A Psalm for the Wild-Built - Becky Chambers

A Psalm for the Wild-Built

By Becky Chambers

  • Release Date: 2021-07-13
  • Genre: Adventure Sci-Fi
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 330 Ratings

Description

Winner of the Hugo Award!

In A Psalm for the Wild-Built, bestselling Becky Chambers's delightful new Monk and Robot series, gives us hope for the future.


It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend.

One day, the life of a tea monk 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're going to need to ask it a lot.

Becky Chambers's new series asks: in a world where people have what they want, does having more matter?

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Reviews

  • Hip pocket

    5
    By 72_bex
    Soothing. Textured. A place to return when everything feels like too much.
  • Just what I needed

    5
    By Corvelle
    I’ve read Becky Chambers once before: “The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet” was so good I immediately searched for Chambers’s other stories. I found this, and put it back down after the first chapter of a sample. I saw the potential, and as an enby barista I got a kick out of an agender tea-maker protagonist, but the vibe wasn’t landing for me. That was about a year ago. Most recently I tried to finish up Dune Messiah, and when I allowed myself to admit I just really disliked that book, I moved on to a different space opera. Another huge letdown. Then I came back around to “A Psalm for the Wild-Built”, comfortably awaiting me, and I blew through the remainder of my sample. I bought it without hesitation and finished the short novel a week later. I have never related more to a protagonist. It’s scary to see one’s situation so precisely articulated in a novel. It could have been word-for-word. I’m trying to keep my expectations of an answer low, because that’s not fiction’s job. But the journey will be more than satisfactory, whether the protagonist’s solution to our problem is actionable for me or not. This book is COZY. It is heartfelt and wise and honest and cute and fun, but it still manages to have the movement of a good Studio Ghibli film, the sense that things are happening and the character is changing and the story is going somewhere. It’s what solarpunk books are aspiring to be, I think. Low stakes, but not merely a slice of life, either. An optimistic and, in many ways, utopian future, but people will always have their problems. This book was exactly the cup of tea I needed. It’s short, easy to read, full of captivating worldbuilding, and two lovable characters. Excellent book.
  • Thoughtful, compassionate, level, and a treat, all in one.

    5
    By CBsignal
    Somehow manages to have a discussion about ecology, the singularity, the psychology of capitalism, and more without dragging. The characters feel genuine and realized. The world is very solarpunk and is compelling for how the humans remain their flawed, endearing selves within a more harmonious society. Great inroad to explore ideas like de-growth and mutual aid with heaps of imagination.
  • Short and sweet

    5
    By alterae
    Beautiful little book. Really hopeful and comfortable; reading it feels like going home.
  • A wonderful read

    5
    By judithoak
    A beautiful story that applies so much to our lives now. Told in simple language, yet offering us a Way through the quagmire to what is really important, being OK with who we are.♥️
  • Beautiful story

    5
    By meggdogg
    Such a sweet story of friendship and discovery. The imagery was lovely and inspiring.
  • A Deep And Optimistic Meditation

    5
    By SpeakerToManagers
    I love this book. You know how books and essays are often described as “meditations”? Well, this book *is* a meditation. it’s told from the POV of a monk, it’s structured much like one of the dialogs that have been so influential in Western philosophy and science, and it addresses clearly and concisely the question of the meaning of life, and gives an answer I can agree with. Besides which, it’s a charming story, with a couple of interesting characters, and an optimistic look at how a society could solve some of our own existential problems if only it could be shocked into *looking* at them. And there’s some very thoughtful and subtle worldbuilding here that underpins the meditation. If you’ve read Chambers before you will be delighted but not surprised at this book. If you haven’t it won’t hurt at all to start here.
  • For anyone who needs a break

    5
    By j_a_x_
    I know I certainly do. This book was meditative. It's brought tears to my eyes. So well written, so calming, and so deep. Highly recommend!
  • Amazing Beginning of a New Series!

    5
    By Prairie_Dog
    “A Psalm for the Wild Built” is the beginning novella in the new Monk and Robot Series by Hugo Award winning writer Becky Chambers. This represents an entirely new setting for her, and does not appear not connected to any of her previous work. The events of the story take place on the habitable moon of what appears to be a gas giant plant orbiting a yellow star. Humans live here, and have had a historical civilization much like that of Earth. It’s power was mostly based on oil, and had manufacturing which eventually was conducted by humanoid robots. The robots suddenly and surprisingly became sentient, and informed the humans that they had collectively decided they would leave and go into the world to observe nature. The humans accepted this decision, and regard it as a significant turning point in their civilization. The humans changed their way of life, beginning to live within nature rather than exploit it. They turned to solar and wind for power. They set aside half of their world for nature. They began to build with natural materials that would biodegrade over time. They adopted a sustainable model of civilization, and regarded this an a major achievement. Yes, this is a solar punk setting. Now, it is probably time to discuss religion, the humans are polytheistic. They have three major gods and three minor or “child” gods. The most important of these to our story is Allalae, who is represented by a bear, and who seems to stand for comfort, home, and growing things. Our protagonist, Dex, is a non-binary Tea Monk who serves Allalae. Tea Monks apparently act as counselors and minor therapists for the populace. Dex travels about in thier wagon from place to place offering specialized cups of tea and comfort. This is where the story begins to take off. Dex feels a strange compulsion to visit a ancient hermitage in the wilderness, because they have wanted to hear crickets, which they believe should still exist in that area. So they enter the wilderness on a old road, and while camping there, they are approached by a robot. Robots have not interacted with humans since the Parting. But this one has come as the designated representative of robot-kind, to find out what humans need. This is the remainder of the story, the tale of the monk and the robot who travel together and seek to understand each other, and themselves. Typically for Ms. Chambers, there is not a lot of action or drama in this work. Also typically, there are wonderful characters, and the point of the story is the interaction between them. This is reportedly a series, so I am looking forward to seeing where this story goes in subsequent volumes!