Strange Lands Sci-Fi Book Club: To Be Taught, If Fortunate

Join us for a virtual discussion "To Be Taught, If Fortunate" by Becky Chambers:

At the turn of the twenty-second century, scientists make a breakthrough in human spaceflight. Through a revolutionary method known as somaforming, astronauts can survive in hostile environments off Earth using synthetic biological supplementations. They can produce antifreeze in subzero temperatures, absorb radiation and convert it for food, and conveniently adjust to the pull of different gravitational forces. With the fragility of the body no longer a limiting factor, human beings are at last able to journey to neighboring exoplanets long known to harbor life.

A team of these explorers, Ariadne O'Neill, and her three crewmates, are hard at work in a planetary system fifteen light-years from Sol, on a mission to ecologically survey four habitable worlds. But as Ariadne shifts through both form and time, the culture back on Earth has also been transformed. Faced with the possibility of returning to a planet that has forgotten those who have left, Ariadne begins to chronicle the story of the wonders and dangers of her mission, in the hope that someone back home might still be listening.

This sci-fi book club meets on the second Wednesday night of the month. New members are always welcome. You don't have to read the book to join, but it is encouraged. The Zoom link for the meeting will be posted the day of, a Zoom account is not required to join. For more information contact Gaby at gsantaolalla@arlingtonva.us or at 703-228-6319.