A Psalm for the Wild-Built
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- Create Date：2021-07-15 04:19:11
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Becky Chambers
- ISBN：B08H831J18
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Summary
Hugo Award-winner Becky Chambers's delightful new series gives us hope for the future。
It's been centuries since the robots of Earth 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' new series asks: in a world where people have what they want， does having more matter？
It's been centuries since the robots of Earth 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' new series asks: in a world where people have what they want， does having more matter？
Reviews
Levi Tinney
，
Becky Chambers is up there with Robin Hobb when it comes to making me cry。However， with Chambers they are always happy tears。I loved this book so much。 I just wish it was longer！！
Frank Burns
，
Astonishing。On a human settled moon， one day， the robots woke up and walked off。 The humans learned to exist better with their environment without their mechanical indentured labour。 This is a story set some time after that event。 It is about a tea monk whose restlessness leads him to a friendship with one of the robots。 And that's it。 Doesn't sound like much， no？ There's no great battles or moments of grand scale drama here。 Just a totally enthralling tale about a person's journey。 On a moon。 W Astonishing。On a human settled moon， one day， the robots woke up and walked off。 The humans learned to exist better with their environment without their mechanical indentured labour。 This is a story set some time after that event。 It is about a tea monk whose restlessness leads him to a friendship with one of the robots。 And that's it。 Doesn't sound like much， no？ There's no great battles or moments of grand scale drama here。 Just a totally enthralling tale about a person's journey。 On a moon。 Where the robots have woken up。It is a short book， hence me finishing it about 2 hours after starting it， but a very good one。After the triumph of the Wayfarers books， Becky Chambers has created something very different but equally as compelling。A delight to recommend and I can't wait for the continuation of this。 。。。more
Jennifer
，
“‘All I need right now is’--Dex would not finish that particular verse， because in that moment， a seven-foot-tall， metal-plated， boxy-headed robot strode briskly out of the woods。 ‘Hello！’ the robot said。 Dex froze--butt out， hair dripping， heart skipping… ‘My name is Mosscap，’ it said， sticking out a metal hand。 ‘What do you need， and how might I help？’”“What do humans need？ is an unanswerable question。 That changes from person to person， minute by minute。 We can’t predict our needs， beyond the “‘All I need right now is’--Dex would not finish that particular verse， because in that moment， a seven-foot-tall， metal-plated， boxy-headed robot strode briskly out of the woods。 ‘Hello！’ the robot said。 Dex froze--butt out， hair dripping， heart skipping… ‘My name is Mosscap，’ it said， sticking out a metal hand。 ‘What do you need， and how might I help？’”“What do humans need？ is an unanswerable question。 That changes from person to person， minute by minute。 We can’t predict our needs， beyond the base things we require to survive。 It’s like。。。teas。” “Farmers and doctors and artists and plumbers。。。Old people， young people。 Everybody needed a cup of tea sometimes。 Just an hour or two to sit and do something nice， and then they could get back to whatever it was。。。A cup of tea may not be the most important thing in the world。。。But the people who did actually the important work--building， feeding， teaching， healing--they all came to the shrine [Starbucks is mine！]。 It was the little nudge that helped important things get done。” “And so they worked through the line， filling mugs and listening carefully and blending herbs on the fly when the situation called for it。。。Pleasant chatter naturally drifted along here and there， but most folks kept to themselves。 Some read books。。。some slept。 A few cried。。。their fellow tea-drinkers offered shoulders for this。。。handkerchiefs and refills as needed。。。All of it could be boiled down to ‘listen to people， give tea。。。Find the strength to do both。’”Becky Chambers’ A Psalm for the Wild-Built is a sci-fi reimagination of the Solomonic search for meaning in Ecclesiastes， a robotic anthropology of humanity （er humani-tea as the case may be）！ “It is enough to exist in the world and marvel at it。 You don’t need to justify that， or earn it。 You are allowed to just live。。。Do you not find consciousness alone to be the most exhilarating thing？。。I know that no matter what， I’m wonderful。” We don’t come from factories; we’re wild-built。 Couple with your favorite cuppa！ 。。。more
Emmalyn Renato
，
