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A Psalm for the Wild-Built

Monk & Robot, Book 1

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A Psalm for the Wild-Built

Written by: Becky Chambers
Narrated by: Em Grosland
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About this listen

"Narrator Emmett Grosland conjures the essence of a troubled soul in search of peace in this gentle audio."—AudioFile Magazine

In A Psalm for the Wild-Built, Hugo Award-winner Becky Chambers's delightful new Monk and Robot series gives us hope for the future.

It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend.

One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered.

But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how.

They're going to need to ask it a lot.

Becky Chambers's new series asks: in a world where people have what they want, does having more matter?

A Macmillan Audio production from Tordotcom

©2021 Becky Chambers (P)2021 Macmillan Audio
Adventure Fiction Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Robotics Feel-Good
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What listeners say about A Psalm for the Wild-Built

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

Becky Chambers does it again and continues to be wonderful. This wholesome adventure inspires hope and encourages a shift in perspective.

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nourishing science fiction

this was such a gorgeous picture of a post industrial society. great reading for folks a little stuck in seeking purpose.

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    5 out of 5 stars

An excellent trip into explorative Sci-fantasy

I’m reluctant to call this book Sci fi, though it clearly is. It simply wears too many of the clothes of fantasy, but they mess very well into the world that Chambers has built.

So often I find Sci fi is laser focused on storytelling through dystopia. What drama would grow from X calamity, or Y terrible event. It is very enjoyable to instead read Sci fi which explores its characters and concepts through the drama that arises instead from Utopia. It was excellent to read such an emotional, human and uplifting story set in a post-climate change, post-capitalism, post-singularity world. Where struggle and strife from those events clearly existed, but where the story is simply not interested in wallowing in its grim foretelling.

I think most of all it was very very heartwarming and enjoyable to read a story from someone who has looked to the future and seen promise instead of disaster.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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A soft, comforting story

The characters are loveable, especially Mosscap, and the story is as comforting as a good cup of tea. It surprised me because it didn't compromise on depth or meaning even though it's wholly cozy.

But the audio performance isn't the best. There are sections that were very obviously inserted later. It even sounds like a different narrator may have re-recorded those sentences or phrases.

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A needed cup of tea

If this isn’t nice, what is? A truly beautiful story with an intriguing premise and a wonderful performance.

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Incredible story - revolutionary structure

Becky Chambers tells a philosophical story of seeking and discovery. With the narrative free from violent interpersonal conflict, the characters are given space to think and feel and wonder and worry, and carry the reader along with them on a deeply touching and imaginative journey full of hope and self-inquiry.

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A warm hug of a story.

Beautiful story. Nice to read something hopeful for a change and like that it's not too long. I found the narrator distracting however. There are distracting overdubs throughout the book.

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only half the story

great story. really picks up on chapter 3 want 4. The book is short and only half the story. The second half is in another short story

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fantastic story that resonates

i love this story and got the sequel before i was even done. it was calming and insightful and the themes resonated with me deeply. my only complaint is that you can tell when the narration cuts between recording sessions because the tone of voice changes, which was a mix of jarring and confusing and happened more often than i'd like.

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4 hours and a cup of tea can change your life

If you like thoughtful hopeful science fiction, if you have ever felt unmoored in the world, if you have 4 hours, listen to this book.

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