Em Salmo para um robô peregrino, o primeiro livro da nova série Monge e o Robô, Becky Chambers, vencedora do Prêmio Hugo, apresenta uma visão otimista para um mundo cada vez mais distópico Passaram-se séculos desde que os robôs de Panga ganharam autoconsciência e abandonaram as fábricas; séculos desde que peregrinaram para a vastidão selvagem e nunca mais foram vistos; séculos desde que desvaneceram em mitos e lendas urbanas. Um dia, a vida de Dex, um monge de chá com sentimentos de incompletude e insatisfação, é perturbada pela repentina chegada de um robô que veio para honrar uma velha promessa de checar como os humanos estão. Esse robô não pode voltar até que uma questão essencial seja respondida: “De que os humanos precisam?” Mas a resposta para essa pergunta depende muito de quem pergunta, e como. Assim, dois aliados improváveis partem em uma jornada filosófica sobre propósito, anseios e pertencimento. …
Em Salmo para um robô peregrino, o primeiro livro da nova série Monge e o Robô, Becky Chambers, vencedora do Prêmio Hugo, apresenta uma visão otimista para um mundo cada vez mais distópico Passaram-se séculos desde que os robôs de Panga ganharam autoconsciência e abandonaram as fábricas; séculos desde que peregrinaram para a vastidão selvagem e nunca mais foram vistos; séculos desde que desvaneceram em mitos e lendas urbanas. Um dia, a vida de Dex, um monge de chá com sentimentos de incompletude e insatisfação, é perturbada pela repentina chegada de um robô que veio para honrar uma velha promessa de checar como os humanos estão. Esse robô não pode voltar até que uma questão essencial seja respondida: “De que os humanos precisam?” Mas a resposta para essa pergunta depende muito de quem pergunta, e como. Assim, dois aliados improváveis partem em uma jornada filosófica sobre propósito, anseios e pertencimento. Em um mundo onde as pessoas têm tudo de que precisam, será que ter mais importa? “O primeiro livro da nova série da Chambers parece um momento para respirar, um romance que existe para dar aos leitores um lugar para descansar e pensar. Recomendado para os fãs da série Wayfarers, de Chambers, e A casa no mar cerúleo, de TJ Klune.” ― Booklist “Escrito com todas as nuances e características de Chambers e seu pensamento cuidadoso, esta é uma meditação aconchegante e saudável sobre a natureza da consciência e seu lugar no mundo natural. Os fãs de ficções científicas delicadas, inteligentes e esperançosas vão se deliciar com esta promissora série.” ― Publishers Weekly “Um trabalho envolvente que é reconfortante sem ser enjoativo… Tudo se junta deliciosamente.” ― Locus
A Psalm for the Wild Built is the absolute best that solarpunk literature can offer.
Chambers dedicated the book to "...anybody who could use a break". If you need a peaceful read, this book is for you. It was exactly what I needed, giving my mind a break for the first time in a long while.
An insightful look into a world that could be, our realtionship wifh the non human world, and of course the reason why to exist. Felt a bit too typically solarpunk at its weakest moments and inspirational in its best.
I’ve had this book on my “To Read” list for about four years, since reading the Wayfarers series back to back.
I put it off because frankly £10 for an ebook copy of a 150 page novella is expensive and I was hoping it would get cheaper at some point.
Anyway, I’m at a point in my life where I’ve got a high pressure job, two demanding boys, a wife to keep happy and bills to pay. Frankly it all gets a bit much at times and I do find myself questioning the purpose of it all.
Honestly maybe I need to find religion, but in the absence of that this book is pretty bloody relatable to me right now. I will definitely be recommending it to others as a thought provoking quick read.
This was a sweet, easy, hopeful story, perfect for any souls who are feeling particularly lost. Much like the tea monks that are discussed frequently in its pages, this book helps you let go of your struggles, and simply breathe for a little bit, maybe even smile a few times if you’re particularly enjoying yourself.
On a world- or more accurately, a moon - called Panga, humanity managed to approximate an utopia. In it a young tea monk called Dex travels from city to town and back again to serve tea for those who need it.
Which, in my opinion everybody always needs. Every day.
Back to Dex, who serves a vital role in their society. After a while, they grow restless themselves and stray from the beaten path to find an answer for their restlessness. It doesn’t take long before Dex comes across Splendid Speckled Mosscap, or Mosscap, as people like to shorten names. Mosscap is a descendant of the robots that retreated into the wilderness several hundreds of years ago, after they became sentient. Since then robots and humans lived separately without any form of communication, which makes the encounter between Dex and Mosscap a novelty. Together they embark on the road less …
On a world- or more accurately, a moon - called Panga, humanity managed to approximate an utopia. In it a young tea monk called Dex travels from city to town and back again to serve tea for those who need it.
Which, in my opinion everybody always needs. Every day.
Back to Dex, who serves a vital role in their society. After a while, they grow restless themselves and stray from the beaten path to find an answer for their restlessness. It doesn’t take long before Dex comes across Splendid Speckled Mosscap, or Mosscap, as people like to shorten names. Mosscap is a descendant of the robots that retreated into the wilderness several hundreds of years ago, after they became sentient. Since then robots and humans lived separately without any form of communication, which makes the encounter between Dex and Mosscap a novelty. Together they embark on the road less travelled, the wilderness, to find an answer for Dex.
The book tackles the question of feeling empty in a world of abundance – an abundance which is both material and immaterial. How can someone feel empty and without purpose in such a world and how does one overcome such an existential crisis? In short, as Mosscap states, “what do people need?”. Specifically, what do people need when every need is provided for?
