I found this hardcover in this Little Free Library in Hollis NH while dropping off some books of my own, and was delighted to have another release copy. (This is a follow-on to A Psalm for the Wild-Built, which I loved - and which I found at the same LFL a year ago.)

This was another delightful entry in what I hope will be a series - I love spending time with these characters and in this world!

After the events of the previous book, Sibling Dex (they/them) and the robot Mosscap (it) have undertaken a tour of the planet's communities, so that Mosscap can ask other humans what it is that they want. Dex is happy to be tour-guide, forgoing the usual round of tea-making, and the story includes some lovely encounters with a variety of people in the different villages along the way. Mosscap finds that some people's answers to its question are explicit and simple: a broken wheel fixed, for example. Others are more philosophical and nebulous, leading Mosscap to have some intriguing discussions - with the people and with Dex, who, as the journey continues, finds themself still fretting over what *they* want...

Dex does have some enjoyable interludes along the way, luckily; it isn't all existential angst {grin}. Dex's preferred sexual partners seem to be men (so far) and they meet an especially charming fellow named Leroy in the middle of this book, one who comes up with a way to repair a broken part of Mosscap's. [That's more challenging than it might seem; the robots have a very specific code about their own reproduction - they will only use existing parts, nothing newly-made, and they volunteer their own parts when they've broken down past repairing themselves. Mosscap has a broken hook, small but vital for gyroscopic balance, but can't accept having a new one made, and gluing the old one wouldn't be reliable. The communities have 3D-printing technology and environmentally-friendly substances, but Mosscap won't take a new part - though it realizes that refusing it would pain Dex... Luckily, Leroy has a solution that works for everyone. He also makes a lovely breakfast!]

As with the previous book, this one's a leisurely, philosophical, slice-of-life tale (granted, a rather unusual life), with thought-provoking bits and a generally optimistic tone. While I suspect that the levels of tech in this world would be difficult to manage in a truly sustainable/environmentally-friendly way, it would be amazing if we could achieve it - and it's lovely to read about a world where it all just works, with everyone buying into it.

I left this book in my Little Free Library; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

Released for:

** 2024 May Royalty challenge **

** 2024 April Showers/May Flowers challenge **

** 2024 Science Fiction challenge. **