Becky Chambers

“Tender and healing... I’m prescribing a preorder to anyone who has ever felt lost. Stunning, kind, necessary.” —Sarah Gailey on book 1: A Psalm for the Wild-Built After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) and Mosscap (a robot sent on a quest to determine what humanity really needs) turn their attention to the villages and cities of the little moon they call home. They hope to find the answers they seek, while making new friends, learning new concepts, and experiencing the entropic nature of the universe. Becky Chambers's new series continues to ask: in a world where people have what they want, does having more even matter?

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

Emiley Jones

On the contrary, every tree was lush and full, bursting with green life. Yet somehow, in the absence of contact, they knew exactly where to stop growing outward so that they might give their neighbors space to thrive.

They leaned back in their chair with their hands folded over their belly, savoring the indescribable satisfaction of having eaten wild things while trading breath with the trees.

 simply by watching things move through the Cycle. I don't need an object to facilitate that feeling."

"Neither do we, if we remember to stop and look," Dex said.

Katy Watkins

The thing about fucking off to the woods is that unless you are a very particular, very rare sort of person, it does not take long to understand why people left said woods in the first place. Houses were invented for excellent reasons, as were shoes, plumbing, pillows, heaters, washing machines, paint, lamps, soap, refrigeration, and all the other countless trappings humans struggle to imagine life without.

Naomi J.

“And don’t think of yourself as a problem,” Dex said, a protective edge entering their voice. “If they have an issue with you, that’s on them. And it’s not even about you, personally. They just … don’t understand what you are. Or maybe they can’t fit you into their beliefs, and that scares them. The unknown makes us stupid sometimes.”

Finding the ocean was as simple a matter as letting a river lead you in the direction it wanted to go most.

The robot thought quietly. “You’re saying your bodily components do not affect the essence of who you are.” 

“Of course they do,” Dex said. “Why else would we decorate our bodies or change them altogether?” 

Mosscap was perplexed. “So, which is it? Are you your body, or are you not your body?” 

“Nobody should be barred from necessities or comforts just because they don’t have the right number next to their name.”

The thing about fucking off to the woods is that unless you are a very particular, very rare sort of person, it does not take long to understand why people left said woods in the first place.

Minnie Mazuera

"And don't think of yourself as a problem," Dex said. a protective edge entering their voice. "If they have an issue with you, that's on them. And it's not even about you, personally. They just ... don't understand what you are. or maybe they can't fit you into their beliefs, and that scares them. The unknown makes us stupid sometimes. “

Mosscap considered this seriously. “Like elk," it said. "Sorry?" Dex said.

 "Elk don't understand robots, either. We confuse them, and that makes them afraid, and then they can get... well, disagreeable."

Mosscap was instantly distracted, turning its head straight toward the sound. "Is that a dog?" it asked, ex- citement entering its voice. "A domesticated dog?" "Yeah," Dex said. They kept their attention on Ms. Waverly. "Thanks so much for the welcome, we-“ The dog continued to bark. “Is it all right?" Mosscap asked. "It's just a little scared of you," Dex said. "It doesn't understand what you are." The dog kept barking, and its accompanying people tried and failed to make it quiet down. "Gods around, I told you we shouldn't bring him, one said. "Biscuit, hush," said the other. Biscuit did not hush. Biscuit did not like this. 

There's a lot to say about this book, which is impressive considering its size and length. Nevertheless it must be said anyway.

This book shifts certain scales that make it different from its predecessor. They are not so much siblings as they are cousins, some features converging if you look closely, while others stand so far apart you wonder what you're in for at all.

While the first book was predominantly emotional in its approach, the second book has a thesis deeply rooted in philosophy and the world around us, sociology, all the works. It is honestly impressive how, now that we hit a specific sort of uptick in Dex's primary journey from the first book, we now expand our way into the world, and set aside the tiny bits - only to pick them back up again come the very end. 

Now its possible that this change is not on the book's side, but on my side. There is certainly an argument to be made that I have become more serious and less emotional since the first read of the first book. But non-withstanding, I do believe there is a component of authorial intent behind this.

And speaking of intent, Becky Chambers wonderfully stitches together a host of scenes and dialogues and colors and shapes into a very pointy, hard to miss thesis; or at least, a collection of them, kind of like a bunch of grapes you can crunch off the stem all at once. Crown shyness is a particular highlight: the book delves into the relationship between humans and their environment and themsevles, and asks the question, 

how do we know our limits without touch? 

The visit to the coastal villages, the (very fascinating) detour explaining the peb system, and the metaphorical trees, crown-shy of one another are all clear vertebrae of this idea. 

