A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers – Book review and a few thoughts

The year started on a happy reading note for me with A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers. Although pegged as sci-fi, there’s very little ‘sci’, though it is definitely futuristic fiction.

It talks about Dex, a tea-monk, who cycles from village to village, on his wagon, offering tea to people and listening to their troubles.

Despite a life that should have brought fulfillment, Dex remains restless, not sure of the purpose of their life. (Dex is binary. The use of ‘they’ instead of ‘he/she’ took a little getting used to) In search of answers, they decide to venture into the wilderness, which is a sort of restricted area for humans because it is untamed territory.

They are surprised to meet Mosscap, a robot. There has been no contact between humans and robots for a long long time.

Centuries ago, when robots gained self-awareness, they decided to leave human society and live freely in this wilderness. Humans, meanwhile, learned to live without robots, finding a sustainable way to peaceful living.

Mosscap is on a mission: To find out what human’s need. As Dex and Mosscap journey together they share conversations about life’s purpose, about work, the importance of rest and the meaning of a ‘good’ life.

The World Building

There were two things that were unusual about the world building here.

One, that the book devotes very little space to it. It left me asking for more. I can see why that might be a reason for someone not finding the book satisfying. However, one needs to understand that the world Becky Chambers creates is an accessory to the questions the book asks and the answers it seeks.

Two, this is one of the rare futuristic novellas that imagines a utopian future, rather than a dystopian one. People, in this time and age, have learnt to strike a balance between technology and nature. They have mastered the art of sustainability. I loved that.

Exploring first-world problems, modern day relevance

At first read, I pegged the story as one that explores first-world problems: What does one want when one has everything, like Dex? They can pursue any career they want, they are successful in what they are doing, they have every comfort they need, they have a loving family and yet there’s a sense of dissatisfaction.

That said, the book also mirrors modern day burnout – like Dex one may be doing meaningful work and yet feel drained. Through Mosscap the book reinforces that rest, for the body and mind, is not just a reward for hard work, but a necessity.

The question that stood out

During a discussion with Dex, Mosscap says: 

‘You’re an animal, Sibling Dex. You are not separate or other. You’re an animal. And animals have no purpose. Nothing has a purpose. The world simply is. If you want to do things that are meaningful to others, fine! Good! So do I! But if I wanted to crawl into a cave and watch stalagmites with Frostfrog for the remainder of my days, that would also be both fine and good.‘

This thought discomfited me.

Last year I read Albert Camus’ The Stranger that says something similarly unsettling – that life is a meaningless struggle (like the legend of Sisyphus) and that, in order to survive, one must create meaning, that one can justify one’s life by revolting against this lack of meaning.

I found the idea depressing and still haven’t fully processed the book.

In A Psalm for the Wild Built, Mosscap goes a step further to say meaning isn’t required at all, that one doesn’t need to justify one’s existence!

‘You keep asking why your work is not enough, and I don’t know how to answer that, because it is enough to exist in the world and marvel at it. You don’t need to justify that, or earn it. You are allowed to just live.‘

I wonder what Camus would say to Chambers’ idea of life. He would probably find it too passive, one that leads to a lazy complacency. And he would be right. Chambers on the other hand would find him exhausting.

Unlike Chambers and Camus, I have always believed that having a purpose is essential to living a full life, that is what gives us meaning, that’s what makes us human as opposed to animals. It doesn’t need to be anything grand. It can something as simple as showing up for the people you love, raising children, nurturing a craft, caring for a place. Anything at all.

Obviously then, I do not agree with Mosscap either.

And yet, on a personal level, the idea was oddly comforting

Since the children left for college I have been feeling somewhat untethered. It isn’t like I don’t have things to do but my ‘core purpose’ remains nebulous. The idea of not having one, makes me uncomfortable. On the other hand thinking about it, trying to reconfigure it, stresses me.

Which is why, while I may not go as far as Mosscap to completely disregard the need for a purpose, I do agree that it’s okay to simply ‘be’ for a while, till one finds their footing. It is reassuring to know that one can exist without having everything figured out.

While talking about this book, a dear friend pointed out that reading it without over-analysing it, made them feel comforted. And I agree wholeheartedly. I’d say it found me right when I needed it.

This novella isn’t strong on narrative, nor is there a great conflict or a dramatic resolution. If one begins to analyse it, it is possible to find it lacking in many many ways. However, like I said earlier, it does throw up some interesting questions that one needs to ask oneself at different times in life.

Last Thought: Read this one if you’re looking for a respite from life and if you enjoy philosophical introspection.

PS: I also red the sequel, A Prayer for the Crown Shy in which Mosscap accompanies Dex back to civilisation. It gives us a glimpse of what modern world could look like. The books are just over a hundred pages each and definitely worth a read.

 “This post is part of the Bookish League blog hop hosted by Bohemian Bibliophile”