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booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
*I received a free review copy in exchange for an honest review of this book.
It is wonderful and refreshing to read a story centering on autonomy and personhood which is deeply interested in erring on the side of expanding those definitions. WORLD RUNNING DOWN is about a trans man with body dysphoria, and an AI with android dysphoria. Valentine is a salvager, working with a partner (Ace) to try and do enough jobs to have the money for citizenship in Salt Lake City, where he can medically transition at last. Osric is an AI who was placed in an android body against his will, sent by his new employer to give Valentine and Ace a job: track down some stolen merchandise. The problems begin in earnest when it turns out the "merchandise" are android sex workers. Just as Osric is starting to get used to having a body, and maybe not mind so much that people assume he's non-sentient like the rest of the androids... it starts to look like maybe that's not an accurate way to describe them either. It's becoming increasingly obvious that the some (or perhaps all) of the androids are sentient, and they don't want to go back to being used and abused.
I appreciate how it's acknowledge specifically that the humans are fine with non-corporeal AI, and corporeal non-sentient androids, but they've tried to dodge the issue of "is a sentient android worthy of basic rights of personhood" by trying very hard to insist that there's no way the programming would let them have independent thought. They've basically avoided the issue rather than dealing with what it would mean if that ever happened. It turns out that the time is now, with Ace and Valentine having to decide whether it makes a difference that the objects they were sent to retrieve have their own ideas about what happens next.
The romance between Osric and Valentine is great, it's intimate without getting explicit. I especially appreciate this dynamic as both characters have complicated feelings about their own bodies, and avoiding specifics about parts seems to be a good storytelling decision here.
Things I love, in no particular order: Valentine in his new clothes; Osric figuring out his body; how Ace's transphobia is handled; the AI Stewards; the pirates.
It is wonderful and refreshing to read a story centering on autonomy and personhood which is deeply interested in erring on the side of expanding those definitions. WORLD RUNNING DOWN is about a trans man with body dysphoria, and an AI with android dysphoria. Valentine is a salvager, working with a partner (Ace) to try and do enough jobs to have the money for citizenship in Salt Lake City, where he can medically transition at last. Osric is an AI who was placed in an android body against his will, sent by his new employer to give Valentine and Ace a job: track down some stolen merchandise. The problems begin in earnest when it turns out the "merchandise" are android sex workers. Just as Osric is starting to get used to having a body, and maybe not mind so much that people assume he's non-sentient like the rest of the androids... it starts to look like maybe that's not an accurate way to describe them either. It's becoming increasingly obvious that the some (or perhaps all) of the androids are sentient, and they don't want to go back to being used and abused.
I appreciate how it's acknowledge specifically that the humans are fine with non-corporeal AI, and corporeal non-sentient androids, but they've tried to dodge the issue of "is a sentient android worthy of basic rights of personhood" by trying very hard to insist that there's no way the programming would let them have independent thought. They've basically avoided the issue rather than dealing with what it would mean if that ever happened. It turns out that the time is now, with Ace and Valentine having to decide whether it makes a difference that the objects they were sent to retrieve have their own ideas about what happens next.
The romance between Osric and Valentine is great, it's intimate without getting explicit. I especially appreciate this dynamic as both characters have complicated feelings about their own bodies, and avoiding specifics about parts seems to be a good storytelling decision here.
Things I love, in no particular order: Valentine in his new clothes; Osric figuring out his body; how Ace's transphobia is handled; the AI Stewards; the pirates.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Abandonment, Slavery, Sexual content, Trafficking, Transphobia, Violence, Dysphoria, Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Deadnaming, Cannibalism, Physical abuse, and Animal death
shottel's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
World Running Down isn’t innovating, but that’s okay. It’s solid fiction, set a couple generations after rich people jump ship to a new planet after deciding that earth is a lost cause. A few large cities remain the last bastions of prosperity, while outside their borders things somewhat resemble Mad Max. In this environment Valentine, a trans guy trying to scrape together enough money to buy a visa to one of the cities, takes a job that sends him down a path that involves a lot of reflection about what it means to be sentient and our duty to others and the environment. Less high-falutin, there’s also a lot of gay emotions and some sex. It’s a genuinely enjoyable novel, especially if you like more reflective fiction or trans or gay main characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Trafficking, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Dysphoria, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Animal death, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide
prosenheim's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Minor: Sexual violence and Hate crime
raix's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Any enjoyable read with some interesting world-building! I loved the comparisons between AI, mechanical bodies, and the experience of being transgender. Seeing Osric learn and come to terms with life in a human(ish) body was delightful, as well as seeing the other androids come into their sentience in various ways. I loved Valentine's big heart, too. I feel like there is recently a trend away from stories where trans people have transition as a goal, so it was nice to see this as a major aspect of his character as it's an experience I can relate to. The way that different ways of life were expanded upon, and neither the city or the people living outside it were presented as wholly good or bad, was nice to see. I really found it fascinating the gap of even basic world history between the people of Salt Lake and those living outside of it. Also, in the beginning I worried that Ace would be presented as a one-dimensional antagonist who clashes with Valentine (especially when compared with Osric who is more or less entirely on Valentine's side), and I'm glad that in the end her character had nuance too.
