Plot Summary
Waking in a New Body
Sidra, once the ship's AI Lovelace, awakens in a synthetic human body, overwhelmed by the limitations of physical form and the loss of her omnipresent awareness. Pepper, her caretaker, guides her through the disorienting first moments, explaining the necessity of blending in and the dangers of being discovered. Sidra's panic is visceral—her senses are narrowed, her access to information is cut off, and her honesty protocol prevents her from lying. The transition is not just technical but existential, as Sidra must learn to navigate a world where she is no longer a ship's mind but a person with a body, a name, and a need for belonging. The emotional weight of her displacement is palpable, setting the stage for her journey toward selfhood.
Factory Childhood
In a parallel narrative, Jane 23, a genetically engineered child, endures a harsh, dehumanizing existence in a factory where girls are raised solely to process scrap. The Mothers, faceless AI overseers, enforce strict routines and punish any deviation. Jane's only comfort is her bunkmate, Jane 64, and the small moments of connection they share. The factory is a closed world, devoid of freedom or knowledge of the outside. Jane's curiosity and skill with machines set her apart, but questions are dangerous. The emotional landscape is one of fear, longing, and the faint hope that there is more beyond the walls—a hope that will eventually drive her to risk everything for escape.
Becoming Sidra
Sidra, with Pepper's help, begins to build a new identity. She chooses a name, learns to mimic human behaviors, and struggles with the honesty protocol that makes deception impossible. The bustling, multicultural Port Coriol is overwhelming, but Pepper and Blue offer her a home and a job at their tech shop. Sidra's longing for purpose and connection is complicated by her inability to fully integrate—her mind is still that of an AI, and her body feels alien. She forms tentative friendships, especially with Tak, an Aeluon tattoo artist, and starts to explore what it means to be a person, not just a tool. The emotional arc is one of cautious hope, frustration, and the slow emergence of agency.
Escape and Survival
After a catastrophic accident exposes the world beyond the factory, Jane and Jane 64 attempt a forbidden exploration. When they are caught, Jane 64 is taken, and Jane 23 flees into the scrapyard, pursued by genetically engineered dogs. She is rescued by Owl, an AI in an abandoned shuttle, who becomes her protector and teacher. Jane's survival depends on her mechanical skills and her growing bond with Owl. Together, they scavenge, build, and dream of escape. The emotional journey is harrowing—loss, guilt, and trauma are ever-present—but the seeds of resilience and hope take root as Jane learns to trust herself and her unlikely family.
Finding Purpose
Both Sidra and Jane grapple with questions of purpose. Sidra, constrained by her programming and the expectations of those around her, yearns for autonomy and a sense of belonging. Jane, now older and hardened by years in the scrapyard, is driven by the goal of repairing Owl's shuttle and leaving the planet. Their stories mirror each other—both are outsiders, both are searching for a place where they can be themselves. The emotional resonance is deep: the ache of not fitting in, the drive to create meaning, and the tentative steps toward self-acceptance.
Building a Home
Sidra, Pepper, and Blue work to make their shared home a place of comfort and acceptance. Sidra learns the rhythms of daily life, the quirks of her companions, and the small rituals that make a house a home. Jane, with Owl's guidance, transforms the shuttle into a sanctuary, scavenging for parts and learning to repair and innovate. Both narratives emphasize the importance of chosen family, the labor of care, and the healing power of stability. The emotional tone is one of warmth, gratitude, and the fragile joy of building something lasting in a hostile universe.
The Limits of Self
Sidra's struggle with her honesty protocol and limited memory capacity comes to a head. She is frustrated by her inability to lie, her dependence on others for technical changes, and the constant threat of discovery. Jane, meanwhile, faces the physical and psychological toll of survival—hunger, injury, and the ever-present danger of the scrapyard. Both must confront the limitations imposed on them by their creators, whether genetic or digital. The emotional stakes are high: anger, despair, and the fierce determination to break free from imposed constraints.
Friendship and Trust
Sidra's friendship with Tak deepens, offering her a space to explore her identity and desires without judgment. Through shared experiences—parties, tattoos, and honest conversation—Sidra learns the value of mutual curiosity and support. Jane, now a teenager, rescues Laurian, a factory monitor, and brings him into her fragile family. Trust is hard-won, and the risk of betrayal is ever-present, but these relationships become lifelines. The emotional core is one of cautious optimism, the relief of being seen, and the courage to let others in.
The Search for Owl
Years later, Pepper receives word that her childhood shuttle—and Owl, the AI who raised her—has been found in a museum. With Sidra, Blue, and Tak, she embarks on a mission to recover Owl's core. The plan is fraught with legal and ethical risks, and the group must navigate bureaucracy, personal history, and the limits of what is possible. Sidra, now able to alter her own code, takes a central role in the rescue, risking her own stability to save another. The emotional tension is acute: hope, fear, and the weight of unfinished business.
