The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (2014)

The Wayfarer builds hyperspace tunnels, and its mixed-species crew has to make the everyday business of living together work. Rosemary's new administrative job gives us a route into its engineers, pilot, captain and shared meals. Chambers makes respect for different bodies and boundaries part of shipboard competence. Start here for the warmest company on the list, with an episodic journey rather than constant combat. Later Wayfarers books shift to other ensembles instead of simply keeping this crew on the same route.