A Psalm for the Wild-Built

In a hopeful solarpunk future, humanity thrives sustainably after robots gained sentience and left for the wilderness centuries ago. When a robot named Mosscap unexpectedly returns to fulfill an ancient promise, it seeks answers to the profound question, "What do people need?" It joins Dex, a non-binary tea monk on a journey of self-discovery and service, as they travel through agrarian communities and wild landscapes. This Hugo Award-winning novella offers a cozy, contemplative exploration of purpose, identity, friendship, and environmental harmony, perfect for sparking deep conversations with young readers about what truly matters.

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?