A review by julialeigh
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Sci-fi but make it self-care.

Welcome to Panga, a utopic moon society where humans take what they need and not more, and robots roam the wilds. Dex is a tea monk, a job equal parts tea-brewing and compassionate listening. While they’ve risen to the top of their profession and are widely beloved, something is missing in their life that they can’t quite name. When they wander into the forest to seek answers, they meet one of these wild-built robots, the delightful Mosscap, whose purpose is to solve the very same riddle–what do humans need?

A Psalm for the Wild-Built is a breath of fresh air among shelves of dystopian, polluted worlds that characterize much of our futurist literature. As part of the Solarpunk movement, it dares to be optimistic about the future of human advancement and imagines a world in genuine balance between technology and nature. Everything about Panga seems antithetical to our hyper-individualist, consumerist world. The people have what they need and share what they have, they build things to last, and they respect nature’s autonomy. Through discussions of history, we see how Panga transitioned from a fully automated robot workforce to an artisan market economy, where people are encouraged to explore their interests. Accountability for past wrongs and respect for all life were vital in this social and economic transformation, emphasizing the hard, sometimes uncomfortable work necessary to build a society that cares for all. Even among this seeming perfection, the question of human fulfillment and purpose is explored through Dex’s foray into the wild.

Since reading Dex and Mosscap’s tale, I dream of the hope Panga represents. This novella feels like a balm to late-stage capitalism ennui. I plan on reading it again and again, and can’t wait to see where this robot and monk story goes in the sequel, A Prayer for the Crown Shy.