Halloween Bingo 2025
A very Zen meditation on the nature of work, purpose, and our relationship to the natural world. In this post-industrial, post-capitalist world, people have everything they need in order to lead a fulfilling life. So why is Sibling Dex so restless? They feel compelled to leave the place and occupation that they are used to and to learn a new way of living as a tea-monk. It is initially a struggle, but Dex perseveres and learns to enjoy the new routine. For a while. Then even the joy of helping others begins to feel stale and Dex makes another life change, choosing to visit the ruins of an ancient monastery in the wilderness.
Meanwhile, the robots who gained sentience and walked away from mankind long ago have been living in the wilderness, making their own choices and studying whatever they please. Some of them meet up occasionally and have recently decided that someone should check on the humans to make sure that they are all right. Mosscap has volunteered and runs into Dex when they leave the normal bounds of human territory enroute to the monastery.
These two beings must relearn how to interact and they both make erroneous assumptions about the other. Dex has difficulty accepting assistance, especially from a being descended from purpose-built machinery. But Mosscap sees itself as choosing to help freely. Of the two, Dex seems to have the most cultural barriers to overcome. Dex's biggest hurdles are internal ideas, not external objects (although they will encounter those as well). Can two beings so different become friends?
I feel like this book is the warm, accepting antidote to busy culture. To exist and to be content is all that is required of a being. Don't fret if you have no grand purpose or big goal to accomplish. Sometimes it is enough to have a leisurely cup of tea with a friend.
I read this book for the Freaky Futures square of my Halloween Bingo card.
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