This science fiction novella is another dollop of what Becky Chambers does so well。 It's an easy， fun， optimistic read that leaves you feeling good。 The world is interesting， the two main characters （Dex the tea monk and Mosscap the robot with a conscious） are a fascinating pair and the discussions they have will leave you thinking about such subjects as the purpose of life。 I look forward to further installments in this series。 A minor nit （and it really doesn't spoil anything） is that I found This science fiction novella is another dollop of what Becky Chambers does so well。 It's an easy， fun， optimistic read that leaves you feeling good。 The world is interesting， the two main characters （Dex the tea monk and Mosscap the robot with a conscious） are a fascinating pair and the discussions they have will leave you thinking about such subjects as the purpose of life。 I look forward to further installments in this series。 A minor nit （and it really doesn't spoil anything） is that I found Mosscap to be a tad too anthropomorphic。 。。。more
Kelly
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A lovely philosophical fable about existential crises and the power of kindness and hope。
Simone
，
Thanks， Becky Chambers， for triggering my anxiety。 It takes an incredible author to write a 150-page novella and bring me down to the level。 But I'll get to that particular part in a minute。 Let's first clear our heads and discuss the other components of the book。This book reminded me a lot of her other novella， To Be Taught， If Fortunate。 They're not the same in any way， shape， or form， but the concepts of humanity， and of hope are so strong with both of these stories。 It's so undeniable that B Thanks， Becky Chambers， for triggering my anxiety。 It takes an incredible author to write a 150-page novella and bring me down to the level。 But I'll get to that particular part in a minute。 Let's first clear our heads and discuss the other components of the book。This book reminded me a lot of her other novella， To Be Taught， If Fortunate。 They're not the same in any way， shape， or form， but the concepts of humanity， and of hope are so strong with both of these stories。 It's so undeniable that Becky Chambers is rooting 100% for humanity and our possibilities。The writing here is so interesting。 It moves quickly through the beginning while you're getting to know Dex and the particular way they came about becoming a tea monk。 Although it moved quickly， it didn't skimp on actually explaining and not in an info-dump kind of way。 Once you meet Mosscap， the robot， then it starts to slow down and the story of their adventures begins。It feels like the tone changes from being fun to serious every few minutes。 One minute you're laughing that a robot can't do math and then the next you're wondering what it means to truly be happy。 It's a weird dichotomy， but at the same time it feels so accurate to how we all perceive the world。 One minute we're trying to figure out who we are and the next we're laughing at some cat doing something stupid on the internet。 It does such a good job at painting this picture， especially the relationship between Mosscap and Dex。 And these two characters were really ones you want to follow until the end of time。 Mosscap is this sentient robot who likes watching trees mature and understanding how bugs work。 Dex is this unhappy tea monk who gave up their former life to only feel empty in their new life。 I see a lot of myself in both of these characters。 I see myself as the precocious robot who's always learning something new and different， but I also see a lot of Dex and trying to answer that tough life question that no one has an answer to。I also really loved the descriptions of this world。 It feels like ours except humanity has taken the steps to move away from the dangers our world is facing。 They returned to the earth rather than continuing to modernize and materialize。 And the earth returned to the lush environment it once was and in so many ways it felt idyllic and special。 The further Dex moves away from the urban settings into the wilderness， the more they have the space to understand what they want and what is important to them。 Perhaps it's because they don't have the distraction of modernity in their face that it allows them the space to think。 The fact that the robots retreated into the woods and spend their lifetimes examining how the world works and how life lives is just an added reminder that there's a cycle to all of this; to all of us。Which brings me to the big question that comes up in this book。 This book raises some of the biggest existential questions that I've avoided because every time I think about them， it gives me anxiety。 What is the point of it all？ What do you do when you have everything and somehow， it's not enough？I feel like many people will answer this differently and Becky Chambers provides no answers in her book。 It's the question philosophers have been trying to answer their entire lives and they all died before they found it。 This is the part of the book that will make you think and it isn't there to make you anxious or nervous or trigger my anxiety （despite me making some jokes）。 It's there for you to examine your world， how you perceive it， what matters ultimately， and how are you fulfilling that。Overall， an exciting new story from Becky Chambers。 I'm enamored by its characters， their objective to ask if humans need anything， and the deeper conversations about what it means to be conscious。 I cannot wait for book two and the rest of their journeys together。Thanks to Tordotcom for the gifted copy of this book。 My opinions haven't been influenced by the author or the publisher。 。。。more