It is a nice and short read with steady world-building, never over- or under-explaining anything, and leaves ample room for the conversation between Dex and Mosscap as they learn from each other.
"It must have been such a relief to be free of predators and eat whatever the hell you wanted. But that was the exact opposite of what the ecosystem needed."
A comfy story of a utopia in which humanity awakened sentient robots and then made some nice decisions. Sad because there's no way we'd make those decisions.
I'd seen some quotes which resonated with me without realising that they came from this book. Bittersweet -it was delightful to discover them, but I felt like I'd cheated myself of the story a bit.
I find it soothing in the modern world to remind ourselves we are just animals. You are allowed to just live. I think if you can suspend cynicism you'll enjoy this glimpse at a possible future. It weaves themes of meaning and awe at the universe in an elegant way.
I'm reminded of an observation by Dawkins in …
"It must have been such a relief to be free of predators and eat whatever the hell you wanted. But that was the exact opposite of what the ecosystem needed."
A comfy story of a utopia in which humanity awakened sentient robots and then made some nice decisions. Sad because there's no way we'd make those decisions.
I'd seen some quotes which resonated with me without realising that they came from this book. Bittersweet -it was delightful to discover them, but I felt like I'd cheated myself of the story a bit.
I find it soothing in the modern world to remind ourselves we are just animals. You are allowed to just live. I think if you can suspend cynicism you'll enjoy this glimpse at a possible future. It weaves themes of meaning and awe at the universe in an elegant way.
I'm reminded of an observation by Dawkins in Unweaving the Rainbow:
"It is you and I, in our ordinariness, that are here."
This is exactly what I needed to read at this point in my life. It's so beautiful, and I cried my way through the entire second half. Perhaps it isn't anything groundbreaking, but it has the same "vibes" as a Studio Ghibli film or the video game, Celeste. It's no wonder that this book is so loved.
Thoroughly delightful respite from gloomy books I've been reading lately.
I've enjoyed Becky Chambers' work for years, and I feel she distilled it to perfection in this novella. Length-wise it is just enough to paint a picture of a beautiful solarpunk world, and to give us characterization of Dex, the main protagonist. There is nothing superfluous to it, and there is no rush either; the pace is contemplative and purposeful.
I loved the world building; the slow paced, hopeful world of Panga feels like a perfect place for me. On the other hand, it is a clever backdrop for Dex's angst and struggle to find their own purpose in life. Chambers pulls off a great feat with portrayal of Dex; they feel rich, complex and fully realized human being. Clever too is the contrast of the titular robot to Dex's monk, and the cute, often philosophical exchanges between them.
I …
Thoroughly delightful respite from gloomy books I've been reading lately.
I've enjoyed Becky Chambers' work for years, and I feel she distilled it to perfection in this novella. Length-wise it is just enough to paint a picture of a beautiful solarpunk world, and to give us characterization of Dex, the main protagonist. There is nothing superfluous to it, and there is no rush either; the pace is contemplative and purposeful.
I loved the world building; the slow paced, hopeful world of Panga feels like a perfect place for me. On the other hand, it is a clever backdrop for Dex's angst and struggle to find their own purpose in life. Chambers pulls off a great feat with portrayal of Dex; they feel rich, complex and fully realized human being. Clever too is the contrast of the titular robot to Dex's monk, and the cute, often philosophical exchanges between them.
I also liked the book's ending. It might leave things seemingly unresolved, but the story climax presents convincing argument for the value of self discovery over finding the (unattainable) solutions. In its philosophy, its character and world building, and its beauty, this story felt true to me, and that's my favorite thing.
Becky Chambers makes me cry again, this time in a hope punk novella about existence and purpose. Long ago, humanity's Factory Age ended when robots suddenly gained consciousness and decided to leave. Humanity respected their agency and choice, allowing them to leave into the wilderness and legend while restructuring human civilization into a sustainable, solarpunk society.
Sibling Dex is a tea monk, going from town to town offering people their ear, their counsel and the perfect cup of tea to soothe their worries. But Dex themself feels an emptiness and pain; they feel guilty for not being happy in a life which - on the face of it - gives them everything it should. This inner conflict they keep from those they help really resonated with me from the very start.
Hoping to find an answer in anything but their routine, Dex goes off track into the wilderness. There, they …
Becky Chambers makes me cry again, this time in a hope punk novella about existence and purpose. Long ago, humanity's Factory Age ended when robots suddenly gained consciousness and decided to leave. Humanity respected their agency and choice, allowing them to leave into the wilderness and legend while restructuring human civilization into a sustainable, solarpunk society.
Sibling Dex is a tea monk, going from town to town offering people their ear, their counsel and the perfect cup of tea to soothe their worries. But Dex themself feels an emptiness and pain; they feel guilty for not being happy in a life which - on the face of it - gives them everything it should. This inner conflict they keep from those they help really resonated with me from the very start.
Hoping to find an answer in anything but their routine, Dex goes off track into the wilderness. There, they bump into the first robot to meet a human in centuries, Mosscap. Through its wide-eyed excitement at learning about humanity again, seeks an answer to a query the robots have about humans: what do people need? In such a short space, Chambers beautifully cuts through to our inner conflict and need for purpose and how to simply find joy in simply existing.
Really delightful book. Great world building, an interesting premise, and a lovely non-binary protagonist. Basically zero tension and violence, so if that's your thing you're likely to be bored. But the character development and world building are totally worth it for me.