Zach Mandigo’s Reviews > A Psalm for the Wild-Built > Status Update

I’m really interested in how the robots are made from parts of older robots. They carry small pieces of memory from the past. But if they share the same parts, how do they become someone different? This is like people. We inherit traits and stories from our families through generations, yet we still become our own person. I think Becky Chambers does this to explore what truly creates identity in humanity.

I found Dex's meeting with Mosscap very unexpected and meaningful, because the moment is quiet instead of dramatic. I feel like Mosscap is a very important character and one the author would have introduced in a bigger moment. By keeping the meeting calm and thoughtful though, Chambers shows us readers that understanding grows through listening. This reminds us that change often begins with small, honest talks.

In the first half so far I’ve noticed how Becky Chambers loves to focus on small moments. She writes about Dex slowly making tea, engaging in deep conversations, and walking quietly along the forest. Instead of big action, she gives us stillness. I think she is trying to do this to show us to slow down and look for and cherish these small moments that our society usually skips.

In A Psalm for the Wild-Built, crickets are mentioned frequently at the beginning of the book. They have an underappreciated role in our ecosystem and are often viewed as background noise. I think Becky Chambers does this to mirror Dex’s job as a tea service which is quiet, steady, and easily overlooked, yet still meaningful just like a cricket.