Graemeoswald
，
Nothing much happensThat would normally be a criticism， but this book should be praised for seeing and appreciating the magic of “everyday” life。 Obviously， it’s not an everyday life， as it’s set in a post AI-sentient world where the robots simply left to live in the wilderness。 But it is a magical and too short book。 I look forward to a sequel。 It reminded me a little of the beginning/middle of the film Arrival and the struggle of two different cultures to communicate。 Here， there is no languag Nothing much happensThat would normally be a criticism， but this book should be praised for seeing and appreciating the magic of “everyday” life。 Obviously， it’s not an everyday life， as it’s set in a post AI-sentient world where the robots simply left to live in the wilderness。 But it is a magical and too short book。 I look forward to a sequel。 It reminded me a little of the beginning/middle of the film Arrival and the struggle of two different cultures to communicate。 Here， there is no language problem， but there is a massive and fascinating cultural divide between robots and humanity nonetheless。 。。。more
Yvette
，
“because it is enough to exist in the world and marvel at it。”
Laura Fox
，
Absolutely incredible。 Becky Chambers is a genius and this book came to me at such a pivotal point in my own life。 It gave me hope and purpose （or lack thereof） and made my heart smile。 I can't wait to read future installments in this series。 Absolutely incredible。 Becky Chambers is a genius and this book came to me at such a pivotal point in my own life。 It gave me hope and purpose （or lack thereof） and made my heart smile。 I can't wait to read future installments in this series。 。。。more
Stephen Richter
，
Finished the novella in one sitting。 If you are a Becky Chamber fan of her previous books， you will love this。 If tea hold a special place in your heart， you will love this。 The novella made me think of Avatar: The Last Airbender Animated series。 https://www。youtube。com/watch？v=ghByA。。。Do I know if Becky Chamber was influenced by Uncle Iroh？ But I have my hopes。 I totally identified with the main character Dex。 That feeling that "everything is going good， but still something is missing" notion t Finished the novella in one sitting。 If you are a Becky Chamber fan of her previous books， you will love this。 If tea hold a special place in your heart， you will love this。 The novella made me think of Avatar: The Last Airbender Animated series。 https://www。youtube。com/watch？v=ghByA。。。Do I know if Becky Chamber was influenced by Uncle Iroh？ But I have my hopes。 I totally identified with the main character Dex。 That feeling that "everything is going good， but still something is missing" notion that is buried in Dex's mind is there in my own thoughts 。 And going into the unknown is the anwer， Maybe？ 。。。more
Shona
，
3。5A lightish read， except for the existential angst 😩There was no way I wasn't going to like this book， because I like robots。 3。5A lightish read， except for the existential angst 😩There was no way I wasn't going to like this book， because I like robots。 。。。more
vonblubba
，
A contemplative search for meaning and understanding。 The acceptance that maybe not having a purpose is perfectly fine。 The big philosophycal questions discussed with unbelievable clarity and levity。At this point I believe Becky Chambers books need a sci-fi subgenre all for themselves。 "Optimistic sci-fi" or something like that。 God knows of we need more stuff like this。 The ability to see so much good in humanity Is something I really envy。I've read all books published by Becky Chambers up unti A contemplative search for meaning and understanding。 The acceptance that maybe not having a purpose is perfectly fine。 The big philosophycal questions discussed with unbelievable clarity and levity。At this point I believe Becky Chambers books need a sci-fi subgenre all for themselves。 "Optimistic sci-fi" or something like that。 God knows of we need more stuff like this。 The ability to see so much good in humanity Is something I really envy。I've read all books published by Becky Chambers up until now， and every single one of them has been better than the one before。 I can't wait to read the next one。 。。。more
