Em Salmo para um robô peregrino, o primeiro livro da nova série Monge e o Robô, Becky Chambers, vencedora do Prêmio Hugo, apresenta uma visão otimista para um mundo cada vez mais distópico Passaram-se séculos desde que os robôs de Panga ganharam autoconsciência e abandonaram as fábricas; séculos desde que peregrinaram para a vastidão selvagem e nunca mais foram vistos; séculos desde que desvaneceram em mitos e lendas urbanas. Um dia, a vida de Dex, um monge de chá com sentimentos de incompletude e insatisfação, é perturbada pela repentina chegada de um robô que veio para honrar uma velha promessa de checar como os humanos estão. Esse robô não pode voltar até que uma questão essencial seja respondida: “De que os humanos precisam?” Mas a resposta para essa pergunta depende muito de quem pergunta, e como. Assim, dois aliados improváveis partem em uma jornada filosófica sobre propósito, anseios e pertencimento. …
Em Salmo para um robô peregrino, o primeiro livro da nova série Monge e o Robô, Becky Chambers, vencedora do Prêmio Hugo, apresenta uma visão otimista para um mundo cada vez mais distópico Passaram-se séculos desde que os robôs de Panga ganharam autoconsciência e abandonaram as fábricas; séculos desde que peregrinaram para a vastidão selvagem e nunca mais foram vistos; séculos desde que desvaneceram em mitos e lendas urbanas. Um dia, a vida de Dex, um monge de chá com sentimentos de incompletude e insatisfação, é perturbada pela repentina chegada de um robô que veio para honrar uma velha promessa de checar como os humanos estão. Esse robô não pode voltar até que uma questão essencial seja respondida: “De que os humanos precisam?” Mas a resposta para essa pergunta depende muito de quem pergunta, e como. Assim, dois aliados improváveis partem em uma jornada filosófica sobre propósito, anseios e pertencimento. Em um mundo onde as pessoas têm tudo de que precisam, será que ter mais importa? “O primeiro livro da nova série da Chambers parece um momento para respirar, um romance que existe para dar aos leitores um lugar para descansar e pensar. Recomendado para os fãs da série Wayfarers, de Chambers, e A casa no mar cerúleo, de TJ Klune.” ― Booklist “Escrito com todas as nuances e características de Chambers e seu pensamento cuidadoso, esta é uma meditação aconchegante e saudável sobre a natureza da consciência e seu lugar no mundo natural. Os fãs de ficções científicas delicadas, inteligentes e esperançosas vão se deliciar com esta promissora série.” ― Publishers Weekly “Um trabalho envolvente que é reconfortante sem ser enjoativo… Tudo se junta deliciosamente.” ― Locus
Acho que o livro traz algumas ideias boas. Algumas imagens interessantes. É bem fácil de ler. Não sei se fui com a cara da pessoa protagonista. Às vezes me soou insuportável, às vezes superficial, por vezes ingrata, vez por outra tem lampejos de sabedoria e bom senso. Pelo menos nisso soou bastante humano.
Mas parece ter uma interioridade muito pouco interior.
This is exactly what I needed to read at this point in my life. It's so beautiful, and I cried my way through the entire second half. Perhaps it isn't anything groundbreaking, but it has the same "vibes" as a Studio Ghibli film or the video game, Celeste. It's no wonder that this book is so loved.
I'm still digesting this one, but I massively enjoyed reading it. The characterization and worldbuilding are top-notch and done with an exceedingly deft hand.
Kirjan maailmassa ihmiset elävät vehreissä kestävän teknologian kaupungeissa ja puolet planeetasta (tai siis kuusta) on rauhoitettu ihmiskunnalta. Ihmiskunnan muinoin rakentamat ja sitten omille teilleen lähteneet robotit ovat jo melkein unohdettua historiaa. Päähenkilö, kiertävänä "teemunkkina" toimiva Dex, lähtee etsimään merkityksen tunnetta ja törmää robottiin, joka on lähtenyt tutustumaan ihmisten yhteiskuntaan.
Eli siis jonkinlaista tekno-optimistista ja utopistista skifiä on tämä lyhytromaani. Mulle melko uutta "solarpunk"-termiä on myös käytetty teosta kuvaamaan. Ihan kivasti kirjoitettu ja sympaattinen tarina elämän merkityksen etsimisestä, jotenkin liiankin kiva ja mukava. Ehkä kaipaan skifiltäni enemmän konfliktia ja säröä.
