First published 2021
Dex serves tea and comfort as a monk on Panga, where robots vanished into the wilderness long ago after gaining consciousness. Their quiet routine shatters when a robot emerges from the wild after centuries of absence. The robot has returned to fulfill an ancient agreement to check on humanity's wellbeing. Before it can leave, the robot must answer one question: what do people truly need? This simple question proves anything but simple. Each person Dex and the robot ask gives a different answer. Their search takes them across communities where citizens already possess what they want. Chambers builds a world where basic needs are met, yet something still feels missing. The journey becomes less about finding the right answer and more about understanding why the question matters. Dex discovers that even in a seemingly perfect society, human longing persists in unexpected ways.
Genres: science-fiction, literary-fiction, fantasy, contemporary
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, slice-of-life
Setting: Panga
160 pages · ebook · Tor.com