Dulude. I had her for the first one too, which is why I made sure to do the audiobook for this one as well. :)

I guess that UK Audible gets a different one then.

About half way through - just the similarities between Jane and Sidha - one terrified of making the mothers angry and one terrified of filling up but both trying to find their way. Very interesting comparisons. Do you have trouble keeping them straight on the audio?

Not at all, it was quite clear. Also the Narrator gave them very distinct voices.

About 70% done now. I like the discussion and questions being brought up here about AIs. Are they people? In the sci-fi "What counts as people" argument, I come down firmly on the side that clones are people, and that downloaded consciousness (probably) counts as people, but AIs are murkier for me. I mean, if they're self aware then I'd say they count but I don't feel as confident about it. Like, I don't consider the humans trying to wipe out Skynet in the Terminator movies as committing genocide, even though Skynet is very self aware. Thoughts, anyone?

Self-aware AI such as Lovey/Sidra are definitely people. Just as aliens are people. All I mean by people, though, is that they are independent, intelligent/sentient beings who deserve the same rights as you or I. So was Skynet but it tried to kill us so it and its Terminators were enemy people and thus legitimate targets

If a person they should be governed by "person" laws - killing is against the law so they (skynet) deserved punishment or barring that self defense. If actively in a war, you have made yourself a legitimate target of the war. The innocent bystander deserves protection.

Rock on Data!

About half way through and Jane has just gotten herself in a lot of trouble, poor Jane - talk about a tear jerker moment.

Sandy wrote: "About half way through and Jane has just gotten herself in a lot of trouble, poor Jane - talk about a tear jerker moment."

Yes, this book elicited quite a reaction from me, and I don't usually get all weepy at books. I mentioned this to the author in Sheffield and she said "YES!" and pumped her fist to show how much she liked making a grown man cry. So mean!

Becky is lovely! I met her at YALC a few weeks ago and got all my books signed and, when I mentioned that I'm a writer and working on my first novel, she was really sweet and encouraging!

I’ve read this twice now. Really enjoyed it though not as much as A Long way, proved by the fact I got 75% through it the second time round before I remembered I’d read it before. Oops.
It is a great world that Chambers is building, and I am enjoying that although it’s part of the “series” it’s not the same. I like the expansion. Love the races and cultures that chambers builds and expands on. The moral dilemma is so huge, and she really takes you on the journey with all of those involved. Just picked up Record of a space born few, interested to see how this one goes.

Scott (Maximum Beans) wrote: "Sandy wrote: "About half way through and Jane has just gotten herself in a lot of trouble, poor Jane - talk about a tear jerker moment."

Yes, this book elicited quite a reaction from me, and I don..."

That's a great story, Scott! I imagine one of the best compliments to authors would be emotional investment in their characters and world. Her reaction is great. :)

Unlike everyone else I was disappointed by the first book. This book had the same meandering pace that bothers me, but I found that the unrealistic characters (everyone being very different, but getting along almost perfectly) was remedied. The portrayal of an AI in a human body was great and I enjoyed Jane's story. I just wish the plot was more exciting than "let's easily rob a museum to cheer up a friend."

Overall I have a hard time reading something that skips all the potential drama to be so... pleasant.