Overdue

Ep 741 - Monk & Robot, by Becky Chambers

February 9, 2026

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  • The episode of *Overdue*, Ep 741 - Monk & Robot, by Becky Chambers, is heavily sponsored, featuring advertisements for Marley Spoon, Cozy Earth, Mint Mobile, and BetterHelp. 
  • The hosts establish their personal preferences for fictional monks (like Adrian Monk) and robots before diving into the book discussion, noting that Becky Chambers previously appeared on the podcast to discuss *The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet*. 
  • The book discussed is a duology comprised of two novellas, *A Psalm for the Wild Built* and *A Prayer for the Crown Shy*, which explore a solarpunk setting where technology and nature coexist harmoniously after robots voluntarily left human society to explore the wilderness. 
  • Listeners had polarized reactions to the character Dex, with some finding them insufferable while others strongly identified with them, highlighting a division in audience reception to the character's 'foibles' within the utopian setting of *Monk & Robot, by Becky Chambers*. 
  • Several listeners felt that the book's themes, such as the permission to rest and listen to one's body, felt like imported 'special episode' sermonizing or familiar Twitter threads rather than organic elements of the world. 
  • The duology received high praise from some listeners, with one calling it a potential favorite piece of fiction, while others felt the second book stretched the core message established in the first book, which was considered nearly perfect and self-contained. 

