by Becky Chambers
Published 2015
LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILEY'S WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 'A quietly profound, humane tour de force' Guardian The beloved debut novel that will restore your faith in humanity #SmallAngryPlanet When Rosemary Harper joins the crew of the Wayfarer, she isn't expecting much. The ship, which has seen better days, offers her everything she could possibly want: a small, quiet spot to call home for a while, adventure in far-off corners of the galaxy, and distance from her troubled past. But Rosemary gets more than she bargained for with the Wayfarer. The crew is a mishmash of species and personalities, from Sissix, the friendly reptillian pilot, to Kizzy and Jenks, the constantly sparring engineers who keep the ship running. Life on board is chaotic, but more or less peaceful - exactly what Rosemary wants. Until the crew are offered the job of a lifetime: the chance to build a hyperspace tunnel to a distant planet. They'll earn enough money to live comfortably for years... if they survive the long trip through war-torn interstellar space without endangering any of the fragile alliances that keep the galaxy peaceful. But Rosemary isn't the only person on board with secrets to hide, and the crew will soon discover that space may be vast, but spaceships are very small indeed. PRAISE FOR THE WAYFARERS 'Never less than deeply involving' DAILY MAIL 'Explores the quieter side of sci-fi while still wowing us with daring leaps of imagination' iBOOKS 'So much fun to read' HEAT 'Chambers is simply an exceptional talent, quietly and beautifully redefining the space opera' TOR.COM 'The most fun that I've had with a novel in a long, long time' iO9
These are AI narrators you can listen to with your own EPUB on ElevenLabs or Fish Audio. How does it work?
Top voices for narrating this book
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“This voice offers a warm, articulate, and grounded presence, perfectly suited to guide listeners through a cozy sci-fi narrative with its steady cadence and soothing quality.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Wise
“Angela's friendly and empathetic tone creates an inviting atmosphere, aligning well with the book's warm and pleasant narrative style.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Pleasant
“With a velvety, consistent delivery, Maya provides a smooth and pleasant listening experience, ideal for long-form narration that feels expansive yet gentle.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Elizabeth Anne Carter has a calm and clear voice, which would lend a sophisticated yet approachable quality to the narration, fitting the genre's blend of wonder and comfort.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Gabriela's grounded and expressive feminine voice, with its calm authority and emotional depth, can beautifully capture the whimsical yet thoughtful essence of the story.”
For listeners: use the Best Narrator voice above in ElevenReader or Fish Audio. Character casting is for authors producing audiobooks with studio tools.
Initially reserved and a bit cautious, her voice should convey a sense of quiet observation and a gradual opening up as she finds her place among the crew and confronts her past.
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Gentle
“Mina's gentle and serene quality perfectly embodies Rosemary's initial reserved nature, with a calm, steady presence that suggests quiet observation.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Pleasant
“Hailey's soft warmth and quiet emotional clarity would be excellent for conveying Rosemary's gradual opening up, making her voice feel intimate and sincere.”
Female · Young · Narration · Soft · Warm · Calm · +3 more
“A soothing and breathy delivery from this voice creates an intimate and calming atmosphere, suitable for Rosemary's cautious yet gentle demeanor.”
Female · Young · Social-Media · Conversational · Narration · Calm · +4 more
“Selena's soft-spoken and empathetic tone captures the protagonist's quiet introspection, making her journey feel personal and relatable.”
Female · Young · Narration · Soft · Breathy · Intimate · +3 more
“This voice's gentle and intimate quality, combined with a calm, whispering style, could beautifully portray Rosemary's reserved personality and inner thoughts.”
A friendly and capable reptilian pilot. Her voice should have a unique, perhaps slightly gravelly or distinct quality, but always conveying warmth and competence.
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Casual
“Eden's warm, deep, and slightly raspy voice provides the distinct quality needed for a reptilian character like Sissix, while still conveying warmth and competence.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Husky
“The haunting and intimate 'Storyteller's Gravel' in Ethereal Husk's voice offers a unique texture that would make Sissix stand out, blending well with her friendly and capable nature.”
Female · Middle-Aged · Narration · Professional · Warm · Clear · +3 more
“This voice's warm, professional tone and clear, crisp delivery would suit Sissix's competence, while its confident quality adds to her capable pilot persona.”
Female · Middle-Aged · Conversational · Narration · Character-Voice · Social-Media · +58 more
“Jade offers a versatile middle-aged female voice with a warm, crisp, and expressive quality that can capture Sissix's friendly demeanor and unique character traits.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Vespa's grounded and articulate presence, coupled with empathetic warmth, would portray Sissix as a reliable and caring pilot, even with a distinct vocal texture.”
One half of the constantly sparring engineering duo, her voice should be energetic, quick-witted, and expressive, reflecting her passionate and sometimes boisterous personality.
Female · Young · Conversational · Social-Media · Entertainment · Medium · +13 more
“Sabrina Carpenter's friendly and energetic voice with a clear, expressive tone is a perfect match for Kizzy's quick-witted and boisterous personality.”
Female · Young · Conversational · Advertisement · Narration · Character-Voice · +17 more
“Marinette's confident and energetic voice, with a playful and slightly raspy quality, would brilliantly capture Kizzy's passionate and animated character.”
Female · Young · Conversational · Character-Voice · Social-Media · Educational · +47 more
“Manon's energetic and expressive delivery makes her an excellent fit for Kizzy's lively and sometimes boisterous personality, especially for conversational banter.”
Female · Young · Conversational · Narration · Character-Voice · Social-Media · +48 more
“Sophia's energetic and bright tone would convey Kizzy's enthusiasm and quick wit, making her an engaging part of the engineering duo.”
Female · Middle-Aged · Character-Voice · Dramatic · Expressive · Mysterious · +56 more
“Ryoba Aishi's dramatic and expressive tone, with a clear and slightly mysterious narrative quality, could bring an intriguing dimension to Kizzy's passionate character.”
The other half of the engineering team, his voice should complement Kizzy's with similar energy, perhaps a touch more grounded but equally enthusiastic and prone to playful banter.
Male · Young · Narration · Deep · Medium · Bright · +14 more
“DJ DRAMA's high-energy and enthusiastic tone makes him ideal for Jenks, reflecting his bright and fast-paced nature, especially in playful banter.”
Male · Young · Character-Voice · Entertainment · Narration · Medium · +18 more
“The energetic and dynamic quality of 'invincible' would suit Jenks's enthusiastic personality, complementing Kizzy's similar energy with a slightly more grounded feel.”
Male · Young · Medium · Conversational · Narration · Character-Voice · +56 more
“Gus offers a young male voice with a conversational and clear tone, which could portray Jenks's enthusiasm in a slightly more measured, yet still energetic, way.”