Preview
  • The Galaxy, and the Ground Within

  • A Novel
  • By: Becky Chambers
  • Narrated by: Rachel Dulude
  • Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,490 ratings)

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The Galaxy, and the Ground Within

By: Becky Chambers
Narrated by: Rachel Dulude
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Publisher's summary

Return to the sprawling, Hugo Award-winning universe of the Galactic Commons to explore another corner of the cosmos - one often mentioned, but not yet explored - in this absorbing entry in the Wayfarers series, which blends heart-warming characters and imaginative adventure.

With no water, no air, and no native life, the planet Gora is unremarkable. The only thing it has going for it is a chance proximity to more popular worlds, making it a decent stopover for ships traveling between the wormholes that keep the Galactic Commons connected. If deep space is a highway, Gora is just your average truck stop.

At the Five-Hop One-Stop, long-haul spacers can stretch their legs (if they have legs, that is), and get fuel, transit permits, and assorted supplies. The Five-Hop is run by an enterprising alien and her sometimes helpful child, who work hard to provide a little piece of home to everyone passing through.

When a freak technological failure halts all traffic to and from Gora, three strangers - all different species with different aims - are thrown together at the Five-Hop. Grounded, with nothing to do but wait, the trio - an exiled artist with an appointment to keep, a cargo runner at a personal crossroads, and a mysterious individual doing her best to help those on the fringes - are compelled to confront where they’ve been, where they might go, and what they are, or could be, to each other.

©2021 Becky Chambers (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+
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What listeners say about The Galaxy, and the Ground Within

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painting with words

The author's weird choices invite a kind of poetry. The language is organic and colorful, thought provoking.

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Very Good

As with other books that this author has written you have to bend reality a bit to get into the story. However with that done the stories just feel great.

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Love this author/narrator duo

This series has such vivid imagery and engaging plot twists. Zero anxiety but all the fun of sci-fi. 10/10

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character-driven, slice of life, found family

This novel is a breath of fresh air for me. It’s not plot-heavy. A small group of strangers are stranded together for four days and become a family. It’s introspective as heck and leaves me with a calm, peaceful feeling.

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Gets to the heart of social issues amd humanity by way of alien cultures

What I love about Becky Chambers books is that she does have hard science about space exploration and alien cultures but somehow it really is about humanity. What makes a being human regardless of their biology.

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Beautiful as always

I cried listening to this book, like I always do the first time through a book by Becky Chambers. Reading her books are a great way to tackle complex grief. I love her rich, thoughtful stories where the badguys are things like ignorance and systemic inequality. I really want to visit the Five Hop. I also wonder how it is that no one has purchased a little dome like that and filled it with methane instead of oxygen. It seems fairly straightforward, if not exactly easy

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Beautiful and heartwarming as always

Becky Chambers has done it again! A delightful character-driven story that both warmed my heart and got me thinking about inequity and cultural exchange. I enjoyed it thoroughly - great writing, plot, characters, and worldbuilding. It's also so refreshing to read scifi that relaxes me rather than stressing me out.

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Another masterpiece by Becky Chambers!

I love discovering new characters and touching base with old. I can’t be leave how attached to the characters I got! It was no cliff hanger but I wish the stories to never end! I wish I could follow the lives of all the characters in the book and the whole wayfairer series! Hope there will be many more ❤️❤️❤️

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Stars❗️ A-Mazing

For the science-fiction fan, this entire series is worthwhile. Becky Chambers is gifted. I read the first three books in the series before I chose to listen to this one on Audible. The performance made all the difference in the world . . . make that Universe. We absolutely get a chance to learn more about the non-human characters.

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Give it a chance!

When I first started this book, I almost gave up on it after a couple of chapters, because I couldn't get into it. I'm so glad I didn't! After the initial character building, the story started to meld together and I fell into the story. I loved the characters and their interactions. Great listen! Give it time to build!

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