Segments

Sponsor Read: Marley Spoon
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Marley Spoon meal delivery service is promoted as a solution for breaking out of meal ruts, offering efficiency and adventurous recipes.
  • Summary: The host found Marley Spoon saved their household from repetitive meals like ’taco night.’ Craig noted the service helps users evolve into more adventurous foodies, citing a Caprese chicken and pharaoh bowl he recently made. Listeners can get up to 25 free meals using the code ‘overdue’ at marleyspoon.com/slash offer/slash overdue.
Sponsor Read: Cozy Earth
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(00:01:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Cozy Earth is offering a limited-time BOGO pajama deal on their lightweight bamboo sets for Valentine’s Day.
  • Summary: The BOGO pajama deal is exclusive, running only from January 25th to February 8th. Cozy Earth purchases are risk-free, backed by a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. Listeners should use code ‘Overdue BOGO’ at cozyearth.com to access the promotion.
Sponsor Read: Mint Mobile
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(00:02:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Mint Mobile offers premium wireless service with the same coverage and speed as major carriers but at a significantly lower price point.
  • Summary: Mint Mobile aims to fix the problem of overpaying for wireless service. New customers can get unlimited premium wireless for $15 per month for a limited time, requiring an upfront payment for three, six, or twelve-month plans. Activation can be done in minutes by bringing your own phone and number to mintmobile.com/slash overdue.
Podcast Introduction and Book Setup
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(00:04:25)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts of Overdue introduce the episode’s subject, Monk & Robot by Becky Chambers, a duology of novellas, and establish their general feelings on monks and robots.
  • Summary: The podcast Overdue focuses on books listeners have been meaning to read, with Craig reading Monk & Robot, which consists of A Psalm for the Wild Built and A Prayer for the Crown Shy. The hosts briefly list favorite monks (like Adrian Monk) and robots (like R2D2 and Bender) to set the stage. Becky Chambers previously discussed her debut novel, The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, on the show in Episode 373.
Defining Solarpunk Genre
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(00:12:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Solarpunk is defined as a genre contrasting steampunk, focusing on building a sustainable civilization rooted in coexistence with nature, often being utopian and optimistic.
  • Summary: The term solarpunk originated around 2008, contrasting with steampunk’s focus on alternate, non-oil-based technology. A solarpunk manifesto suggests this genre asks what a sustainable civilization looks like and how to achieve it, emphasizing that we are caretakers and gardeners, not overlords. The genre champions hope as a radical act, focusing on struggles toward a better world rather than dystopia.
Worldbuilding: Panga’s History and Tech
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(00:26:27)
  • Key Takeaway: The world of Panga achieved sustainability after robots voluntarily left human cities to explore the wilderness, leading to a post-petroleum society utilizing renewable energy and 3D printing with organic filaments.
  • Summary: The society on Panga moved past a destructive, oil-based era after robots, invited to join human society, chose to leave for the wilderness instead. The current society is harmonious with nature, using renewable energy and buildings designed to decay naturally. Currency, called ‘Pebs’ (digital pebbles tracked on pocket computers), is earned by performing acts that benefit the community, discouraging hoarding.
Dex’s Crisis and Robot Nature
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(00:37:23)
  • Key Takeaway: The central conflict involves Sibling Dex, a tea monk, experiencing a life crisis despite having all material needs met, while the robot, Moss Cap, embodies the robot philosophy of valuing existence without productivity.
  • Summary: Dex feels a sense of displacement and questions why their purpose feels unfulfilled even in a utopian setting, leading them to seek the wilderness. Moss Cap explains that robots value existence without needing a point or productivity, exemplified by their ability to focus on something like watching stalactites for a century. Robots are not networked, communicating via geocaching drops, and they choose to regenerate rather than seek immortality, accepting natural life cycles.
Plot Summary and Character Dynamics
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(00:49:38)
  • Key Takeaway: The duology follows Dex and Moss Cap’s journey of mutual discovery, culminating in Moss Cap fulfilling its mission to re-establish contact with humanity while Dex grapples with accepting that existence itself is enough.
  • Summary: The first novella focuses on Dex and Moss Cap exploring the wilderness and learning about each other’s consciousness, such as Dex feeling awkward eating in front of the non-eating robot. The second novella involves Moss Cap being introduced to human settlements, where it asks everyone what they need, categorizing responses into specific fixes or existential needs. The books conclude with Dex and Moss Cap choosing to ignore their official duties to spend time together, affirming their companionship.
Reception and Critical Takeaways
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(01:02:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Reviewer Amal El Motar found the book’s depiction of modern anxieties, like scrolling on personal computers, jarringly familiar in the otherwise utopian setting, though the hosts found Dex’s internal struggle relatable.
  • Summary: The book is generally well-received, with listeners praising its pleasant world and characters, though some found the monk character, Dex, insufferable. El Motar noted that familiar anxieties, like the urge to scroll on devices, felt like an imported element that broke the fantasy. The hosts concluded that the novellas successfully explore their core themes without overstaying their welcome, avoiding repetitive conflict.
Utopian Angst Relatability
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(01:04:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Human angst feels imported into the highly differentiated, utopian world imagined by Becky Chambers in Monk & Robot, by Becky Chambers.
  • Summary: The world Chambers created is so different from ours that some emotional responses feel out of place. However, the speaker found this angst relatable as a human foible, suggesting they could experience similar feelings even in a society where all needs are met. This highlights the persistence of internal human struggles regardless of external societal perfection.
Listener Feedback on Dex
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(01:05:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Listener reception to the character Dex was sharply divided, with some finding their POV unbearable while others strongly defended them.
  • Summary: Feedback from the Overdue Discord showed strong positive feelings for the duology overall, but specific division over Dex. One listener found Dex insufferable and hated their POV, while another listener stated they would ’throw hands’ defending Dex. This indicates that Dex’s characterization resonated very differently across the audience.
Critique of Preaching Tone
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(01:07:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The novel’s delivery of comforting ideas, such as permission to rest, felt like being preached at, reminiscent of familiar social media threads.
  • Summary: One listener felt that even when agreeing with the ideas presented, the manner of delivery felt like being preached to, comparing it to reading a specific thread on Twitter. This ‘stating of comforts’ was seen as an imported element, potentially alienating to readers who have not personally experienced the context behind those specific messages.
Three-Star Goodreads Reviews
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(01:08:48)
  • Key Takeaway: A three-and-a-half-star review noted the book’s unique charm and introspection but felt the pacing was slow at times, comparing it to In the Lives of Puppets and Murderbot.
  • Summary: Sabrina’s review averaged 3.5 stars because she would have rated the two books in the duology separately as four and three stars, respectively. The review praised the quiet charm and introspection, allowing space for character reflection. The reviewer also noted that reading the books independently would have resulted in different ratings.
Book Two Pacing Critique
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(01:10:02)
  • Key Takeaway: One reviewer felt the core message and worldbuilding were perfectly contained in the first book, suggesting the second book stretched the narrative unnecessarily.
  • Summary: CL appreciated the optimistic view of future harmony with nature but felt the first book was perfect and self-contained enough. The second book, while containing enjoyable vignettes, was perceived as stretching the purpose and message established earlier. The second book introduces interactions with new characters, unlike the first, which primarily focuses on Monk and Robot.
Podcast Wrap-up and Contact
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(01:12:02)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts solicited esoteric listener emails regarding serving tea to a robot or attaching a kite to a boat.
  • Summary: The hosts concluded the discussion on Monk & Robot, by Becky Chambers and directed listeners to email [email protected] with specific, unusual prompts. They also directed listeners to Overduepodcast.com for schedules and Patreon for support, which covers business expenses like books and microphones.