A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot, #1)
Becky Chambers
ASIN B08H831J18 moved to the more recent edition Centuries before, robots of Panga gained self-awareness, laid down their tools, wandered, en masse into the wilderness, never to be seen again. They faded into myth and urban legend. Now the life of the tea monk who tells this story is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered. But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how. They will need to ask it a lot. Chambers' series asks: in a world where people have what they want, does having more matter?
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This was such a heartwarming read and a really welcome reprieve from the dark, dystopian sci-fi I normally gravitate towards. I will be thinking about Dex and Mosscap probably for the rest of my life. I think there’s some wisdom for everyone in this small but mighty novella.
0I really loved this quiet, small story. It’s strange to go into a utopian sci-fi as you really don’t get many of them now, but it was a lovely change of pace - deliberately in theme with the message of the book and the main character’s job as a Tea Monk. The novel was very relaxing overall, and felt very ASMR at times, as Chambers described the world in loving detail. They’re still one of my favourite authors.
And I have to gush about all the philosophy/sociology of design and technology that was such a big part of the lore/religion, history and narrative of the novel. So effectively invoked, and lots of room to do much more in the sequel. My only grip is that it is as short as it is. I could have read another 30 or 300 pages easily.
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