I had the pleasure of reading A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers, which turned out to be the perfect end-of-your-day read: light but meaningful, engaging without being taxing.
The story follows Dex, a monk in a futuristic society that has rebalanced itself after the AI singularity. In this imagined future, robots gain consciousness and – rather than triggering a bloody, Terminator-style war – humans and robots amicably agree to go their separate ways. Decades pass without contact as robot territory becomes the Wild, while humans carve out a peaceful existence in small settlements and towns.
Religion plays a connective role in this society. There are different gods and god-children for all aspects of life, and monks like Dex help maintain harmony within their communities. Yet despite how idyllic this world appears, Dex is restless. Seeking to resolve their ennui, they retrain as a travelling tea monk—a role they’re good at, but one that still doesn’t quite satisfy. What Dex truly wants is to experience the Wild. When they cross the border into robot territory, the next chapter, both literal and philosophical, begins.
As I read, I was repeatedly reminded of Ishmael by Daniel Quinn: another philosophical novel that explores humanity’s relationship with nature, meaning, and progress. In many ways, A Psalm for the Wild-Built felt like an unofficial sequel. Ishmael spoke powerfully to me in my early twenties, while this book felt almost custom-made for the questions and quiet reckonings of my late thirties.
My only real critique is that I wanted it to be longer. Overall: 4 chirping crickets out of 5.