We also do get to wrestle with Mosscap's question of need, of course beside the final diagloguic climax. I liked the way Mosscap dealt with the child, whose needs cannot be externally communicated.

This book, like the one before it, follows a simple recipe of a minor journey full of scenes and scenarios, all of which are presented in a way and garnished with dialogue such that you consider them in precisely the same light that the characters are. In the first book, Dex's dialogue guides you into the same concerns, and in this one, Mosscap's musing does so similarly, until you hit the climax, in which some answers are given, but most often the answer is that there is no answer. Which is, you might admit, very life-like.

The characters remain charming to spend time with, and the environment lush and gentle, and so on and so on. All in all I do appreciate this book more than the first, and therefore it deserves a higher rating, even if the original read of the original book hit me like a truck.

And before we wrap things up, it was very nice to read something shorter, and watch the author maneuver themselves within the bounds of less than 200 pages, less than 50k words. It really gave me a different insight into how you could construct a story, such that it fits a set of requirements. And ideating within a cage like this must too be easier on the mind, and easier on the perpetually inhabitive anxiety of the writer.

Very inspiring. My brain is warming up...

Omar 

There's a lot to say about this book, which is impressive considering its size and length. Nevertheless it must be said anyway.

This book shifts certain scales that make it different from its predecessor. They are not so much siblings as they are cousins, some features converging if you look closely, while others stand so far apart you wonder what you're in for at all.

While the first book was predominantly emotional in its approach, the second book has a thesis deeply rooted in philosophy and the world around us, sociology, all the works. It is honestly impressive how, now that we hit a specific sort of uptick in Dex's primary journey from the first book, we now expand our way into the world, and set aside the tiny bits - only to pick them back up again come the very end. 

Now its possible that this change is not on the book's side, but on my side. There is certainly an argument to be made that I have become more serious and less emotional since the first read of the first book. But non-withstanding, I do believe there is a component of authorial intent behind this.

And speaking of intent, Becky Chambers wonderfully stitches together a host of scenes and dialogues and colors and shapes into a very pointy, hard to miss thesis; or at least, a collection of them, kind of like a bunch of grapes you can crunch off the stem all at once. Crown shyness is a particular highlight: the book delves into the relationship between humans and their environment and themsevles, and asks the question, how do we know our limits without touch? The visit to the coastal villages, the (very fascinating) detour explaining the peb system, and the metaphorical trees, crown-shy of one another are all clear vertebrae of this idea. 

We also do get to wrestle with Mosscap's question of need, of course beside the final diagloguic climax. I liked the way Mosscap dealt with the child, whose needs cannot be externally communicated.

This book, like the one before it, follows a simple recipe of a minor journey full of scenes and scenarios, all of which are presented in a way and garnished with dialogue such that you consider them in precisely the same light that the characters are. In the first book, Dex's dialogue guides you into the same concerns, and in this one, Mosscap's musing does so similarly, until you hit the climax, in which some answers are given, but most often the answer is that there is no answer. Which is, you might admit, very life-like.

The characters remain charming to spend time with, and the environment lush and gentle, and so on and so on. All in all I do appreciate this book more than the first, and therefore it deserves a higher rating, even if the original read of the original book hit me like a truck.

And before we wrap things up, it was very nice to read something shorter, and watch the author maneuver themselves within the bounds of less than 200 pages, less than 50k words. It really gave me a different insight into how you could construct a story, such that it fits a set of requirements. And ideating within a cage like this must too be easier on the mind, and easier on the perpetually inhabitive anxiety of the writer.

Very inspiring. My brain is warming up...

Loved learning more about Panga and Dex and Mosscap. The pebs are such a cool economy.

Amelia Hruby

Brian Alderman

isabelle

Preferred 1st book but still a lovely and enjoyable read

Similar to the first book, I picked this up at the right place and at the right time, and I couldn't feel any more at ease at the moment. Something in me was healed by this book, and I felt so warm and comforted by the words. I really love the friendship between Dex and Mosscap. I also loved how the book introduced us more to the society and individuals of this world, which was beautifully crafted to highlight an individual's role in the community while striving for the betterment of society and the brilliance of the eco-friendly way of live of the people. I absolutely loved this book, and I don't know how to move forward after reading such a beautiful piece of art. 

