To say families come in all shapes and sizes feels a bit cliché, even if it is true. Of course, if some of said family members happen to be aliens … well, I suppose that old cliché takes on new meaning, doesn’t it? Reptilian scales, wings, horns and many, many extra limbs certainly give a group new shape, as do the mismatched formations of chosen family. And in a colossal, expansive universe, life would feel more than a little lonely without a few friends and loved ones by your side.
Venture into galaxies near and far with the unconventional families in these five novels. From a particularly motley crew of spacefarers to polygamous wizard warriors, found family among the last vestiges of humanity and fugitives seeking refuge in the far reaches of the universe, these folks come together in unexpected ways as they seek out new homes and brighter horizons.
The Long Way to A Small, Angry Planet
by Becky Chambers
Rosemary Harper, a Martian-born human running from her past, accepts the position of file clerk on a tunneling ship known as the Wayfarer. There, she finds a motley crew comprised of numerous species and even more personalities: Ashby Santoso, the Wayfarer’s respected human captain, Dr. Chef, a Grum whose name speaks for both his professions aboard the ship, Kizzy and Jenks, two chatty engineers, Sissix, the Wayfarer’s reptilian pilot, Artis Corbin, a short-tempered algaeist, Lovelace, the ship’s AI system, and Ohan, their Sianat Pair navigator.
When a new lucrative mission lands in their laps, the Wayfarer crew embarks on a perilous journey, tunneling wormholes across the galaxy to a far-off planet. But the challenges and mishaps ahead are nothing compared to the clash of characters aboard this small, second-hand spacecraft. Winner of the Hugo award for Best Series, Tor.com calls this tale of found family “a joyous, optimistic space opera … that will restore your faith in science fiction (specifically) and humanity (in general).”
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Worldmaker of Yand-Polaris
by Andri E. Elia
After the savage K’tul invaded and nearly destroyed her homeworld, Yanara — a winged wizard warrior with a talent for bending cosmic bodies (planets and moons) to her will and creating wormholes to travel through space — husband Frost, wife Mandolen and their brood of clan children managed to escape. Now, stranded in the bleak landscape of Tuncay, a moon orbiting the fifth planet of the star Polaris B, they decide to build a new colony. The task, under the best of circumstances, presents challenges, but these Yanders have both physical and emotional war wounds to contend with.
Their battle with the K’tul left many scarred, including Yanara, whose wings have been horribly crushed and broken. As this family heals, rebuilds and endures domestic squabbles, secrets from Yanara’s past and lineage emerge. And, of course, there’s the looming threat of the marauding K’tul who might just hunt down the Yandars to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. “A fascinating epic fantasy story with plenty of action to keep readers entertained,” notes one reviewer, “and plenty of romance to keep you emotionally invested.” (Our review.)
Dropnauts
by J. Scott Coatsworth
While the unconventional family in our last entry set out to colonize a moon, this one leaves their lunar colony with the hope of returning to the homeworld they’d long ago abandoned: Earth became uninhabitable over 100 years ago. Humans managed to survive, well, some of them at least. But the continued survival of Redemption, humanity’s last lunar colony in existence, doesn’t look promising. With a new threat burrowing toward the moon’s core, their only choice is to recolonize the planet that they left behind.
Dropnauts Rai, Hera, Ghost and Tien have been sent to their desolate former world to explore. When they land at a base just outside of what used to be San Francisco, however, they make a shocking discovery that will either save what’s left of humanity or destroy it once and for all. “More than 400 pages of found family, hope for the future, and celebration of all types of diversity,” says one reviewer. “It’s got everything you could want … compelling characters, intricate world-building and a story that keeps you turning the pages.”
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The Circus Infinite
by Khan Wong
A recently escaped test subject of The Institute, Jes has a bounty on his head. He needs to lie low and figure out his next move, but where’s a mixed-species empath with the unique ability to manipulate gravity to go? Even in the far reaches of the galaxy, it seems only fitting that he end up at the circus. On the pleasure moon Persephone-9, where everyone just wants to party, Jes finds friendship and first love. It’s not long, however, before the crime boss Niko Dax sniffs him out, and Jes is faced with a terrifying ultimatum: obey his every whim or return to those who would dissect him for research.
“Wong’s intimate, joyful space opera debut hooks readers from the outset with its blend of action, magic, and queer romance,” says Publishers Weekly. “The worldbuilding is just alien enough while still inviting readers in, and it’s a pleasure to witness the world through the lens of its progressive social dynamics. It’s a thoroughly enchanting adventure.”
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Saga: Volume One
written by Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Fiona Staples
Leaving a fugitive’s found family, we find ourselves with a group who became fugitives precisely because they are family. 18 months ago, Alana, a member of the technologically advanced Landfall Coalition, and Marko, a magic wielder from Wreath, disappeared from an outpost where Marko was being detained. Officials presumed Alana had been kidnapped, but recently, photos revealing the true nature of their relationship surfaced. They weren’t meant to fall in love, let alone start their own little interspecies family.
