A Psalm for the Wild-Built

Chambers dedicates the book, “For anybody that could use a break.” It's quite a good way to spend a break. I didn't mean to read this in one sitting, but found it read fast enough to about page 60 or so and by then I couldn't put it down. I have marked up a lot of passages that really spoke to me, though I can't say why other than that I can see myself in them. And by seeing myself in them feel connected to the writer and to others who inevitably see themselves in them.

Some of these passages are just short and sweet (“I'm somewhat invested in this now.”). I think my favorite is a long monologue by a character deeply lost that feels like they have no reason to feel that way (page 119 carrying through in dialogue until 121).

Then there is the later discussion of purpose, that elusive thing. Moving goalposts, nothing good enough, not knowing exactly what to do. I thought it was lovely. “So, why, then, do you insist on having a purpose for yourself, one which you are desperate to find and miserable without? If you understand that robots' lack of purpose–is the crowning mark of our intellectual maturity, why do you put so much energy into seeking purpose?” Followed by the closure (or what can be had of it) on page 139.

It is a very sweet story. As always with the great robot stories, there is nothing better with which to examine all of the loves and goods of being human than the inhuman.

All of this positivity does come with my pricklishness around the writing. 98% of it is very good (sometimes verging on saccharine but that is welcome). I find that as much as I enjoy cussing and cursing in my daily voice, I bump on it pretty hard in writing. Something about it so rarely rings true (“whole-ass” please). Anyway I am happy to put it aside and will re-read this book. Probably several times.