Record of a Spaceborn Few (Wayfarers #3) [J0335]

2018 PB in nice clean condition. Return to the sprawling universe of the Galactic Commons, as humans, artificial intelligence, aliens, and some beings yet undiscovered explore what it means to be a community in this exciting third adventure in the acclaimed and multi-award-nominated science fiction Wayfarers series, brimming with heartwarming characters and dazzling space adventure. Hundreds of years ago, the last humans on Earth boarded the Exodus Fleet in search of a new home among the stars. After centuries spent wandering empty space, their descendants were eventually accepted by the well-established species that govern the Milky Way. But that was long ago. Today, the Exodus Fleet is a living relic, the birthplace of many, yet a place few outsiders have ever visited. While the Exodans take great pride in their original community and traditions, their culture has been influenced by others beyond their bulkheads. 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? A 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. The answers may seem small on the galactic scale, but to these individuals, it could mean everything.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Nobody pulls on your heartstrings like Becky Chambers can, and for a series about so many different kinds of aliens, these books always remind me what it is to be human."; "I really liked the exploration of Exodan culture and position in the galaxy as a focus for this book. It felt like it was saying something more broadly about humanity, but still firmly rooted in the world building that the author has worked so hard at in this series."; "There is tragedy and beauty in this book. I won't classify this one as cozy, but it still has the Chambers spirit of human resilience and collaboration."