Book Series Review: The Monk & Robot Duology by Becky Chambers

After hundreds of years of not interacting, a human tea monk named Dex runs into a robot named Mosscap, and the two get to know each other better while exploring the world of Panga.

I grew up reading so, SO many dystopian future books. Earlier this year, I stumbled upon the idea of "solarpunk," and it felt like a refreshing, opposing point of view on the future. Solarpunk is an artistic movement similar to the "hopepunk" movement, where a sustainable future with close-knit communities is achieved as humans work in synergy with nature. When I investigated the best literary examples of this theme, many sources sited 2021's A Psalm for the Wild-Built and its sequel A Prayer for the Crown-Shy (2022) by Becky Chambers as stellar examples, and they were correct.

A non-binary tea monk named Dex has been ritualistically serving tea out of a traveling wagon and inviting those they meet to unload their burdens. While taking a break in the woods, Dex meets Mosscap, a robot- which is surprising since no human had made contact with a robot since the uprising and mass exodus of them several hundred years ago. Mosscap has a question to ask of humanity before the robot can return to its own kind. "What do people need?"

Both books focus on this quest, though in slightly different ways. The first book focuses more on Mosscap and Dex in the woods, while the second one expands the world quite a bit. The books explore identity, productivity, the nature of existence, and other large, deep questions, but with the charm and silliness of a fish-out-of-water story meeting a buddy-cop/two-hander. Chambers doesn't overly explain the world, yet the worldbuilding she includes makes the story feel complete. I laughed, I cried, and MAN, was I touched. I connected profoundly with the struggles Dex went through, especially in the first book, and because these novellas were such quick reads, I anticipate revisiting this duology for years to come.

These were the best books I have read this year so far. They were an absolute joy to read. I give both a solid 5/5 and recommend them to EVERYONE- not just science fiction readers.