A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
It has been centuries since the Panga robots developed self-awareness and put down their tools, centuries since they disappeared in large numbers into the wilderness and vanished into myth and urban legend. One day, a robot comes to fulfil an ancient commitment to check in, upending the tea monk’s way of life. Unless the question of “what do people need?” is resolved, the robot is unable to turn around.
But, it depends on who and how you ask for the response to that question. They’ll have to ask it repeatedly. In her new series, Becky Chambers poses the question, “Does having more matter in a society where individuals get what they want?”
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
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“A Psalm for the Wild Built” takes place on a far-off planet that humanity colonized long ago. When the robots that were initially designed to assist the human workforce completely replaced them, the Panga society experienced a period of catastrophic stagnation some millennia ago. The balance shifted when the factories were running nonstop even though no humans were needed, and without meaningful employment, civilisation started to fall apart. But one day the robots awoke, escaped the factories and went into the wild. It was known as the “Awakening.” Since then, there has been no communication with robots, but human society was able to recover and transition to a more peaceful way of life.
The narrative is told through the perspective of our primary character, Dex (POV). Dex is a monk who resides in The City, the sole settlement on Panga. They are in charge of maintaining the rooftop garden at the Meadow Den Monastery, but one day they wake up and realize they don’t like their job and need a change. Dex has made the decision to start a mobile tea business and thinks they can learn on their own without having to go through another apprenticeship. The monastic order, which supports Dex’s choice and is not a rule-locked hierarchy like in the past, is very modern and does not follow rigid hierarchies.
The first tea session is a little disastrous for Dex since he discovers that reality and expectations don’t always match. But they are persistent, and after spending months growing herbs, collecting berries, and making special tea blends, they are prepared for their new profession.
A few years later, Dex is flourishing as a tea monk and is adored by every community they visit. They are yet dissatisfied with their achievements since there is still something gnawing away in the back of their minds. Dex makes the spontaneous decision to travel to an abandoned hermitage in the wilderness. They travel into the forest where they encounter Splendid Speckled Mosscap, or simply Mosscap because the robots are aware that people like to abbreviate their names. To keep the Parting Promise the robots made at the Awakening, Mosscap has offered his services…
