Becky Chambers writes warm-hearted science fiction novels. She is best known for The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, the first book in her popular Wayfarers series.
If you enjoy reading books by Becky Chambers then you might also like the following authors:
Books by Martha Wells often feature complex characters and thoughtful storytelling that fans of Becky Chambers will appreciate.
In All Systems Red, the first book in the Murderbot Diaries, we meet Murderbot, a security android designed for protection duties but secretly packed with its own personality quirks and anxieties.
When a routine mission goes wrong, Murderbot must navigate dangerous territory while keeping its human companions alive and its individuality hidden. This short, engaging novel explores identity, choice, and humanity through Murderbot’s vivid internal commentary.
Readers who enjoyed Becky Chambers’ character-driven narratives and relatable non-human perspectives might find Martha Wells equally enjoyable.
If you enjoy Becky Chambers’ thoughtful approach to science fiction, Ann Leckie is another author you might appreciate. Leckie’s novel Ancillary Justice introduces readers to a universe where artificial intelligences can control entire starships.
The main character, Breq, is actually the extracted consciousness of a military spaceship called Justice of Toren. Now trapped in a single human body, Breq sets out on a quest for revenge against those who destroyed her ship identity.
The book expertly explores themes of identity, loyalty, and justice through a fascinating narrative told from the unique perspective of an AI inhabiting human form.
Fans of character-driven, socially aware storytelling will likely find Leckie’s writing an engaging new avenue to explore.
Ursula K. Le Guin writes thoughtful, character-driven science fiction that explores humanity, society, and our connection to the universe.
Her novel The Left Hand of Darkness introduces readers to Genly Ai, an envoy sent to the planet Gethen on a mission of diplomacy and understanding. On Gethen, people have no fixed gender, adopting male or female characteristics based on their biological cycles.
Through Ai’s journey across this ice-covered world, the story raises deep questions about identity, culture, friendship, and trust.
Like Becky Chambers, Le Guin uses a gentle, introspective style to tell a story that makes readers reconsider their assumptions about humanity and society.
Readers who enjoy Becky Chambers’ warm, character-driven science fiction should check out Nnedi Okorafor. Okorafor offers vivid storytelling set in African-inspired worlds, blending tech, tradition, and memorable characters.
In her novella Binti, she introduces a young woman named Binti who leaves her home on Earth to study at an esteemed interstellar university. On her journey, she encounters alien hostility and uses both cultural wisdom and personal courage to navigate tensions between species.
It is a short but powerful tale, filled with compassion, resilience, and a fresh vision of what first-contact stories can look like.
Books by Yoon Ha Lee offer creative worlds and thoughtful narratives similar in approach to Becky Chambers. Lee’s novel Ninefox Gambit throws readers into a universe where mathematics controls reality itself.
The story follows disgraced captain Kel Cheris, assigned with recapturing a fortress overtaken by heretics. To do this, Cheris partners with the spirit of General Shuos Jedao, an infamous commander known both for his strategic genius and his madness.
Lee blends imaginative technology with deep character relationships, creating a story rich with ethical puzzles and emotional tension. For those who enjoy Chambers’ sensitive exploration of characters, Lee provides a distinct yet equally satisfying experience.
Readers who enjoy Becky Chambers may also appreciate Tamsyn Muir. Muir is known for adventurous storytelling and dark humor combined with character-focused narratives.
In her novel Gideon the Ninth, readers meet Gideon Nav, a sharp-tongued swordswoman stuck in the Ninth House, a gloomy place full of skeletons and old secrets.
When Gideon reluctantly teams up with necromancer Harrowhark, they set off to participate in a dangerous contest at a distant palace. Amid deadly trials and ancient mysteries, Gideon and Harrowhark must navigate complicated relationships and dangerous rivals to survive.
This book offers plenty of character development, witty banter, and intriguing world-building, elements that followers of Chambers’ work will find delightful.
Readers who enjoy Becky Chambers’ heartfelt space adventures may find James S.A. Corey’s work appealing. This author is actually two people—Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck—who team up to create rich, character-driven science fiction.
Their novel Leviathan Wakes, the first installment in The Expanse series, introduces readers to a diverse cast of characters caught up in a tense conflict between Earth, Mars, and the asteroid belt.
Detective Miller, a gritty investigator, searches for a missing girl whose disappearance is linked to a dangerous conspiracy.
Meanwhile, Jim Holden, captain of a small crew aboard an ice hauling ship, discovers a distress signal that puts him and his crew at the heart of something even more troubling. Corey’s characters feel authentic and the world they create is vibrant, complex, and believable.
With political intrigue, relatable relationships, and a thrilling plot, Leviathan Wakes delivers an engaging experience for those who appreciate depth in storytelling and exploring humanity’s place in the wider universe.
Books by Arkady Martine may appeal strongly to fans of Becky Chambers. Like Chambers, Martine crafts stories that skillfully explore themes of culture, identity, and human connection within imaginative science-fiction worlds.
