Summary

A Psalm for the Wild-Built is the first novella in Becky Chambers's Monk and Robot duology. Published in 2021, this solarpunk story takes place on Panga, a moon where robots gained self-awareness centuries ago and disappeared into the wilderness. The novella follows Dex, a non-binary tea monk, as they encounter Mosscap, a robot venturing out of the wild to check on humanity. Together, they embark on a journey to answer the question, “What do people need?” Winner of the Hugo Award, A Psalm for the Wild-Built has been praised as a “cozy, wholesome meditation” on consciousness and nature. The sequel, A Prayer for the Crown-Shy, was released in 2022.

Plot

Set on the moon of Panga, A Psalm for the Wild-Built takes place centuries after robots gained self-awareness and retreated into the wilderness. The story follows Dex, a non-binary monk who travels between communities, serving custom-blended teas and listening to people's concerns. Feeling unfulfilled in their routine, Dex decides to venture into the untamed wilderness beyond the settled areas.

During their journey, Dex has an unexpected encounter with a robot named Splendid Speckled Mosscap, marking the first human-robot interaction in centuries. As Mosscap explains to Dex, it has come to honor an old promise to check in on humanity and seek an answer to the question, “What do people need?” Intrigued by this mission, Dex agrees to accompany Mosscap deeper into the wilderness.

As they travel together, Dex and Mosscap engage in thought-provoking conversations about purpose, consciousness, and the nature of human needs. Their destination is an abandoned monastery, where they hope to find insights into their shared question. Along the way, they navigate the challenges of the wild and learn from each other's perspectives.

The novella explores themes of sustainability, personal fulfillment, and the relationship between humans and technology. Set against the backdrop of a solarpunk society that has transitioned away from its industrialized past, A Psalm for the Wild-Built presents a hopeful vision of the future while examining what truly matters in life.

Themes

• Pursuit of purpose and meaning

• Human-robot relationships and coexistence   

• Sustainability and environmental harmony

• Self-discovery and personal growth

• The value of empathy and understanding

• Balancing technology and nature

• The importance of mindfulness and reflection

Setting

Set centuries in the future, A Psalm for the Wild-Built takes place on Panga, a habitable moon that has undergone significant social and environmental changes. The story unfolds in an era long after robots gained self-awareness and departed from human society, retreating into the wilderness. This pivotal event led to a dramatic shift in Panga's civilization, moving away from industrialization towards a more sustainable, solarpunk lifestyle.

The geographical setting spans both the settled and wild areas of Panga. The human-populated regions consist of small communities and farms, reflecting the moon's transition to a more agrarian society. These areas are where the protagonist, Dex, initially travels as a tea monk, serving and connecting with the inhabitants of various villages and towns.

As the narrative progresses, the setting expands into the untamed wilderness beyond human settlements. This unexplored territory becomes a focal point of the story when Dex ventures into these remote areas, encountering the long-absent robots and discovering an abandoned monastery. The contrast between the cultivated human zones and the rewilded expanses of Panga provides a rich backdrop for the novella's exploration of purpose, consciousness, and the relationship between humanity and nature.

Characters

• Dex: The main protagonist, a tea monk who uses they/them pronouns. Dex travels between communities, serving tea and listening to people's concerns. After becoming restless with their routine, Dex ventures into the wilderness and encounters a robot. Introspective and caring, Dex is on a journey of self-discovery.

• Splendid Speckled Mosscap: A curious and friendly robot who encounters Dex in the wilderness. Mosscap is on a mission to learn about humans and answer the question, “What do people need?” It forms an unlikely friendship with Dex as they travel together. Inquisitive and philosophical, Mosscap provides an alternative perspective on life.

• Keeper Gio: The mentor who trained Dex to become a tea monk. Keeper Gio provides guidance and wisdom to Dex, helping shape their path as a tea monk.

• Various villagers and townsfolk: The people Dex encounters and serves tea to during their travels. These characters provide insight into the solarpunk society of Panga and the diverse needs of its inhabitants.

Quick facts

• A Psalm for the Wild-Built is the first book in Becky Chambers's Monk and Robot series.

• The novella is set on a habitable moon called Panga.

• The main character, Dex, is a non-binary tea monk who uses they/them pronouns.

• A Psalm for the Wild-Built won the Hugo Award for Best Novella in 2022.

• A Psalm for the Wild-Built explores themes of rewilding, purpose, and human-robot relationships.

• The novella is considered part of the emerging solarpunk genre.

• The audiobook is narrated by Emmett Grosland and is 4 hours long

• It was followed by a sequel titled A Prayer for the Crown-Shy in 2022

About the Author

Becky Chambers (1985-) is an acclaimed American science fiction author. Her literary career took off with her debut novel, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, initially self-published through a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2014. This book became the first in her Hugo Award-winning Wayfarers series, which has garnered critical acclaim for its strong world-building and character-driven narratives. The series, known for its hopeful tone and exploration of diverse alien cultures, has firmly established Chambers as a pioneer of the hopepunk genre.

Born in Southern California and raised by parents in the aerospace industry, Chambers developed an early fascination with space exploration that would later influence her writing. Her unique background, which includes studying theater arts and living in various countries, has contributed to her innovative approach to science fiction.

Beyond the Wayfarers series, Chambers’s works include standalone novellas such as To Be Taught, If Fortunate and the Monk & Robot series, beginning with the Hugo Award-winning A Psalm for the Wild-Built. Her work is characterized by its focus on complex characters, intricate world-building, and themes of community and personal growth, often set against the backdrop of space exploration and interspecies relationships. Currently residing in Humboldt County, California, with her wife, Chambers continues to contribute to the science fiction genre.