Prayer for the Crown Shy by Becky Chambers

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.

After Annie Bot, I wanted a different sort of robot story so I pulled this out of my TBR file where it had been for several years.

Klara is a robot  female Artificial Friend marketed as companions for young people. We first meet in the store hoping to be chosen. She can only see part of the street and sky outside the store and spends her time studying what she sees. The robots are solar powered and, Klara personifies the sun as the nourisher, deity-like entity. She’s probably the only robot to have formed something like a religion. Klara is remarkably perceptive, observant, and curious about what she sees. She’s naive but is able to reason very well based on what she sees. Her conclusions often make the reader smile.

She and a sickly young girl, Josie, bond over several visits and Klara finally finds a home. Her loyalty and devotion to Josie’s well-being are without limits. When her young charge falls deathly ill, Klara makes a desperate plan, consistent within her logic, to save Josie.

Klara and the Sun is a fable of limitless, selfless devotion toward another. To grab a Bible quote out of context that applies here: Matthew 25:23 — Well done, good and faithful servant. Klara is the only likable, relatable and perhaps the most human character in the book. Frankly, humans don’t come out all that well. I doubt there is a reader who wouldn’t want a Klara in their lives.

Because this is a fable and we’re seeing the story through the eyes of a naive robot, the prose isn’t complex but it is very affecting. I loved every bit of the story and the way it is written.

I should warn you that it will rip your heart out, at least it did mine.