hree aliens walk into a bar. Well, rather, a B&B rest stop.

The last (so far) of Becky Chambers’ award-winning series about distant and dissimilar characters. For this one, we have Pei (who was referenced in one of the other books or two as the first book’s captain’s lover).

So the story here is that there is a jump point in the literal middle of nowhere (and in space, there is a lot of nowhere). Alien ships from every race pass through this location and on a dead planet in the center of this space roundabout, there are domes and habitats. Many of them offer amenities to weary travelers to rest and refuel. And in this case, three aliens from separate ships shuttle down for a quick rest before continuing with their lives.

And, in a tale as old as time, they are trapped there (in this case, by a massive satellite failure which turns the array of navsats to blow up and frag each other). While the authorities repeatedly ask those trapped to patently wait it out, our three characters interact with each other (and the innkeeper and her son) as space is suddenly closed to them.

And it’s quite good.

Everyone has a story which change as they interact. Some stories are innocent until contexted from a different outlook. Others are horrible until they are brought to light. There are little emergencies, verbal jabs, acts of thoughtfulness, misunderstandings. Really, when space was finally cleared, I found myself hoping they’d all stay in their temporary little community for just a day or so more.

So, a good book in a good series. You don’t have to start from the beginning but it might help, so check out this one or the originator story, A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. Both are great reads.

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