A Psalm for the Wild Built is a delightful departure from typical robot uprising narratives, focusing on a tea monk and a robot exploring themes of agency and ethics. It's a great family book that introduces STEM topics naturally, though it skirts the line of being overly twee and preachy. The book is enjoyable for both young adults and adults, offering a unique perspective on robotics and human interaction.
A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers is a refreshing take on the robot genre, steering clear of the usual robot-uprising-kill-all-the-humans scenarios. The story follows Dex, a tea monk traveling in a bicycle-powered camper, who encounters Mosscap, a robot sent to ask humans what they need. This novella is a lovely exploration of concepts like agency and ethics, making it a great family book to read and discuss, especially while camping. It introduces STEM topics naturally and is enjoyable for both young adults and adults. However, it does skirt the border of being overly twee and preachy, which might not appeal to everyone. Overall, it's a heartwarming and thought-provoking read that offers a unique perspective on robotics and human interaction.
Quick quotes
Robots had spontaneously become intelligent in what was called the Awakening and then then left human-habited areas asking for privacy while they figured out their existence.
Mosscap, the eponymous robot, has been sent to ask humans “what do people need?” which Dex, as would be expected for the first book in a series, is hard pressed to answer.
The book eloquently explains many concepts familiar to roboticists, especially agency and ethics.