this post was submitted on 31 Aug 2023
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Lemmy World Rules

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Hey, sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this but I have been hunting a novel that I read many years ago but I cannot remember the name. Here is what I remember:

It was written by a female author.

The main character I believe was a "chosen one" kind of character where he had to go on a journey to a specific planet to fulfill a prophesy.

The character that stuck with me was the main character's best friend who grew up on a space station. He learned at a very early age the safety of a confined, sealed space, and If you saw a large open expance, that there was probably a hull breach, and you were going to die, or have a very bad day. Thus when they arrived on a planet, he was extremely agoraphobic, and had a hard time functioning under an open sky.

I just thought it was a really cool concept not too often explored in space based science fiction (that I've read anyways).

Does anyone know what this book is? Thank you!

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

One of the Foundation books by Isaac Asimov has a main character that is agoraphobic and has to deal with going outside the massive domes that humanity lives in

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The Robots of Dawn, I think. Nightfall also plays with the concept.

Asimov was a man though

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I think one of the expanse books has naomi freaking out when on planet as she is a belter and doesn't have the psychological ability handle the lack of a hull. I think it was in cibola burn. Author isn't female though.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If I'm thinking of the same scene, it was Bobbie the first time she's on Earth and has kind of a panic attack because she's never been anywhere where you could just be out in the open like that. I forget which book it was though.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yes, that could well be it, i think my mind is blurring books and tv show

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I've been meaning to get into the expanse for a while now. Thank you!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

From ChatGPT:

The novel you're describing sounds like "Skyward" by Brandon Sanderson. However, it's important to note that "Skyward" was written by a male author, not a female one. The main character, Spensa, is indeed a "chosen one" who goes on a journey to a distant planet. Her friend, M-Bot, has a fear of open spaces due to his history on a space station. If the author's gender is a crucial detail, you might want to explore other possibilities.

Is that the one?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

The description is a bit off. Spensa was raised in caverns on an alien world and m-bot is (mild spoilers for skyward ahead) a ship's ai on a starfighter that crashed long ago on that world. He is hesitant to leave is position and fly/fight due to his previous owners last orders.

It's a great book and myself and my kids really enjoyed it, but I don't think it's the book OP is looking for.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

No unfortunately, but thank you! I do really love me some Sanderson though, I'll have to check it out.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I guess you'll have to.. go out and find it..

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Possibly Skyward by Brandon Sanderson ...?(disclaimer: based on asking ChatGPT)

Edit: aware that Brandon Sanderson is not female!!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

There's a "spinoff" of the skyward series written by a female author! But having really both that trilogy and skyward I'd say chest GPT is off. But it definitely is closer to skyward flight (the spinoff)