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mdpenguin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is a very powerful novella, with strong echoes of To Kill a Mockingbird. Though other things in my life delayed me getting into it, the writing is solid and engaging and it would have been hard not to have been drawn in by the story.
tijsboussier's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
evabrons's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
n0madz's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
rikerandom's review
2.0
The idea of a legal crime scifi novella sounded so good! Add artificial lifeforms to that and I was sold. Unfortunately, this just didn't manage to deliver. I just had so many questions and basically none of them got answered which made this a really frustrating read. Sooo … great premise but unfortunately, for me the execution just didn't work.
hazelfizz's review
3.0
Folks it's just a bleak scandi crimi noir. Not great if you're after tons of robotics or culture clashing.
teachinsci's review
4.0
When I finished this novella, I closed my ipad, turned to my wife, and said, "that was really good."
Why exactly though? That question took me a couple of days of reflection...
First off, this novella reminds me strongly of To Kill A Mockingbird. There are a lot of differences, sure, the being on trial is an AI (kinda), the POV character is the lawyer (think Atticus Finch) with a lot more personal life, the location is Europa rather than the US South. But, the feel of struggle against an unjust legal system for a minority group is all there. Actually, one reason that I can't bring myself to give it 5 stars is because of what it reminded me of (I never cared for TKAM).
This isn't just a thin sci-fi overlay on TKAM though. There is a depth of backstory and emotion, a sense of place in the setting, little asides in the chapter interludes that really make this story flow and to me elevate it. It is such a worthwhile story to read.
I would highly recommend it to those who love exploitation of new cultural norms and anyone who is curious what happens when a law procedural meets science fiction.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy of this book.
Why exactly though? That question took me a couple of days of reflection...
First off, this novella reminds me strongly of To Kill A Mockingbird. There are a lot of differences, sure, the being on trial is an AI (kinda), the POV character is the lawyer (think Atticus Finch) with a lot more personal life, the location is Europa rather than the US South. But, the feel of struggle against an unjust legal system for a minority group is all there. Actually, one reason that I can't bring myself to give it 5 stars is because of what it reminded me of (I never cared for TKAM).
This isn't just a thin sci-fi overlay on TKAM though. There is a depth of backstory and emotion, a sense of place in the setting, little asides in the chapter interludes that really make this story flow and to me elevate it. It is such a worthwhile story to read.
I would highly recommend it to those who love exploitation of new cultural norms and anyone who is curious what happens when a law procedural meets science fiction.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy of this book.
jakegray's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
shanaqui's review
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Received to review via Netgalley
It'd be easy to dismiss Erin K. Wagner's An Unnatural Life as being a simple allegory for racism, and there are definitely elements there drawn a bit too straightforwardly from that (invented slurs such as "robot-lover" are a bit obvious, as is the mob that gathers outside Aiya's home when she chooses to be 812-3's legal representative). But I think it's a little more than that, because we also have the issues of free will and responsibility, of whether 812-3 was in love with a human or whether he was compelled/manipulated to believe he was, of whether his actions were his own or compelled, and where the difference comes in.
The author talks on her website about being interested in "how the human responds to the nonhuman, artificial, supernatural, or otherwise", and this book comes directly out of that. It's hardly a mere retelling of To Kill a Mockingbird set in space, because Aiya's far from being Atticus for quite a few reasons -- and there is no wide-eyed innocent Scout being disillusioned here.
It ends unsettlingly, unresolved, in a way that's sticking with me. It does feel like the journal inserts weren't quite tied in with the rest -- thematically they made sense, but it feels like a whole story going on there that didn't quite join up. The mood is melancholy, in the midst of what could've been a triumph. I definitely found it an interesting read.
It'd be easy to dismiss Erin K. Wagner's An Unnatural Life as being a simple allegory for racism, and there are definitely elements there drawn a bit too straightforwardly from that (invented slurs such as "robot-lover" are a bit obvious, as is the mob that gathers outside Aiya's home when she chooses to be 812-3's legal representative). But I think it's a little more than that, because we also have the issues of free will and responsibility, of whether 812-3 was in love with a human or whether he was compelled/manipulated to believe he was, of whether his actions were his own or compelled, and where the difference comes in.
The author talks on her website about being interested in "how the human responds to the nonhuman, artificial, supernatural, or otherwise", and this book comes directly out of that. It's hardly a mere retelling of To Kill a Mockingbird set in space, because Aiya's far from being Atticus for quite a few reasons -- and there is no wide-eyed innocent Scout being disillusioned here.
It ends unsettlingly, unresolved, in a way that's sticking with me. It does feel like the journal inserts weren't quite tied in with the rest -- thematically they made sense, but it feels like a whole story going on there that didn't quite join up. The mood is melancholy, in the midst of what could've been a triumph. I definitely found it an interesting read.
alanathehangry's review
Liked it.
An unsettling issue of whether androids have rights, what they deserve, and what kind of life waits for them. A cold, disturbing world, with just a hint of hope. It really made me think.
An unsettling issue of whether androids have rights, what they deserve, and what kind of life waits for them. A cold, disturbing world, with just a hint of hope. It really made me think.