Zubin Jain
，
I am big fan of Becky Chambers previous work and particularly her Wayfinder series so I went into reading it with high expecations。 Sadly I was disappointed by this book， the setting has potential and there is some excellent world-building yet the wonderful characterisation of the Wayfinder series is missing。 It's ok to have a book feature only 2 charecters of any note but their reltionships is seriously underdeveloped with the development happening way to fast for you to really understand them。 I am big fan of Becky Chambers previous work and particularly her Wayfinder series so I went into reading it with high expecations。 Sadly I was disappointed by this book， the setting has potential and there is some excellent world-building yet the wonderful characterisation of the Wayfinder series is missing。 It's ok to have a book feature only 2 charecters of any note but their reltionships is seriously underdeveloped with the development happening way to fast for you to really understand them。The Wilderness Setting is lovely but there simply isn't enough variety in the story to keep me interested like I was in the way-finder seriese。 。。。more
Sean Randall
，
Short but sweet， I positively luxuriated in every sentence。 Becky’s writing is so compellingly beautiful， somehow real yet fantastic at the same time， with a seemingly endless ability to latch on to ones Humanity and tug it in unexpected and thought-provoking directions。 For all that I’m really going to miss the wayfarers， this peek into a new world with so much history， kindness and love was positively enthralling。
Sheryl Cramer
，
gender correctness is consistently jarring & confusingThe ecological philosophy is great。 The character building is good。 The basic science is sketchy - overuse/abuse of petroleum mined on the moon of a gas giant？ Use of casein as the walls， floors and supports of a skyscraper？ But it's the constant confusion of they/them/their for both a known singular person （Sibling Dex） and a defined plural grouping， frequently in the same sentence， that jarred at every turn。 In other books Chambers has used gender correctness is consistently jarring & confusingThe ecological philosophy is great。 The character building is good。 The basic science is sketchy - overuse/abuse of petroleum mined on the moon of a gas giant？ Use of casein as the walls， floors and supports of a skyscraper？ But it's the constant confusion of they/them/their for both a known singular person （Sibling Dex） and a defined plural grouping， frequently in the same sentence， that jarred at every turn。 In other books Chambers has used xhe/xhem， which at least didn't lead to constant irritating confusion。 Until Chambers gets over this particular fad， I will not be reading more of her （is it OK to say that？） work。 。。。more
Kit
，
That was beautiful。 I have no words beyond that。 Nothing else seems to fit。
Laura Jefferson
，
A lovely character explores meaningOne of the most pleasant philosophical treatises ever。 An explicitly non-binary person has a crisis of meaning， and meets a being perfect for exploring with。
Erin （roostercalls）
，
“Sometimes， a person reaches a point in their life when it becomes absolutely essential to get the fuck out of the city。”🍵On a future earth， Sibling Dex has begun to chafe at the bounds of their peaceful existence。 To escape the claustrophobic containment of their modern monastery， the city， and its routines， they strike out on a new path， with a new chosen vocation: traveling tea monk。But once Dex masters this pursuit—a unique brand of liquid therapy and ritual service—they once again feel call “Sometimes， a person reaches a point in their life when it becomes absolutely essential to get the fuck out of the city。”🍵On a future earth， Sibling Dex has begun to chafe at the bounds of their peaceful existence。 To escape the claustrophobic containment of their modern monastery， the city， and its routines， they strike out on a new path， with a new chosen vocation: traveling tea monk。But once Dex masters this pursuit—a unique brand of liquid therapy and ritual service—they once again feel called toward the unknown。 Honoring the urge， they venture into a long abandoned wilderness 。 。 。 and quickly encounter one of the robots who walked away from humans en masse not to be heard from or seen for generations， setting off the great Transition。What follows in their impromptu partnership is a beautiful meditation on humanity， consciousness， technological advancement， and the cycles of life。🤖I can’t express the degree to which I loved this novella。 I wanted to step into it Narnia-style and experience all the gorgeous， attentive details packed within its slender spine firsthand。PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT glimmers with the mystical， but unlike a fantasy that is revealed to be mirage upon closer inspection， Chambers’ world is one of uncommon substance， crafted with the practical magic of deliberate care—a world， her writing whispers， that we might yet create for ourselves with the right set of intentional choices。Thanks to @tordotcompub for the chance to read an advanced digital ARC。 Chambers may have left space in her latest literary endeavor， but her imaginaries are as hopeful， creative， and delightfully science-inspired as ever。 。。。more
