To Be Taught, If Fortunate

Ariadne is an astronaut on a mission to study four potentially habitable worlds far from Earth. To travel through unfamiliar environments, she and her crewmates use technology that changes their bodies rather than forcing new worlds to accommodate them. Their work requires patience, curiosity and a willingness to confront dangers they cannot predict. But the distances involved also separate them from the society that sent them, and time is changing Earth while they are away. As the mission continues, Ariadne begins recording its discoveries and uncertainties for whoever might still be listening. This science-fiction novella considers exploration as an act of attention, alongside the human connections that make such a journey possible.