First, a little backdrop into the setting before getting into the meat of the book. The book takes place on a planet other than Earth, where humanity seems to have had much the same progression as humans on Earth did. Many, many years ago, in an industrial age that was destroying the environment and the planet, they constructed robots to aid in all aspects of their lives. That is until one day, seemingly out of nowhere, the robots gained consciousness. They thought that, as man-made machines with a man-made purpose, they wanted to explore outside of this existence and took to the wilds to see things untamed. The humans were surprised by this but served as a wake-up call to humanity, who afterward changed their ways and shifted from a capitalist system that reaped the planet for its resources. They started a society that focused on community and preserving the planet. They left half of the one continent to the wilds and the robots and have not heard from them since. It has been hundreds of years since the robots left when our book takes place, and society is thriving, as is the planet. Humans have everything they could need and live in a utopian society free of conflict or need.

That brings us to our story. A human monk named Dex has grown tired of city life and realized they had never heard real crickets. Dex decides to transition into a Tea Monk who travels the outer villages offering tea services for those looking to divulge their woes to a kind ear. It’s rough at first, but after two years Dex masters the service and again finds himself in a lull, unsatisfied with his life. The pull of hearing crickets pulls him to the wilds, a place rarely visited by humans. On a whim, he sets off on a journey to a monastery where there are said to be crickets that still exist. On his first night in the wilds, he is approached by a robot. The first contact between the two species since they left. Mosscap, a robot obsessed with experiencing all that life has to offer, decides to help Dex get to the monastery, and in exchange, Dex will show him around the human settlements. The first book covers their adventures in the wilds, while the second follows their adventures in the settlements.

The book really shines in its appreciation for the little moments and admiration for nature in all its forms. Many scenes feature Mosscap enjoying the little things in nature that Dex, a human, misses without even thinking. It also explores many philosophical topics, such as what it means to be conscious, the meaning of life, our place and responsibilities in society, and so much more. The book shines here as it tackles all those subjects not only from a human perspective but from a natural and robot perspective as well. It gives you 3 different perspectives, each with their own charm, and shows how each can learn from the others. The savoring of the little moments, combined with the deep dive into philosophical topics, is what made this book shine for me. Both Dex and Mosscap are amazing characters with flaws and charms that make the book entertaining. I especially related to and enjoyed Mosscap, a robot who had a reverence for nature and first experiences which he pursued with a childlike wonder that you can’t help but admire.

If you are a fan of nature-related books, or ones that are lighthearted but still tackle philosophical ideas, then this book is right up your alley. I would certainly recommend it, and it has made my top 10 list for sure.

I would give Monk & Robot a 9/10