Becky Chambers’ first Monk & Robot book, A Psalm for the Wild-Built, struck a chord in me in a way that few other books have. Chambers built a world so beautiful, so full of hope, that I just wanted to curl up in it like a blanket. She continues that glorious world-building in the second book, A Prayer for the Crown-Shy. Picking up right after book 1, we join Sibling Dex and Mosscap as they re-enter human territory and plan to introduce Mosscap to the world. As the first robot seen since the Awakening, Mosscap (and by extension Dex) are a hot commodity, and are asked to stop at pretty much every town, village, and outpost they can on their way to the City.
Through their journey, we get to see more of the world of Panga and begin to better understand how it works, and how humanity made that change. The robot awakening was the impetus for a seismic shift in how human society functioned, from the technology that they use and create to how the economy works to the amount of physical space they’ve allowed themselves to take up on their world. Everything is different, and everything is better. But that doesn’t mean that Chambers portrays all humanity as perfect angels. Better, yes, but still with the ability to be small minded, xenophobic even, in how they view strangers. And still with the ability to feel aimless, or to let ennui overwhelm them.
Much of the book is Dex dealing with their own lack of direction. They went into the wilds and came out with a robot, but that doesn’t change that they still struggle with their vocation as a tea service monk, and are still unsure of what the future should hold. As Dex tries to figure this out, so too does Mosscap try to understand what its purpose will be after it completes its tour of the human settlements. The conversation between Dex and Mosscap when it all comes to a head is thought-provoking and cathartic, and a lovely way to end the story with a look toward the future.
Becky Chambers is apparently working on a new project now, but if she ever comes back to the Monk & Robot series she’ll have a fan ready and waiting.