A Psalm for the Wild-Built

Becky Chambers's novel A Psalm for the Wild-Built (2021) is a work of fiction. It is aimed at an adult audience, but it could also be enjoyed by young adults. The novel follows the journey of Sibling Dex, a monk of the God Allalae, the God of Small Comforts. Dex leaves their comfortable post as a garden monk in the city to become a traveling tea monk, where they journey around Panga bringing comfort and solace.

Dex is bothered by a feeling of restlessness and a yearning for adventure, which drives them to journey into the wilderness, where they meet the robot Splending Speckled Mosscap. An unlikely friendship develops between the two as they navigate ideas of civilization versus wilderness, the importance of restraint, and the purpose of life. Ultimately, Mosscap helps its new friend to find peace in the wonders of nature.

The book is the first in the Monk and Robot series, which currently comprises two novels. The sequel to A Psalm for the Wild-Built is called A Prayer for the Crown-Shy, published in 2022.

This guide utilizes the 2021 Macmillan Publishing Group edition of A Psalm for the Wild-Built.

Plot Summary

Sibling Dex, a garden monk living and working in an inner-city monastery in Panga’s only city, feels a restlessness which they struggle to define. They recognize that they enjoy their life and work, and have friends and family who love them, but nonetheless they lie awake at night thinking of the sound of crickets, which they have only heard in pre-Transition recordings (During pre-Transition times, robots worked for humans in factories. After the Transition, robots lived apart from humanity.)

Dex decides to change vocations and become a tea monk, which will allow them to travel around Panga on a bicycle-powered wagon, providing comfort and tea to those seeking solace. Dex initially struggles in this role, feeling overwhelmed and inadequate, but they master their vocation through significant effort, and are acknowledged by many as the best tea monk in Panga.

Even with the immense pride and satisfaction that work brings, Dex still feels the same nagging restlessness that they did when they were a garden monk. They research the location of cloud crickets, which exist in the Antler Ranges, a wild mountain range. Also in these mountains is an abandoned hermitage. Dex becomes determined to travel to it, even though only pre-Transition roads, which are likely overgrown and in disrepair, lead to it. They tell no one of their plan.

Dex feels exhilarated to set off on their adventure. They are happily singing naked and preparing dinner by their wagon when they are approached by a robot, which introduces itself as Mosscap. Dex is shocked; robots and humans have not had contact since the Parting Promise hundreds of years earlier, whereby robots gained consciousness and moved into the wild part of Panga, and the people of Panga vowed to not intrude on their space. Mosscap explains that it is on a mission from the robot population. It is to ask humanity, “what do humans need?” in order to ascertain the wellbeing of the human population since robot departure (59).

Mosscap happily concludes that it could accompany Dex on their tea route. Dex is reluctant, and explains that they are on an adventure to find the old hermitage. Mosscap suggests that it could accompany Dex in return for their help meeting other people. After a large bear wanders through camp, Dex is reminded of the potential dangers of traveling alone, and relents. On their journey, the two discuss their beliefs and lives.

Dex is interested to learn about robots: that they remake new robots from the parts of others after these robots break down, that they name themselves after the first thing they see when they gain consciousness, and that they tend to live independently. At one point, Dex’s water tank is punctured on the rough road. Mosscap picks it up, suggesting that it could take it to the creek to refill it. Dex is uncomfortable accepting Mosscap’s help. They feel that this contradicts the terms of the Parting Promise between robots and humans, but Mosscap insists that it should be allowed to help its friend.

Dex marvels at walking through the wild forest, which they have never done before. At the creek, Dex admits that they feel fearful of the algae in the water going into their tank. Mosscap takes Dex to an overgrown old factory to demonstrate that it understands Dex’s point; it feels a residual fear of the space even though it knows that humans are safe now, just as Dex feels instinctively fearful of drinking unclean water even though they have a filter.

They continue toward the hermitage. They are dismayed to come across a section of the road which is completely washed out; Dex can’t continue in their wagon. To Mosscap’s surprise and bewilderment, Dex packs a backpack and continues on foot. Mosscap follows, asking why Dex must get to the hermitage even if it endangers their life. At one point, Dex falls from a rocky ledge. Mosscap catches them and leads them to a cave. They hold hands in the darkness and Mosscap lights up its fingertips, which Dex finds comforting. Dex admits that they are feeling lost and directionless; they don’t fully understand why they are so determined to find the hermitage, just that they feel drawn to do so.

The next morning, Dex and Mosscap climb the last of the mountain. They are both awed by the beautiful hermitage nestled on the mountaintop. They explore it. Dex lies down to nap. Mosscap finds books on fire building and tea ceremonies in the library. Dex wakes up to a warming fire and a tea prepared by Mosscap who, according to the ceremony of the tea monk, listens to Dex explain their feelings. Dex feels unsure what to do now that they have reached the hermitage; they don’t understand why they feel dissatisfied despite their meaningful work. Mosscap suggests that no greater purpose is needed in life; that it is enough to exist in the world and appreciate its beauty. Dex drinks the tea Mosscap has made for them. They listen to the crickets in companionable silence.