 Popsugar Reading Challenge category: A book that takes place in space
Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! by Cait Gordon Cait Gordon's space operas always have an optimistic vibe, sharing a Star Trek-like idealism about the future we could build, with characters from different worlds working together in harmony. This book has the feel of a TV series; it's not written in screenplay form, but each (longish) chapter is a fairly self-contained episode, most of them concentrating on one or two of the ensemble cast. A lot of science fiction leaves out disabled characters, or includes them only to give them a miracle cure or provide "inspiration" for other characters. My personal peeve is when "disabled " is the only thing we learn about a character, and the author forgets to give them a personality. Not Cait Gordon: these characters are bursting with personality. (My favorite, though, will always be Noola from her book Life in the 'Cosm). All the crew members of the SS SpoonZ are disabled, but they don't have a word or concept for disability; it's taken as given that everyone should get the accommodations they need. Captain Dustin Warq is deaf, and First Officer Davan has a trunk that can't form human-like speech; it's the norm for everyone to use sign language as well as speech, and sometimes telepathy as well. Communications Officer Eileen Iris has inconsistent vision, and has a smart cane and an overprotective guide bot named Clarence. Engineer Horatio Herbert has a portable holographic isolation room for when his anxiety requires it. And Security Chief Leanna Lartha has artificial legs with some really cool gadgets. One of her underlings, Marq "Beachfront" Bronwryck, has no physical disability, just a horribly superior attitude - until he connects with a parasite that causes him to experience whatever the people around him are feeling. The characters explore the galaxy, fend off space pirates, and try to work out their personal lives. The final 3 episodes are a 3-parter where the crew ventures in a dangerous rift in space, for a really good reason. Except I kind of agree with the captain about it not being such a good reason. But I have faith that they'll triumph in season 2.
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