The story picks up where A Psalm for the Wild-Built ended. Sibling Dex and his robot friend Mosscap continue their journey across Panga on their way to the City, the capital. This short book (149 pages) is really a series of meditations in story form. I say meditations because the events give the reader much to meditate on. As in A Psalm for the Wild-Built, Mosscap’s questions in an attempt to understand humans initiates much of the discussions. But something new is added. Mosscap experiences a sort of existential crisis as his observations of humans causes him to have doubts about his own purpose, to become introspective in a human-like way. Another section shows the reader that the robots have their own moral and ethical codes and an interesting discussion ensues between Mosscap and humans.
I much enjoyed how the contrast between the artificial and humans is used as a means to introduce philosophical, moral, and ethical issues and dilemmas. Additionally, Mosscap’s fascination with the natural world—(he keeps several favorite rocks in his pouch—instills in Dex the sheer joy of experiencing nature, something we all should do.The author does so not by bludgeoning the reader but in the context of social interactions and frank, intimate conversations between Mosscap and Dex.
The two Monk and Robot books are among my favorite reads and I’m to seek out the author’s other works. I don’t know if the Chambers has a 3rd book planned but the series could end here. The final scene is really very sweet and smile inducing and a fitting conclusion to the tale.
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