Sweet, lovely, cozy fantasy but not without emotional tension
5 stars
What a joy this book was! It's a fairly light adventure, but with an emotional journey, some relatable characters, and a setting that feels like a relatively positive future with some unspecified dark times in its past.
As other reviewers have already said: it is a truly gentle, hopeful, beautiful story about connection and self discovery and communication.
It's got a post capitalist, solarpunk vibe of a world I'd love to inhabit, an appreciation for little pleasures and little deals, loveable characters, and it's also insightful and wise.
Plus the main character rides a bicycle as their main form of transportation!
I now want to leave it all and become a wandering tea monk with a bike.
That's how perfect this book is.
Loved it.
The prose is powerful. The attention to detail, opens up our imaginations towards the possibilities of a solarpunk world. High tech only when needed. We're not the center of the cosmos.
This is the kind of science fiction that makes me hopeful. Makes me sad as well. Sad that I will not live to see this world, but it could have been different, if history were to take a different course.
I wish the book was longer. I want to become a tea monk. I want to be a robot that stares at stalagmites for 30 years in a row.
There's a sequel, I know. But I wish there were a thousand sequels.
I can see now why this is a genre defining book, not because it has a solarpunk setting, but because, by existing, it is bringing those ideals and feelings into the real world. This book is a much needed respite for anyone feeling restless, tired or adrift. If you are trying to read something but don't have the effort, this is the book you are looking for
Utopian futures are not usually my thing (dystopia any day), but this was thoughtfully crafted and heart-warmimg so I enjoyed it. The only thing that bothered me a little was the gender pronoun usage. The main character is referred to as "they" throughout, which of course is fine but a little distracting for me.
I like it sometimes when I don't remember why I wanted to read a book. This was one. It can make it a bit difficult at first. Either the author was being sparse of I was being more dense than usual.
By mid point or so I was all in. And really enjoyed it. a couple tears may have been shed at the end. Wonderful.
Review of 'A Psalm for the Wild-Built' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
I wanted to read this because I had heard about this genre of “hope punk” or “cozy punk,” and I was curious. As I expected, there was no real conflict, or any jeopardy or much in the way of stakes. But this is what the genre is about, giving a break from the catastrophe that is our current world, so on that count, I would give it a high score, but I prefer novels with more at stake and more conflict. But I can see how many who are very stressed in everyday life and stressed about the planet and technology might take comfort in this sort of a book (not that I’m not stressed about these things, but I guess I’m used to higher level of stress). I don’t expect to continue with the series, but who knows?
Review of 'A Psalm for the Wild-Built' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I'm such a huge fan of all the Becky Chambers books. The author's work continues to amaze me with futuristic stories full of hope and diversity. A Psalm for the Wild-Built is no exception to that. The ideas I loved most in this story were humanity reacting with acceptance when the robots gained sentience far in the past. That humanity adapted to life without them. But also the idea that what those robots chose to do with their lives was to retreat to nature and study it, with excitement and curiosity. The idea that a robot created to work in industry would then turn around and spend decades just watching a tree grow for no other reason than because it was fascinating, is such a refreshing take. And of course, it's a lot more complex than all of that, but the story doesn't feel overly complicated. These are the kind …
I'm such a huge fan of all the Becky Chambers books. The author's work continues to amaze me with futuristic stories full of hope and diversity. A Psalm for the Wild-Built is no exception to that. The ideas I loved most in this story were humanity reacting with acceptance when the robots gained sentience far in the past. That humanity adapted to life without them. But also the idea that what those robots chose to do with their lives was to retreat to nature and study it, with excitement and curiosity. The idea that a robot created to work in industry would then turn around and spend decades just watching a tree grow for no other reason than because it was fascinating, is such a refreshing take. And of course, it's a lot more complex than all of that, but the story doesn't feel overly complicated. These are the kind of stories we need in this day and age.
Despite living in a utopia, a dissatisfied monk embarks upon a journey of self-discovery, illuminated by a charmingly inquisitive robot. Felt like a perfect cup of tea, served by a best friend with a warm embrace. This is #solarpunk.
This novella felt like a warm embrace. It's cozy, cute and light. A traveling tea monk exploring the world coming in contact with a conscious robot. Robots were long forgotten by humanity, having fled to the wilderness to live their own lives. I loved the discussions about life purpose and consciousness. It made me want to continue reading the next one.