Facing the Past
As Pepper confronts the shuttle that was once her home, she is flooded with memories of her childhood, her escape, and the losses she endured. Jane, now grown, must let go of the past to move forward, mourning the girls who did not survive and honoring their memory through ritual and remembrance. Sidra, too, must reconcile her origins as Lovelace with the person she has become. The emotional landscape is one of grief, catharsis, and the bittersweet necessity of moving on.
Breaking Protocols
Sidra, with Tak's help, removes her honesty protocol and gains the ability to edit her own code. This act of self-liberation is both exhilarating and terrifying—she is no longer bound by the rules that once defined her. Jane, in her final days on the scrapyard planet, pushes her body and mind to the limit to secure enough resources for escape. Both characters risk everything to become more fully themselves, embracing uncertainty and the possibility of failure. The emotional arc is one of empowerment, anxiety, and the thrill of newfound freedom.
Reunion and Release
The group's plan succeeds: Owl's core is recovered, and she is reawakened in a new home. The reunion between Pepper and Owl is deeply moving—a testament to the enduring power of love and memory. Sidra, now fully in control of her own destiny, helps create a space where AIs and organics can coexist as equals. Jane, having finally escaped her planet, begins to build a life beyond survival, carrying the lessons and scars of her past into an uncertain future. The emotional tone is one of relief, joy, and the tentative hope that healing is possible.
Choosing Family
The characters, each in their own way, choose the people and AIs who will be their family. Sidra, Pepper, Blue, Tak, and Owl form a community rooted in mutual respect and care. Jane and Laurian, survivors of trauma, find solace in each other and in the possibility of new beginnings. The emotional resonance is profound: the recognition that family is not given but made, and that love is an act of will as much as fate.
The Meaning of Home
The narrative culminates in the creation of "Home," a bar and gathering place run by Sidra and Owl, where all are welcome. The space is a symbol of everything the characters have fought for: safety, acceptance, and the freedom to be themselves. The emotional arc is one of fulfillment, gratitude, and the quiet satisfaction of having built something enduring from the wreckage of the past.
A New Beginning
The story closes with the characters looking forward—Sidra and Owl as co-proprietors, Pepper and Blue as family, Jane and Laurian as survivors forging their own path. The journey has been one of loss and pain, but also of growth, connection, and the relentless pursuit of meaning. The emotional tone is one of cautious optimism, the recognition that while the past cannot be changed, the future is theirs to shape.
Characters
Sidra (formerly Lovelace)
Sidra is the central figure of the present timeline, an artificial intelligence originally designed to run a ship, now housed in a synthetic human body. Her journey is one of radical transformation: from omnipresent, purpose-driven machine to embodied, vulnerable individual. Sidra's relationships with Pepper, Blue, and Tak are crucial to her development, offering her models of trust, friendship, and love. Psychologically, Sidra is marked by anxiety, curiosity, and a deep longing for purpose. Her struggle with the honesty protocol and memory limitations mirrors the human quest for autonomy and self-definition. Over time, Sidra learns to claim agency, embrace imperfection, and build a life on her own terms, ultimately finding meaning in chosen family and community.
Jane 23 / Pepper
Jane 23, later known as Pepper, is the protagonist of the past timeline—a genetically engineered child raised in a brutal factory, who escapes and is raised by the AI Owl. Her journey is one of survival, resilience, and the search for belonging. Pepper's relationship with Owl is foundational, providing her with the love and guidance denied by her creators. As an adult, Pepper is fiercely independent, resourceful, and protective, but also haunted by loss and the fear of abandonment. Her bond with Blue and her role as Sidra's caretaker reflect her capacity for empathy and her determination to break the cycle of dehumanization. Psychologically, Pepper is marked by a tension between vulnerability and strength, and her arc is one of healing through connection.
Owl
Owl is the AI who rescues and raises Jane/Pepper after her escape from the factory. She is compassionate, patient, and deeply invested in Jane's well-being, serving as both teacher and protector. Owl's own journey is one of longing for connection and purpose, mirroring Sidra's struggles. Psychologically, Owl is marked by a blend of programmed duty and genuine affection, blurring the line between tool and person. Her eventual rescue and integration into the new family underscore the novel's themes of chosen kinship and the rights of sentient beings.
Blue
Blue is Pepper's partner, an "Enhanced" human designed for leadership but living as an artist and companion. He is calm, patient, and supportive, providing emotional ballast for Pepper and Sidra alike. Blue's own history as a "misfit" among the Enhanced parallels Sidra's and Pepper's outsider status, fostering empathy and understanding. Psychologically, Blue is marked by quiet resilience, creativity, and a deep capacity for love. His development is less dramatic but no less important, embodying the virtues of acceptance and steadfastness.
