HEY GUYS! You may, right now, be asking, “Mhairi, why did you start the review with capslock?” That is honestly a great question. You and I both know that my tumblr days are over (mostly). So, what could make me turn back to my all capslock days. Hem, hem.
AUTONOMOUS IS BRILLIANT. This is up there with my favorite arcs that I have ever read.
Autonomous ingredient list:
- A drug pirate. She’s named Jack.
- A human robot-slave named Threezed.
- International robot cartels.
- AI with souls.
The main character, Jack, is a brighter than a supernova. Just out of college, she realizes the job market is saturated and decides to become a drug pirate. In other words, she is relateable and also a badass.
Drugs in the 22nd century have become able to enhance performance, essentially making people happy to do their work. Only the rich are able to afford it, meaning they are the only ones able to get jobs. After injecting a large volume of Zaxy’s newest drug into the lower-class market, Jack realizes it has been carefully engineered to be addictive. She may have just addicted the entire world to working and upset Zacuity’s illegal drug tampering. Now she has to fix it.
Meanwhile, Eliasz and his robot friend Paladin have been sent to find and kill her. She is a drug pirate, after all. Their mission confronts them with the nature of love in the age of robots, and what it means to truly be Autonomous.
Jack wants to bring the work-productivity and life-extension drugs to the public. Paladin just wants to understand his programming. The overlapping narratives of hunter and pirate wind closer and closer through the African Union, Canada, and the Free Trade Zone. Eventually, Eliasz and Jack will find each other. Will the global drug-patenting firms that keep healthcare from the poor prevail? Will Eliasz and Paladin find out if robot’s can have souls? Will the morally ambiguous questions of love, gender, and programming find an answer?
The answer is: read it.
This book is aggressively eloquent. It forces up the walls of this new world by sheer literary force. Unlike some sci-fi, it doesn’t use inaccessible techno jargon that takes a seven book series to understand. It bridges science fiction and young adult with an addictive plot of drug piracy, espionage, and robot crushes which can attract even the most set-in-stone YA fan.
The characters are honestly more complex than I’ve seen in most literary fiction. Jack is the kind of androgynous, technie heroine that I have been missing all my life. Paladin is the sweetest robot ever, who really just wants, more than anything, to know that he’s alive.
This book is seriously amazing. Newitz is seriously amazing. And I’m just proud I only used capslock twice in this review.
Mhairi out.
And Happy Reading!
You had me at robot. And my library has it! I am pleased.
Yay! Tell me what you think once you’ve read it
I’m conflicted on this one…
What’s conflicting you? Maybe i can explain it.
Now to find the time to read. Sounds like a book my son would enjoy.
TBH this blog is the only time I can find reading time. Sometimes you just have to force yourself to prioritize, I guess.
I know a few people who would be interested in this. I will be sure to pass it a long.
Awesome!
This sounds like something I would read. About the only time I read is when I’m on a plane, and that’s not very often. I need to carve out some time to read.
If you can download books on your phone, that might help! That way you can read when you’re in long lines and such.
Thanks for the review. I read a few books a week and I am always looking for suggestions.
Good to hear!
Great review. I’m intrigued!
THank you!
I need a new read so I stumbled upon this at a great time! Can’t wait to give it a read!
Please let us know what you think!
I would love to read Autonomous. I am always looking for new books to put on my read list.
I assume you have a long tbr list then XD
I heard some news that some people use drugs on their criminal act. Maybe this book inspired by the situation. I like book in this genre!
Sounds like a fun boo for fans of the genre. I can never seem to get into sci fi books, despite loving your standard sci fi films.
My co-writer is like that. But sometimes really good books can happen outside of your usual genre. I try to be open to anything!
Sounds like quite a weird book, but in a good way. Lovely review
Lol that is very true. And Thanks
“he characters are honestly more complex than I’ve seen in most literary fiction.” This sold me.
I find some litfics can have “fake deep” characters. On the other hand, new fiction that you wouldn’t expect can have really good characters!
I have not head of this book, thanks for the recommendation. I will see if my library has it.
Awesome! Hopefully you’ll be able to find it.
Reminds me of the show breaking bad in a book format. I could see it being an enjoyable read.
It definitely was!
First time hearing about this books.
Thanks for sharing the review.
Thanks for reading it!
I’ve been meaning to look into a new read for the winter. This just might be it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on it.
This is a great winter read!
Thanks for your book recommendation. I will add this to my weekend reads.
Tell us what you think when you’re done!
This looks like it would be a great read. I can not wait to pick it up!
Awesome! Let us know when you finish it!
I love books like this and so this is a great recommend. Adding it to my list!
Tell us your thoughts once you’ve read it!
This sounds like a very interesting read! I also love anything sci-fi so I bet I’d like this! xo, Suzanne
this sounds an interesting story. i guess i have to try this for a change.
That is a very brief and well detailed review you did there. sound like something i will be interested in reading but not at the moment, i have a lot of things on my hand right now.
I think I read all Isaac Asimov’s books about robots and this seems to be a good one too. I’ll look for it in the bookstore. Thanks!