A Child's History of the World by V.M. Hillyer

The ones they’ve carved from the stars, fought to exist in, and for which they traveled the galaxy. Throughout the course of Record of a Spaceborn Few we learn about their lives. And Chambers describes to us a society in flux, reeling from a disaster and in the midst of this growth spurt. They become, in some ways, more familiar or more alien. Through assimilation and exploration, we merge our ideas and ways of life. How do we forget the past, what was said, and the injustices? Can we forget them? It’s scary to see our worlds and languages moving and changing towards a future we never thought was possible. As we leave our home planet, how does our notion of home change? How do we change? What is our connection to our traditions, to the pieces of home? Record of a Spaceborn Few is a multiple POV story that examines evolution, adaptability, and family. Chambers balances a thought provoking story about humanity’s future while also delivering a “slice of life” style account of the humans within this galaxy.

It has been so long since I’ve been in the Wayfarer’s Galaxy, but almost immediately I was taken back in by this captivating and detailed SF world.

The answers may seem small on the galactic scale, but to these individuals, it could mean everything. As many Exodans leave for alien cities or terrestrial colonies, those who remain are left to ponder their own lives and futures: What is the purpose of a ship that has reached its destination? Why remain in space when there are habitable worlds available to live? What is the price of sustaining their carefully balanced way of life-and is it worth saving at all?Ī young apprentice, a lifelong spacer with young children, a planet-raised traveler, an alien academic, a caretaker for the dead, and an Archivist whose mission is to ensure no one’s story is forgotten, wrestle with these profound universal questions. While the Exodans take great pride in their original community and traditions, their culture has been influenced by others beyond their bulkheads. Today, the Exodus Fleet is a living relic, the birthplace of many, yet a place few outsiders have ever visited. After centuries spent wandering empty space, their descendants were eventually accepted by the well-established species that govern the Milky Way.īut that was long ago.

Hundreds of years ago, the last humans on Earth boarded the Exodus Fleet in search of a new home among the stars.

Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts. It was exquisite and heartwarming all at once. About adapting to our lives in a multi-cultural galaxy and planning for the future. Instead of detailing vast space adventures and crew dynamics, it is a book about life. Record of a Spaceborn Few is unlike anything I could have expected and I loved it.

A Child's History of the World by V.M. Hillyer