A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers
One of the best exponents of positive science fiction tells a story of generosity and love in A Prayer for the Crown-Shy. Brother Dex (a Tea Monk of some repute) and Mosscap (a robot dispatched on a mission to ascertain what humanity actually needs) turn their attention to the villages and towns of the small moon they call home after seeing the agricultural sections of Panga.
In addition to making new friends, learning new ideas, and experiencing the entropic aspect of the universe, they expect to uncover the answers they’re looking for. Does having more even matter in a world where everyone has what they desire, as the latest Becky Chambers series asks?
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers
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The bond between Dex and Mosscap forms the book’s core. Dex is a gender-neutral monk who felt unfulfilled in his existence. The story takes place on the earth-like planet Panga. In Book 1, “A Psalm for the Wild Built,” they quit their job tending to a monastery’s gardens and began a new life as a travelling tea monk. Although perfecting the art of brewing the ideal blend of tea and paying attention to others’ worries, they still discovered a yawning emptiness in their life that they were unable to fill. They made the decision to venture into the forest in search of a long-forgotten hermitage due to their persistent sensation of being without a meaningful purpose in life.
