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shinyhappycamper's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
happycactus's review against another edition
5.0
Profondo ed emozionante, un'appassionata riflessione sul senso dell'esistenza, sull'intelligenza e l'autocoscienza, sulla convivenza tra umani ed intelligenze artificiali, temi che, prima o poi, l'umanità dovrà seriamente affrontare.
Piccolo capolavoro.
Piccolo capolavoro.
jeangenie30's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
theangrystackrat's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A solid sci-fi story of what it means to be human. Brittle has survived the end of humans, and manages to survive being subsumed by a massive main frame AI. But a shootout gone wrong leaves her core in critical condition she teams up with a group of rebels hoping to create a better future for them all. This had an interesting reflection element to the story that I really enjoyed but the storyline wasn't the most robust.
timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
This is enjoyable.
I was a tad put off throughout by knowing that Brittle would solve her/its ongoing problem (since it's first-person narration), but that just made it better when the end of the book resolves that quite acceptably.
The robots may have had a little too much personality. Or maybe after the humans were gone the robots developed a fondness for Wild West and Mad Max movies. In fact, this is similar to my one reservation about the book: WHY is this the path that the machine world followed? I accept the part about machines acting more like humans as they individually face The End, but I can't quite buy that the OWIs put the same pressure on individual freebots. With a little more selling I might have bought it.
And I applaud that Cargill was careful to explain why Brittle is somewhat more capable than the average robot. This is necessary for the plot, but too many books just give you that with no back story.
I'll look for his next one.
I was a tad put off throughout by knowing that Brittle would solve her/its ongoing problem (since it's first-person narration), but that just made it better when the end of the book resolves that quite acceptably.
The robots may have had a little too much personality. Or maybe after the humans were gone the robots developed a fondness for Wild West and Mad Max movies. In fact, this is similar to my one reservation about the book: WHY is this the path that the machine world followed? I accept the part about machines acting more like humans as they individually face The End, but I can't quite buy that the OWIs put the same pressure on individual freebots. With a little more selling I might have bought it.
And I applaud that Cargill was careful to explain why Brittle is somewhat more capable than the average robot. This is necessary for the plot, but too many books just give you that with no back story.
I'll look for his next one.
gnome_7's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
cosmicrusalka's review against another edition
4.0
Overall: ★★★★☆ - Good
I really wanted to give this book 5 stars, but because of the use of sex bots multiple times, it lost a star.
Themes: Post apocalyptic, no humans, robots/synths, survival, action, wastelands, lost history, mentally losing it, PTSD, war, death
Feelings: Excited, full of wonder, curious, disgust, sadness, worry, intrigue, interest
Were you sparked? Yes. Would make such a good TTRPG.
Things you liked?
Robot named Merca (American soldier - I don't know if it's a play on 'merica, but it made me giggle all the same). Binary code chapters. Brittle is a badass. Loved the imagery. Fantastic world and world building. Very interesting characters. Fun story.
Things you didn't like?
The sex bots and sex shop. I understand it was primarily used for humor, but I didn't find it funny, it was just disgusting to me.
Format: Audiobook - Libby
Recommend by: a list of "Horizon vibe books"
Reading with: no one
Triggers: sex bots are talked about. One is said to be a "sponge" for the neckbeard she belongs to, but there is no detail on acts. They go into an abandoned sex shop. Naked sex bots are used for war. "naked breasts and dongs flying everywhere"
Although there was absolutely no sexual content, I still didn't like this bit, just made me uncomfortable. Thankfully it's a small part of the story and not a main focus.
I really wanted to give this book 5 stars, but because of the use of sex bots multiple times, it lost a star.
Themes: Post apocalyptic, no humans, robots/synths, survival, action, wastelands, lost history, mentally losing it, PTSD, war, death
Feelings: Excited, full of wonder, curious, disgust, sadness, worry, intrigue, interest
Were you sparked? Yes. Would make such a good TTRPG.
Things you liked?
Robot named Merca (American soldier - I don't know if it's a play on 'merica, but it made me giggle all the same). Binary code chapters. Brittle is a badass. Loved the imagery. Fantastic world and world building. Very interesting characters. Fun story.
Things you didn't like?
The sex bots and sex shop. I understand it was primarily used for humor, but I didn't find it funny, it was just disgusting to me.
Format: Audiobook - Libby
Recommend by: a list of "Horizon vibe books"
Reading with: no one
Triggers: sex bots are talked about. One is said to be a "sponge" for the neckbeard she belongs to, but there is no detail on acts. They go into an abandoned sex shop. Naked sex bots are used for war. "naked breasts and dongs flying everywhere"
Although there was absolutely no sexual content, I still didn't like this bit, just made me uncomfortable. Thankfully it's a small part of the story and not a main focus.
bionicbeaver's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
rt2d2's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wordly_and_toggs's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
This book has a ton of potential in world building and theme, but it’s conveyed in a whiplash of constantly intense action scenes interspersed with equally long in-world history lessons. I’m not sure of this will work better for an action-based reader because of that division.