Alive for just minutes, baby Hazel may be the most wanted person in the universe — next to her parents, of course. Now, their only chance for survival is to outrun a robot prince, a bounty hunter with a lie-detecting feline, and every other person on a mission to kill them. Traversing the vast expanses of space amid a never-ending galactic war, this young family will face countless obstacles on their journey to find their place in the universe. Luckily, they have each other … and perhaps, they’ll make a few allies along the way.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookshop
The Long Way to A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
The Long Way to A Small, Angry Planet
by Becky Chambers
Rosemary Harper, a Martian-born human running from her past, accepts the position of file clerk on a tunneling ship known as the Wayfarer. There, she finds a motley crew comprised of numerous species and even more personalities: Ashby Santoso, the Wayfarer’s respected human captain, Dr. Chef, a Grum whose name speaks for both his professions aboard the ship, Kizzy and Jenks, two chatty engineers, Sissix, the Wayfarer’s reptilian pilot, Artis Corbin, a short-tempered algaeist, Lovelace, the ship’s AI system, and Ohan, their Sianat Pair navigator.
When a new lucrative mission lands in their laps, the Wayfarer crew embarks on a perilous journey, tunneling wormholes across the galaxy to a far-off planet. But the challenges and mishaps ahead are nothing compared to the clash of characters aboard this small, second-hand spacecraft. Winner of the Hugo award for Best Series, Tor.com calls this tale of found family “a joyous, optimistic space opera … that will restore your faith in science fiction (specifically) and humanity (in general).”
Worldmaker of Yand-Polaris by Andri E. Elia
Worldmaker of Yand-Polaris
by Andri E. Elia
After the savage K’tul invaded and nearly destroyed her homeworld, Yanara — a winged wizard warrior with a talent for bending cosmic bodies (planets and moons) to her will and creating wormholes to travel through space — husband Frost, wife Mandolen and their brood of clan children managed to escape. Now, stranded in the bleak landscape of Tuncay, a moon orbiting the fifth planet of the star Polaris B, they decide to build a new colony. The task, under the best of circumstances, presents challenges, but these Yanders have both physical and emotional war wounds to contend with.
Their battle with the K’tul left many scarred, including Yanara, whose wings have been horribly crushed and broken. As this family heals, rebuilds and endures domestic squabbles, secrets from Yanara’s past and lineage emerge. And, of course, there’s the looming threat of the marauding K’tul who might just hunt down the Yandars to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. “A fascinating epic fantasy story with plenty of action to keep readers entertained,” notes one reviewer, “and plenty of romance to keep you emotionally invested.” (Our review.)
Dropnauts by J. Scott Coatsworth
Dropnauts
by J. Scott Coatsworth
While the unconventional family in our last entry set out to colonize a moon, this one leaves their lunar colony with the hope of returning to the homeworld they’d long ago abandoned: Earth became uninhabitable over 100 years ago. Humans managed to survive, well, some of them at least. But the continued survival of Redemption, humanity’s last lunar colony in existence, doesn’t look promising. With a new threat burrowing toward the moon’s core, their only choice is to recolonize the planet that they left behind.
Dropnauts Rai, Hera, Ghost and Tien have been sent to their desolate former world to explore. When they land at a base just outside of what used to be San Francisco, however, they make a shocking discovery that will either save what’s left of humanity or destroy it once and for all. “More than 400 pages of found family, hope for the future, and celebration of all types of diversity,” says one reviewer. “It’s got everything you could want … compelling characters, intricate world-building and a story that keeps you turning the pages.”
The Circus Infinite by Khan Wong
The Circus Infinite
by Khan Wong
A recently escaped test subject of The Institute, Jes has a bounty on his head. He needs to lie low and figure out his next move, but where’s a mixed-species empath with the unique ability to manipulate gravity to go? Even in the far reaches of the galaxy, it seems only fitting that he end up at the circus. On the pleasure moon Persephone-9, where everyone just wants to party, Jes finds friendship and first love. It’s not long, however, before the crime boss Niko Dax sniffs him out, and Jes is faced with a terrifying ultimatum: obey his every whim or return to those who would dissect him for research.
“Wong’s intimate, joyful space opera debut hooks readers from the outset with its blend of action, magic, and queer romance,” says Publishers Weekly. “The worldbuilding is just alien enough while still inviting readers in, and it’s a pleasure to witness the world through the lens of its progressive social dynamics. It’s a thoroughly enchanting adventure.”
Saga: Volume One by Brian K. Vaughan
Saga: Volume One
written by Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Fiona Staples
Leaving a fugitive’s found family, we find ourselves with a group who became fugitives precisely because they are family. 18 months ago, Alana, a member of the technologically advanced Landfall Coalition, and Marko, a magic wielder from Wreath, disappeared from an outpost where Marko was being detained. Officials presumed Alana had been kidnapped, but recently, photos revealing the true nature of their relationship surfaced. They weren’t meant to fall in love, let alone start their own little interspecies family.
Alive for just minutes, baby Hazel may be the most wanted person in the universe — next to her parents, of course. Now, their only chance for survival is to outrun a robot prince, a bounty hunter with a lie-detecting feline, and every other person on a mission to kill them. Traversing the vast expanses of space amid a never-ending galactic war, this young family will face countless obstacles on their journey to find their place in the universe. Luckily, they have each other … and perhaps, they’ll make a few allies along the way.
