On a mission to punch a hole through space, the Wayfarer, a battered mining freighter with a multi-species crew, welcomes Martian-born human Rosemary onboard and heads to the far side of the galaxy. On the way they join a multitude of sapients speaking a dizzying array of languages, shake hands and clasp paws and brush tendrils at Port Coriol, secure help from the modder community and face gun-toting Akarak pirates. In this ‘Hopepunk’ space opera seen through a contemporary lens, Becky Chambers explores fresh perspectives on social and cultural change. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is both a crucial waypoint in the collection of any sci-fi connoisseur and the perfect gateway for literary explorers new to the genre.