df parizeau
，
Not something I would typically pick up but I'm so glad the cover charmed me into doing so。 This book is delightful。 Philosophical， yet light and humorous。 I can't wait to travel more with Dex and Mosscap。 Not something I would typically pick up but I'm so glad the cover charmed me into doing so。 This book is delightful。 Philosophical， yet light and humorous。 I can't wait to travel more with Dex and Mosscap。 。。。more
bee
，
（3。75/5）
Melissa
，
My first non-five star review for a Chambers story！ This one was lovely， but didn't quite sweep me off my feet。 My first non-five star review for a Chambers story！ This one was lovely， but didn't quite sweep me off my feet。 。。。more
smalltownbookmom
，
What a wholly original， thought-provoking， philosophical and wondrously uplifting short story about the friendship between a tea loving monk and an insect loving robot。 This was a complete leap of faith for me but when Anne Bogel endorses a book I have to give it a shot。 Man did this deliver！ I totally dug this world and these two non-binary characters！！ While short， this book covers some weighty topics including environmental stewardship， otherness and finding purpose and meaning in life。 Thank What a wholly original， thought-provoking， philosophical and wondrously uplifting short story about the friendship between a tea loving monk and an insect loving robot。 This was a complete leap of faith for me but when Anne Bogel endorses a book I have to give it a shot。 Man did this deliver！ I totally dug this world and these two non-binary characters！！ While short， this book covers some weighty topics including environmental stewardship， otherness and finding purpose and meaning in life。 Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy。 This was great on audio narrated by Emmett Grosland and I can’t wait for the next instalment in this new series。 Recommended for fans of The wild robot books。 Favourite quotes:“We don’t have to fall into the same category to have equal value。”“It is enough to exist in the world and marvel at it。 You don’t have to justify that or earn it。 You are allowed to just live。” 。。。more
Toya （the reading chemist）
，
I'm definitely in the minority here， but I didn't really get the point of this story aside from asking the meaning of life。 I'm definitely in the minority here， but I didn't really get the point of this story aside from asking the meaning of life。 。。。more
Ilse
，
Becky Chambers books make me feel safe。 Her talent for evoking comfort - and for creating moments of discomfort - is so well honed and so finely calibrated， that there is real pleasure and investment in the characters we meet， and the circumstances we confront with them。 There is such joy taken in describing concepts and situations of home and of family - I have to conclude that Chambers absolutely loves Being Home， as do I。 I can’t think of another author in a similar genre/space who makes me f Becky Chambers books make me feel safe。 Her talent for evoking comfort - and for creating moments of discomfort - is so well honed and so finely calibrated， that there is real pleasure and investment in the characters we meet， and the circumstances we confront with them。 There is such joy taken in describing concepts and situations of home and of family - I have to conclude that Chambers absolutely loves Being Home， as do I。 I can’t think of another author in a similar genre/space who makes me feel the same way。 A Psalm for the Wild-Built is an absolute gem - verdant and warm， cozy and untamed， funny and intriguing; full of longing and thinking and moving and peace。 There is such craft here， from such an assured and committed author。 I was interested to see where we would go after the Wayfarers arc， and wow - this was a great new world that I’m dying to see more of。 And you really do feel like Chambers is enjoying herself too。If this book was a piece of furniture， it would be a finely handcrafted， beautiful piece of master carpentry。 I just loved it。 。。。more
Peter Megyeri
，
