Scan barcode
deemustdie's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.75
hanzy's review
3.0
An interesting take on robotic clones taking over the world in a very domestified scene.
lady_mair's review against another edition
3.0
An eerie collection of sci-fi shorts about robots and humanity. Extra creepy while I'm in the midst of watching the TV show "Dollhouse."
lostintranslation's review
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
dark_reader's review
1.0
Please, do not spend money on this short story collection, 'short' being the operative word, since it can be read in entirety in less than an hour. It contains only one new story, a very short story which is quite forgettable and which comes across as an elderly lament over current technology, as in "too many smart phones, too many internets...". One of the 'stories' is a 'play' treatment that is just a re-write of another story from this same collection. But, if you must pick this up because of love of or curiousity about Bradbury, do so only if you can get it for free (e.g. library), or better yet, read some classic Bradbury collections instead, like the Martian chronicles, or the Illustrated man.
At least, the titular 'marionette' stories (robotic human duplicates) were fun and a bit juicy, in a pulpy manner, and not at all like other sci-fi writers' well-controlled robot concepts (such as Asimov).
At least, the titular 'marionette' stories (robotic human duplicates) were fun and a bit juicy, in a pulpy manner, and not at all like other sci-fi writers' well-controlled robot concepts (such as Asimov).
margot_meanders's review
5.0
This is one of my favourite stories from the collection "The Illustrated Man". I've found interesting twists in this story and it's about getting marionettes / robots to pretend to be you, while you can live another life. Good story, I really like this concept.
dftbadarling's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book is not a one time read book. It's nonlinear and the characterization is kind of confusing, but ultimately, it's about robots being used as human surrogates and what makes things human? If it has feelings and emotions is it human? Is it wrong to kill something that has so much intelligence, can think and feel, and care for others? What is the definition of humanity? I think if the writing had been a bit more deliberate, this would have been an excellent book, but it feels like parts of it are missing.
bibliocyclist's review
4.0
And the always flowing river ran its tide to an end and deposited us all on a far shore in the late day.
More...