**spoiler alert** Debbie Urbanski is my very favorite short story writer. She packs a lot in to a short story, and they always come with a big punch i**spoiler alert** Debbie Urbanski is my very favorite short story writer. She packs a lot in to a short story, and they always come with a big punch in the gut, and this book starts out extremely strong. Then, we diverge. For those who love setting, format, and really like to do a deep dive into the pitfalls and possibilities of AI, you will LOVE it. It's extremely clever. The world she sees is all too possible, and I could see a lot of us now in her future fictional us.
Where I diverged is in that unspooling into AI generated thinking. The main narrator is some sort of AI consciousness, and talks like an chat bot, and it all became too meta (am I using that word right here?) and seemed to end with some sort of artificial hostage situation???? I hardly knew what was happening.
So, for hard sci-fi readers who are all about that setting and world-building, dig in. I'll definitely read her other works, but this one kind of got away from me. ...more
Cool artwork, but I found the story tedious in the extreme. I know there's no other way to say refer to the heart organ than "heart," but every sentenCool artwork, but I found the story tedious in the extreme. I know there's no other way to say refer to the heart organ than "heart," but every sentence was along the lines of *do you have a heart? You should get rid of your heart. I want to keep my heart. Well, you'd be better off without your heart.* And repeat, 2000 times....more
I've read a lot of dystopian fiction, and this one was basically the starter dystopia book. It had all the basic features, but virtually no charactersI've read a lot of dystopian fiction, and this one was basically the starter dystopia book. It had all the basic features, but virtually no characters to speak of (flat, one-dimensional), and nothing really propelling the story. If you dig setting, I think you'll be satisfied with the book, or if you are new to this genre, but I just couldn't attach to the story....more
**spoiler alert** I really liked this book. I agree with those who did not that this new society was derivative of Atwood's world in The Handmaid's Ta**spoiler alert** I really liked this book. I agree with those who did not that this new society was derivative of Atwood's world in The Handmaid's Tale. That said, there are only so many ways that I think things can go for women in case of apocalypse. I think it's a theme that everyone returns to, because, well...what else would happen? I also agree that we could have used more detail into the devolution of things.
So, why did I rate this book so highly? I found the cultural explorations of identity, religion, Catholicism, prayer and all of the inherent dichotomies very interesting. What is faith in a time like that? What is faith when you don't, or can't agree with everything about your religion? What does faith look like when hope is gone?
This book left a lot of unanswered questions, but I enjoyed thinking about them. In particular, I liked the idea that she poses midway through: paraphrased, that they weren't at the end of things, but at the beginning. ...more
**spoiler alert** I wanted to like this book. It had some great components: commentary on impossible standards for mothers, the double standards betwe**spoiler alert** I wanted to like this book. It had some great components: commentary on impossible standards for mothers, the double standards between men and women, racism, and the damage a changed dynamic can to do to the family. However, right off the bat, Frida makes a huge lapse in judgement, and never seems to accept responsibility for it. If you've ever had a toddler, you know that a healthy 18 month old could, 100% get out of an exersaucer if left to their own devices long enough. And to leave a toddler alone for hours? Well, I think that really does make grounds for losing custody. I do think children could be left alone, but not at that age, and certainly not for that duration. So, right off the bat, I just couldn't get behind Frida. She continues to be inept, and make all of the wrong choices. And honestly, I couldn't cheer for her at the end either. My thought was "uh-oh."
I also found the storytelling clunky. The frequent time shifts were not for me, and I really wish I could have attached to Frida. If she were an honest villain, I would have liked her more. ...more
I think I would have liked this more if I hadn't just read Day Zero, which seems to be a prequel to this book. What felt unique in that read felt repeI think I would have liked this more if I hadn't just read Day Zero, which seems to be a prequel to this book. What felt unique in that read felt repetitive here, the tough talk, the shootouts and small group triumphs against masses of evil robots....more
A very fun and exciting AI story. When the robots respond to human terrorism with a bloody campaign to eradicate humans, our adorable and ferocious naA very fun and exciting AI story. When the robots respond to human terrorism with a bloody campaign to eradicate humans, our adorable and ferocious nanny bot in the dorm of an upright tiger defends his much loved little boy. I was completely into the story in the first half, but after that, it's pretty much pure action sequence, which I enjoyed, but didn't find as gripping, but the end was good. I very much hope there will be a sequel....more
This started out unique, but quickly fell back on Alien references and some plot lines ripped right out of 28 Days Later. The ending was rushed. WhileThis started out unique, but quickly fell back on Alien references and some plot lines ripped right out of 28 Days Later. The ending was rushed. While I want diversity in my characters, it felt like the author just ticked off some intersectionality points and stuffed as many as she could into one person, without much development, just so she could be a bit preachy. I agree with her lessons, but it was ham-fisted, and felt disingenuous....more
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