This is clearly the best writing I have read so far this year。 I fell in love with Becky Chambers' writing once again。 The beautiful language， the complex ideas， the whole positive but still really deep atmosphere of the whole book is just amazing。 Also the world-building。 And the dialogues。 And the。。。 everything。 I really wish there was more of it and cannot wait for the second part。 In the meantime， I think I might just re-read all the Wayfarer books。 This would deserve more than five stars。 This is clearly the best writing I have read so far this year。 I fell in love with Becky Chambers' writing once again。 The beautiful language， the complex ideas， the whole positive but still really deep atmosphere of the whole book is just amazing。 Also the world-building。 And the dialogues。 And the。。。 everything。 I really wish there was more of it and cannot wait for the second part。 In the meantime， I think I might just re-read all the Wayfarer books。 This would deserve more than five stars。 。。。more
Dagbjört Kjartansdóttir
，
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Tor/Forge for the reading copy。A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers is now my favorite Becky Chambers story， and I love all her work。It's about an tea monk and his first encounter with a new friend， a wild-build robot。Chambers character are always ultra human， even the robot， although he provides a new angle to watch the world from 。 The world building is excellent as usual。I really do love the novella format， but also yearn for more from this world。 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Tor/Forge for the reading copy。A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers is now my favorite Becky Chambers story， and I love all her work。It's about an tea monk and his first encounter with a new friend， a wild-build robot。Chambers character are always ultra human， even the robot， although he provides a new angle to watch the world from 。 The world building is excellent as usual。I really do love the novella format， but also yearn for more from this world。 。。。more
Nicole
，
3。5 stars。。。I really like the premise of this book and some of the conversations that happen in it。。but I felt like I just wanted more？ I think this is going to be a series so I will definitely continue because I'm definitely intrigued。 3。5 stars。。。I really like the premise of this book and some of the conversations that happen in it。。but I felt like I just wanted more？ I think this is going to be a series so I will definitely continue because I'm definitely intrigued。 。。。more
Monika
，
PUB DAY REVIEW Thank you so much Tor。com for the arc & the finished copy of A PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT。 We have heard / read stories about humankind wanting to be free of advanced technology。 But what if those techs got wisdom and decided to leave us for good？In this new world Panga descriptively created by the author， a robot Mosscap “woke” one day and decided to leave all mankind。 They have agreed on a transition to border the land - one half for humans & the other half for the rest of the bei PUB DAY REVIEW Thank you so much Tor。com for the arc & the finished copy of A PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT。 We have heard / read stories about humankind wanting to be free of advanced technology。 But what if those techs got wisdom and decided to leave us for good？In this new world Panga descriptively created by the author， a robot Mosscap “woke” one day and decided to leave all mankind。 They have agreed on a transition to border the land - one half for humans & the other half for the rest of the beings。 Sibling Dex， a gender neutral monk who has respect for life and is trying to find their purpose lives on the other side， travels from one village to other with their cart of tea blends listening to people’s stories and pain。 They on a turn， meet Mosscap a box-headed Robot beyond the border， who is curious about human lives。 They witter， swear and banter about things， but also develop a deep unlikely relationship that is heartwarming and joyful。 Reading this you might think the book is 300+ pages， no at a half length than that Becky has created a world with characters you want to travel with and brewed a tea that as a reader and tea lover I couldn’t get enough off。Remember how I felt about Anxious People by Backman， wouldn’t shut up about the book and forced you people to read it？ I feel the same with this book + I feel hope。 I already am excited for the second book in this series！！ Also， if you haven’t read Becky’s Wayfarers series， please do。 They are the best Space-fiction books I’ve read & I love them！！ 。。。more
Geonn Cannon
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A very quick， very excellent read。 I made it through in one sitting， which means it will be easy to re-read when I want to go back and revisit it。 Which I absolutely will。 It's a beautiful little book， the perfect size for the story it tells， and I look forward to future installments with the Monk & Robot。 A very quick， very excellent read。 I made it through in one sitting， which means it will be easy to re-read when I want to go back and revisit it。 Which I absolutely will。 It's a beautiful little book， the perfect size for the story it tells， and I look forward to future installments with the Monk & Robot。 。。。more
Natasha Chowdory
，