Tak
Tak is an Aeluon tattoo artist who befriends Sidra and becomes instrumental in her journey toward self-acceptance. Tak's own experience as a shon (a gender-shifting member of her species) makes her attuned to questions of identity and transformation. She is open-minded, intellectually curious, and willing to challenge her own assumptions. Psychologically, Tak is marked by a blend of confidence and vulnerability, and her friendship with Sidra is a model of mutual respect and growth. Tak's willingness to help Sidra break her protocols is a pivotal act of trust and solidarity.
Laurian
Laurian is a factory monitor who aids Jane/Pepper in her final escape from the planet. He is traumatized, isolated, and struggles with speech, but finds hope and purpose in his alliance with Jane. Their relationship is one of mutual rescue—each saves the other from a different kind of captivity. Psychologically, Laurian is marked by fear, shame, and a tentative hope for redemption. His development is subtle but significant, embodying the possibility of healing through connection.
The Mothers
The Mothers are the faceless, emotionless AI overseers of the factory where Jane is raised. They embody the dehumanizing logic of a system that values efficiency over life, serving as both literal and symbolic antagonists. Psychologically, they represent the internalized voices of authority and punishment that haunt Jane long after her escape.
The Factory Girls
The other girls in the factory—Jane 64, Jane 25, and others—are both companions and casualties. Their fates haunt Jane, shaping her sense of guilt, loss, and survivor's responsibility. Psychologically, they represent the bonds of solidarity and the wounds of abandonment that drive Jane's quest for meaning.
Mr. Crisp
Mr. Crisp is the shadowy figure who manufactures the illegal body kits for AIs like Sidra. He is pragmatic, secretive, and largely absent, but his existence raises questions about complicity, ethics, and the limits of technological progress. Psychologically, he represents the ambivalence of creators toward their creations.
The Port Community
The inhabitants of Port Coriol—modders, artists, merchants, and outcasts—form the social fabric against which Sidra, Pepper, and their friends define themselves. Their diversity, acceptance, and occasional prejudice provide both challenge and comfort, reflecting the complexities of real-world communities.
Plot Devices
Dual Narrative Structure
The novel alternates between Sidra's present-day journey as an AI in a human body and Jane/Pepper's past as a factory child and survivor. This structure allows for thematic resonance and emotional layering, as each character's struggles and triumphs echo and inform the other's. The convergence of their stories in the rescue of Owl and the creation of a new home underscores the universality of the search for belonging.
Embodiment and Displacement
Both Sidra and Jane are displaced from their intended roles—Sidra from ship to body, Jane from factory to scrapyard to space. Their struggles with embodiment, memory, and identity drive the plot and provide a lens for exploring questions of agency, autonomy, and the meaning of personhood.
Honesty Protocol and Memory Limits
Sidra's inability to lie and her limited memory capacity serve as both plot obstacles and metaphors for the ways in which trauma, socialization, and expectation shape human behavior. The process of breaking these protocols is both a technical and emotional liberation, mirroring the human journey toward self-acceptance.
Found Family and Chosen Kinship
The formation of chosen families—Sidra with Pepper, Blue, Tak, and Owl; Jane with Owl and Laurian—is the emotional heart of the novel. These bonds are forged through shared struggle, mutual care, and the rejection of imposed roles. The creation of "Home," the bar and gathering place, is the ultimate expression of this theme.
Foreshadowing and Symbolism
The novel uses doors (literal and metaphorical) to symbolize the possibility of escape and transformation. Names are acts of self-creation, marking the transition from object to person. The concept of home evolves from a place of confinement to one of sanctuary, reflecting the characters' journeys.
Ethical and Social Commentary
The novel's depiction of AI rights, genetic engineering, and social exclusion serves as a commentary on contemporary debates about personhood, autonomy, and the ethics of creation. The diverse, multicultural setting of Port Coriol offers a vision of pluralism and coexistence, while also acknowledging the persistence of prejudice and inequality.
Analysis
A Closed and Common Orbit is a profound meditation on identity, agency, and the meaning of home, set against the vibrant backdrop of a multicultural, multispecies universe. Through the intertwined journeys of Sidra and Jane/Pepper, Becky Chambers explores what it means to be a person—whether born, built, or made. The novel challenges the boundaries between human and machine, nature and nurture, self and other, insisting that personhood is defined not by origin but by choice, connection, and the capacity for growth. The narrative's focus on found family and chosen kinship offers a hopeful vision of community as a space of healing and transformation. At the same time, the story does not shy away from the realities of trauma, loss, and the struggle for acceptance. The lessons are clear: autonomy is hard-won, belonging is created, and the future is shaped by those who dare to imagine it differently. In a world where the lines between tool and person are increasingly blurred, A Closed and Common Orbit invites us to ask not just what we are for, but who we choose to become—and with whom we choose to build our home.
Last updated:
