Hey, sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this but I have been hunting a novel that I read many years ago but I cannot remember the name. Here is what I remember:

It was written by a female author.

The main character I believe was a “chosen one” kind of character where he had to go on a journey to a specific planet to fulfill a prophesy.

The character that stuck with me was the main character’s best friend who grew up on a space station. He learned at a very early age the safety of a confined, sealed space, and If you saw a large open expance, that there was probably a hull breach, and you were going to die, or have a very bad day. Thus when they arrived on a planet, he was extremely agoraphobic, and had a hard time functioning under an open sky.

I just thought it was a really cool concept not too often explored in space based science fiction (that I’ve read anyways).

Does anyone know what this book is? Thank you!

  • Kerensky1101@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    One of the Foundation books by Isaac Asimov has a main character that is agoraphobic and has to deal with going outside the massive domes that humanity lives in

  • Boops@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    I think one of the expanse books has naomi freaking out when on planet as she is a belter and doesn’t have the psychological ability handle the lack of a hull. I think it was in cibola burn. Author isn’t female though.

    • bonegakrejg@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      If I’m thinking of the same scene, it was Bobbie the first time she’s on Earth and has kind of a panic attack because she’s never been anywhere where you could just be out in the open like that. I forget which book it was though.

      • Boops@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Yes, that could well be it, i think my mind is blurring books and tv show

  • Blizzard@lemmy.zip
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    1 year ago

    From ChatGPT:

    The novel you’re describing sounds like “Skyward” by Brandon Sanderson. However, it’s important to note that “Skyward” was written by a male author, not a female one. The main character, Spensa, is indeed a “chosen one” who goes on a journey to a distant planet. Her friend, M-Bot, has a fear of open spaces due to his history on a space station. If the author’s gender is a crucial detail, you might want to explore other possibilities.

    Is that the one?

    • Windshear
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      1 year ago

      The description is a bit off. Spensa was raised in caverns on an alien world and m-bot is (mild spoilers for skyward ahead) a ship’s ai on a starfighter that crashed long ago on that world. He is hesitant to leave is position and fly/fight due to his previous owners last orders.

      It’s a great book and myself and my kids really enjoyed it, but I don’t think it’s the book OP is looking for.

  • SMFX@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Possibly Skyward by Brandon Sanderson …?(disclaimer: based on asking ChatGPT)

    Edit: aware that Brandon Sanderson is not female!!

    • forvirreth@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      There’s a “spinoff” of the skyward series written by a female author! But having really both that trilogy and skyward I’d say chest GPT is off. But it definitely is closer to skyward flight (the spinoff)