My partner and I were scrolling through the library’s audiobook section and were shocked that Becky Chambers’ A Psalm for the Wild-Built was available. We downloaded, unearthed a puzzle, and hit play.

Sibling Dex is a traveling tea monk on a tiny moon that is half inhabited. What is a tea monk? It’s a monk who follows the god of little comforts and serves tea and a listening ear to communities. What is a half-inhabited moon? It’s Panga where robots suddenly gained sapience, and the humans, horrified that they may have been enslaving thinking beings, let the robots march off into the other half of the planet. This other half is dedicated wilderness. Humans are forbidden from settling there. After years honing their craft, Sibling Dex is very good at their job and has settled into a blithe routine. What makes no sense is this itching, unsettled feeling in their bones, a restlessness uncured by naps, pillows, and snacks. The only thing sparking their interest is a trip into the wilds–the forbidden space full of trees, roots, and potentially robots.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built is solarpunk cuteness! The environmentalism, cultural humility, and cultural exchange are Chambers’ main focus, so don’t expect a character-heavy journey. Sibling Dex and the robot Mosscap are a delightful pair as is. I loved the hopeful feel of the novella, how Becky showed living could be easier and better. It’s not a utopia by any means–the fact humans are positioned as harmful to nature instead of part of nature is insidious–but after so many scifi dystopias, it was a treat to witness an author imagine a better world. The emphasis on cozy comfort and tackling burnout felt like a beeswax balm. My wife and I also had a meta-level chuckle that Monk and Robot is our second series with a nonbinary monk traveling the land and listening to stories. Nghi Vo’s Singing Hills Cycle is very different from Chambers’ work, but it’s funny this type of character and premise happened twice.

Overall, if you enjoy science fiction and need a bright spot in this dark time, pick up A Psalm for the Wild-Built. Dare to envision a better, cozier future.