Her novel A Memory Called Empire introduces readers to Mahit Dzmare, an ambassador sent from a small space station to the massive Teixcalaanli empire. Upon arriving in the empire’s sophisticated capital, Mahit discovers her predecessor has died under mysterious circumstances.
As she navigates complex political schemes and cultural tensions, Mahit must unravel the truth behind this death and save her home from potential conquest.
Martine brings rich storytelling and vivid world-building to life, offering readers a satisfying blend of intrigue, emotion, and thoughtful exploration.
Mary Robinette Kowal is an author whose science fiction novels combine thoughtful storytelling, rich characterization, and vivid human experiences. Readers who enjoy Becky Chambers may find themselves drawn to Kowal’s The Calculating Stars.
This book is an alternate history adventure set in the 1950s, after a devastating meteorite strike threatens Earth’s habitability. It follows Elma York, a talented pilot and mathematician who believes humanity needs to colonize space to survive.
As she struggles against cultural sexism and societal skepticism, Elma becomes deeply involved in the race for space exploration. The story thoughtfully explores human relationships, scientific passion, and society’s response in a time of existential crisis.
Elizabeth Bear is an author known for creating rich, thoughtful worlds filled with depth and character. If you’ve enjoyed Becky Chambers for her warmth and nuanced storytelling, Bear might resonate well with you.
Her book Ancestral Night introduces us to Haimey Dz, a salvage operator who stumbles across a mysterious alien wreck in deep space.
This discovery pulls Haimey and her crew into a tense political struggle involving corporate interests, ancient secrets, and complex moral choices. Bear skillfully tells a human-centered story in a vast universe, dealing with identity, trust, and the search for meaning.
The vividness of her characters and the believable future she creates offer the kind of immersive experience Chambers’ readers often appreciate.
C. J. Cherryh is an author who blends vivid world-building with nuanced characters, much in the way Becky Chambers does. If you loved Chambers’ thoughtful and humane approach, you might appreciate Cherryh’s novel The Long Way Home.
The story follows a spaceship crew down on their luck, stranded far from home. Their alliances are shaky, and trust comes hard as they try to survive tough circumstances together.
Cherryh makes every character feel real and complex, each with hidden motives and personal struggles aboard their aging spacecraft.
It’s a rich and thoughtful book that explores friendship, responsibility, and human nature all at once, making Cherryh a natural match for Becky Chambers fans.
Lois McMaster Bujold crafts thoughtful, character-centric stories that explore humanity, relationships, and the vast possibilities of space.
If you enjoy Becky Chambers for her focus on warm, engaging characters and gentle yet meaningful adventures, you might enjoy Bujold’s science-fiction universe. A great place to start is The Warrior’s Apprentice, a book that introduces us to young Miles Vorkosigan.
Miles, born with fragile bones and a sharp mind, unexpectedly becomes involved in interstellar conflicts, diplomatic intrigue, and themes of identity and family.
Through Miles’s journey, Bujold layers humor with depth, creating a relatable protagonist whose adventures have far-reaching consequences.
If you value storytelling grounded in genuine emotion, memorable characters, and thought-provoking narratives, Lois McMaster Bujold’s books fulfill that and more.
Adrian Tchaikovsky is a writer known for blending rich storytelling with fascinating worlds and hopeful perspectives, traits that fans of Becky Chambers often appreciate. A great introduction is his book Children of Time.
It follows the remnants of humanity searching the galaxy for a new home after Earth’s collapse. They find a promising planet, only to discover that life there has already evolved in surprising and complex ways.
The narrative shifts smoothly between human and non-human perspectives. It provides a thoughtful exploration of empathy, evolution, and the surprising bridges that connect vastly different beings.
Those drawn to Chambers’ warm and inclusive storytelling might be intrigued by Tchaikovsky’s absorbing take on first contact and coexistence.
Books by Kameron Hurley often blend engaging characters, imaginative worlds, and themes that challenge social norms and expectations. Readers who appreciate Becky Chambers will probably enjoy Hurley’s novel The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet.
This story follows a diverse crew aboard the spaceship Wayfarer on a mission to build hyperspace tunnels. The focus isn’t just on adventures through space, but also on the relationships, personal histories, and complex societies the crew encounters along their journey.
Hurley crafts thoughtful characters and explores cultural conflicts, identity, and belonging in both humorous and heartfelt ways. If nuanced characters and dynamic worlds appeal to you, Kameron Hurley offers another great journey into storytelling.
Readers who enjoy Becky Chambers’ character-driven science fiction may find a new favorite in Everina Maxwell. Her novel Winter’s Orbit combines engaging relationships with political intrigue, set against the backdrop of an intergalactic empire.
The story follows Prince Kiem and Count Jainan, two men reluctantly joined in a political marriage arranged to maintain peace among the empire’s planets.
While they navigate misunderstandings and personal barriers, suspicious details around the death of Jainan’s previous husband begin to surface.
This leads Kiem and Jainan into an unexpected web of conspiracy that threatens not only their fragile alliance but the security of their world. Maxwell’s writing delivers emotional depth and thoughtful character development within a vivid space-opera setting.