These themes are as tenderly explored in this series as everything else. Inside the small economy of a novella, Chambers gives them both weight and weightlessness all at once: they are not so grim or overwhelming that they overshadow the overall charm and playfulness and humor of the story (which is frankly feels-pummelingly good!), but they nonetheless assume a fully weighted presence in the narrative (I love, for example, how the meandering quality of the plot in this book echoes so perfectly the searching lost-ness that the characters feel). All three sat still, and together, they held vigil as something that had never existed before and never would again ceased its struggling and came to an end. (p. 72) I love Mosscap's character. It is sweet and inquisitive and philosophical. Its observances while learning about humanity frequently delighted me, such as this: "'What kind of books does Ms. Amelia collect?' 'Oh, entirely pornography,' Mosscap said. 'It was very educational.'"

A joyful experience and, as with all of Chambers’s books, I was left with a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.” — New Scientist The phrasing of this was not lost on Dex. What do humans need? was the impossible question that had driven Mosscap to wander out of the wilderness on behalf of robot-kind, and Dex had no idea how Mosscap was ever going to find a satisfactory answer. They knew they’d be hearing the question endlessly during however long it took them both to travel together through Panga’s human territories, but apparently, Mosscap was starting now. When Sibling Dex headed into the wild and was found by a robot named Mosscap, it was a meeting of human and robot-kind that hadn’t taken place in centuries. Once robots somehow gained consciousness, they left humans to relearn how to live without all the robots that had been invented to make life easier for humans. It also allowed the moon to be reclaimed from the cesspit that humanity had turned it into. It’s anti-dystopian. Is that a word? Anyway, things are better now.In A Prayer for the Crown Shy, Chambers explains the world in more detail. Since Sibling Dex and Mosscap are more familiar with each other, there’s a bit more room for development of the world and their relationship. And all the nitty gritty world elements – like how money and bartering work – I ended up loving. It’s unique and thought provoking from the littlest to the largest ways. These elements examine what our economics says about our values and communities. How we relate to others in the world and what our ‘value’ is. Can you tell how much I loved this thought kernel?? No problem, just doing my job!" ("Doing my job!" is said on an uplift, her voice rising a couple octaves and sounding almost like fake joy which always bothers me a bit.) Mosscap turned to Dex with as big a smile as its boxy metal face would allow. “This is very nice,” it said, pointing a finger at the text reading STUMP—20 MILES. “Wonderfully neat. Though a little prescriptive, don’t you think?” I see,” Mosscap said, but its voice was distracted, and it wasn’t looking their way at all. “Not that I don’t care, Sibling Dex, but—” Crown shyness is a real-world phenomenon. About trees. Which is totally fitting for this story that features two people – even though one of them doesn’t refer to itself as “people” – who are exploring both friendship and all the myriad wonders of their world together.

The answer to this is, of course, there is nothing wrong with Dex. They’re experiencing the human condition. Mosscap points this out, reminding both Dex and the reader that needing rest or care or a change of pace does not require justification, nor is it wrong to want them even when things are going well. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to earn the right to be alive. You are allowed to just be. And through this theme, Chambers continues to explore what humanity needs. If we have everything we want, how much does having more matter? In A Prayer for the Crown Shy the entire question that Mosscap is struggling with begins to feel like a meta journey for ourselves. To wonder if when we have more access, more ‘things’, more extras, what that means for us? While Sibling Dex teaches Mosscap about their world, it begins to question our own.Uh, it’s a formal gathering where all the monks come together at the All-Six for a few days for a…” Dex gestured vaguely. “You know, there’s a ceremony, and talks, and … it’s a big deal.” They scratched their ear as they read over the gushing message. “We don’t do those very often.”