If you are looking for a short, light hearted series that also has science fiction elements, then the Monk & Robot duology is the perfect series for you. Consisted of A Psalm for the Wild-Built (published 2021) and A Prayer for the Crown-Shy (published 2022), the novellas follow Dex, a monk who takes a special interest in tea making, and Mosscap, a robot who unexpectedly ends up on Dex’s doorstep with the question: “What do you need?”
The Monk & Robot series is simultaneously comforting and gut-punching, as well as being books that will make you sit and think. This duology explores a lot of philosophical ideas while also being light-hearted: Dex is going through their own journey with figuring out what their purpose in life is, and Mosscap is a robot trying to form meaningful relationships with the humans it comes across. While also having a cozy aesthetic, this series holds up emotional weight: Chambers does an amazing job with talking about topics such as environmental destruction, identity, consciousness, and what it means to live your life with purpose.
This series also features positive queer representation and intriguing world-building. If you are not a fan of taking in world building information that is hard to keep track of, you will not have to worry about it for this series. The writing is accessible and the main characters have a charming dynamic that will make you want to keep reading. This was perfect for me, as someone who tends to lean away from the science fiction genre because I hate feeling confused when reading a book. They are also perfect for tea drinkers, science fiction lovers, and those who want their souls to be rewired by what they read. You are going to wish that these novellas were longer.
By Merryn Overbeck, ‘28