Mirror

“Tender and healing... I’m prescribing a preorder to anyone who has ever felt lost. Stunning, kind, necessary.” —Sarah Gailey on book 1: A Psalm for the Wild-Built A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is a story of kindness and love from one of the foremost practitioners of hopeful SF. After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) and Mosscap (a robot sent on a quest to determine what humanity really needs) turn their attention to the villages and cities of the little moon they call home. They hope to find the answers they seek, while making new friends, learning new concepts, and experiencing the entropic nature of the universe. Becky Chambers's new series continues to ask: in a world where people have what they want, does having more even matter? At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

I understand that some were dissatisfied with the second book because the question ‘

’ was left unanswered by both Mosscap and Sibling Dex, in the end. In contrary, I like it the way it is. It didn’t delve too deeply into philosophy—it was up to us to decide. What matters is the bond between them, their friendship, the eternal companionship. They only need each other for whatever awaits them on their journey together. I’m going to miss them so much, what do I do?

“There was nothing more that could be said in words. There was only shouting, cheering, cries of delight as the two of them jumped and played and marveled at the spectacle that would’ve existed whether anyone was there to witness it or not.”

🏹

I understand that some were dissatisfied with the second book because the question ‘What do you need?’ was left unanswered by both Mosscap and Sibling Dex, in the end. In contrary, I like it the way it is. It didn’t delve too deeply into philosophy—it was up to us to decide. What matters is the bond between them, their friendship, the eternal companionship. They only need each other for whatever awaits them on their journey together. I’m going to miss them so much, what do I do?

“There was nothing more that could be said in words. There was only shouting, cheering, cries of delight as the two of them jumped and played and marveled at the spectacle that would’ve existed whether anyone was there to witness it or not.”

I wanted to climb inside the sequel just as much as the first 🥹🥹🥹

Dani

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rounded up 
my god, i felt so seen, so touched, so… soothed. mosscap you will forever have a place in my heart. how simple it is to ignore what is true when one doesn’t know its shape, hasn’t seen it elsewhere

i went to the store and instantly picked this up after finishing the first book. the writing is again so cozy, becky chambers does such a great job at creating such a relaxing world. this is again a great book to read if you need to take a break or if you ever worried about your plan, purpose or direction of your life. sad that this series is over and i can't read more about the monk and robot's journey. 

alice l

“The farm was a place Dex knew they would always be welcome but never in the same way as before they left; a place they knew intimately and no longer knew at all.”
--------------------

I am sure that reading this series is a form of self-care.

The second book in the Monk & Robot series honestly does not disappoint, delivering a cozy, safe hug in the shape of a short story once again. We continue with the beautiful friendship between Sibling Dex and Mosscap, in a kinder and more thoughtful world than our own, full of marvels as well as familiar comforts.There is truly a soft simplicity and mindfulness here that feels so warm.

I feel like this series could go on forever, and I would love each book just the same.

a great solarpunk light read for those who need a breather from this crazy world. 

while the first installment of the series was better, this book was still great, and the story has merit in being told. I loved the budding companionship between Dex and Mosscap and their encounters with different characters and views from this world. 

Deborah Mabilde

a great solarpunk light read for those who need a breather from this crazy world. 

while the first installment of the series was better, this book was still great, and the story has merit in being told. I loved the budding companionship between Dex and Mosscap and their encounters with different characters and views from this world. 

Kenna

Rien

Thank you for the existential crisis 10/10.

Denaiir

a lovely adventure, these characters are so heart-warming

Such a quiet ly impactful story, beautiful.

Stark Koenig

kept pausing & coming back because i didn’t want the book to end. cried at the last chapter. the world chambers creates is the world i want to live in 

mira lee

I'm so sad this series is over. So, so sad. Both are so wonderfully written and beautifully explore humanity, life, and existence, in general. Love that it explores queer/poly/gender relationships/identities in a normal way. I have to read Becky's other books now! IMO, this one probably would've been up for a Hugo this year if this was a normal year for the Hugos.

(Bre)anne✨

TW to be added later

I'm so sad this series is over. So, so sad. Both are so wonderfully written and beautifully explore humanity, life, and existence, in general. Love that it explores queer/poly/gender relationships/identities in a normal way. I have to read Becky's other books now! IMO, this one probably would've been up for a Hugo this year if this was a normal year for the Hugos.

I love this monk and robot pair. Their adventures through their solarpunk world feels lovely and hopeful without being overly saccharine. If only I could visit them, get some tea, and explore alongside them. 

Krys C

Joy Bush

Perfect. I wish there were a hundred more of these beautiful little books that are as heartwarming as Mosscap and as comforting as Allelae.

Boothby

Sweet meanderings, but not much more. Then again, that's probably enough :)

The vibes? Immaculate. I want to immediately read both books over again. The world is so vivid and wonderful, and the characters are beautiful and complex. I absolutely love this duology. I will forever be hoping for more books in this series. 

Floofyflower

jackson neher

beautiful world building and character growth. chambers ability to talk about inclusion and mutual respect is beautiful. and so cute and homey

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

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