This book by Becky Chambers was recommended by my friend Joan Starr Ward and is the first in the "Wayfarer" series which has 3 sequels. Chambers was turned down by every publisher she tried and so self-funded the publication of this book through a Kickstarter campaign. The book became widely popular, winning numerous awards including the Arthur C. Clarke Award in 2016. Several of her subsequent books have won writing awards including a Hugo Award for the "Wayfarer" series.
It's set in the future, after humans have made the earth uninhabitable and fled the planet to Mars and beyond. In their desperation, humans appeal to sentient beings from other planets to help and protect them. The interplanetary council agrees but with some loudly dissenting voices noting that humans cannot contribute much to the common good.
Rosemary Harper is trying to escape the associative scandal attached to her father who was a very wealthy man on Mars. He has been tried and found guilty of selling arms to hostile species and is now in jail. She joins the crew of a somewhat ratty ship called Wayfarer which takes assignments to punch wormhole shortcuts of one area of space to another. The crew is diverse and, welcomes Rosemary--with a couple of exceptions. She is charged with all the business aspects of the ship's activities: lining up orders, keeping track of the accounts, etc. Rosemary is quickly adjusting to life in space until the captain presents them with a new job possibility. It is highly risky but will make then enough money to make the ship able to take more lucrative jobs in the future or they could choose never to work again. The vote is put to the crew and they agree. Rosemary is not so sure as danger is not what she signed up for.
Chambers is noted by reviewers as a great world builder and comprehensive character and species developer. The Guardian says, "A quietly profound, humane tour de force that tackles politics and gender issues with refreshing optimism." Other reviewers have called it "wonderfully imaginative and quirky," "brilliantly realized," "joyously written," and "perfect."
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