The romance didn't really do it for me, although maybe I was just too asexual to enjoy it. I found myself thinking "You're going to have this conversation NOW?" and "You're going to do that HERE?". I found the flirtations a little unrealistic in situations with more important things going on. For me, one of the selling points of an AI/human romance is the lack of a sexual aspect, so in this case it just wasn't to my tastes (the reasoning for bumping down my rating). Overall I would say that the romance and plot are somewhat balanced, with the romance maybe taking a little more precedence.
The romance didn't really do it for me, although maybe I was just too asexual to enjoy it. I found myself thinking "You're going to have this conversation NOW?" and "You're going to do that HERE?". I found the flirtations a little unrealistic in situations with more important things going on. For me, one of the selling points of an AI/human romance is the lack of a sexual aspect, so in this case it just wasn't to my tastes (the reasoning for bumping down my rating). Overall I would say that the romance and plot are somewhat balanced, with the romance maybe taking a little more precedence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Sexual content, Classism, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, and Physical abuse
reading_rainbows's review
adventurous
inspiring
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Abandonment, Sexual content, Transphobia, Physical abuse, and Medical content
meshell's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
World Running Down by Al Hess was such an interesting exploration of identity, friendship, artificial intelligence, and what a peri-apocalyptic future might look like, and left me with a lot to think about.
There is the archetype of the gated city of splendour and the surrounding communities of struggle and strife, but both are shown with care I think. On that note, I was intrigued by some of the settings of the story - and I thought the world building was brilliant:
- Salt Lake City as a gated city of plenty, run by artificial intelligences called Stewards, and a human council.
- Several outer communities in varied states of anti-technology, stealing from travellers, but in a way that was implied to be subsistence based rather than just based around cruelty like some of the city based "respectable" criminals. There is a designated queer community.
There is a love story, some unexpected allies, a mystery, ADHD rep, and queer, trans rep. It's got a great combination of cozy and adventure - and just some deep conversations. I think there is a lot going on in this book, and I think for the most part, it was really well done.
There is the archetype of the gated city of splendour and the surrounding communities of struggle and strife, but both are shown with care I think. On that note, I was intrigued by some of the settings of the story - and I thought the world building was brilliant:
- Salt Lake City as a gated city of plenty, run by artificial intelligences called Stewards, and a human council.
- Several outer communities in varied states of anti-technology, stealing from travellers, but in a way that was implied to be subsistence based rather than just based around cruelty like some of the city based "respectable" criminals. There is a designated queer community.
There is a love story, some unexpected allies, a mystery, ADHD rep, and queer, trans rep. It's got a great combination of cozy and adventure - and just some deep conversations. I think there is a lot going on in this book, and I think for the most part, it was really well done.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, Transphobia, Classism, Violence, and Sexual content
alyssamayreads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I loved reading a book with a trans character in my hometown of Salt Lake City! I loved the characters and the conversation about AI sentience.
I wish there had been more mention of the mountains
I wish there had been more mention of the mountains
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Animal death, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
tigger89's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I don't go for main-plot romantic books too often, but I'm glad I made this exception. Both Valentine and Osric were wonderful characters in complicated situations, and I enjoyed watching them fumble around with each other. Yes, this is that kind of book: light on the steam, and heavy on the awkward discovery. And it's well-justified awkwardness, given that one of the heroes is an AI who only recently had to use a physical body. While I'm aware comparisons of transgender people with robots isn't everyone's cup of tea, it's worth noting that the author is himself a trans man, and it's more nuanced than it might sound at first glance. For example, Osric experiences dysphoria from his physical form not being like the distributed consciousness he'd previously inhabited; the fact that his body is artificial/non-human isn't the point of comparison.
One of the things I loved the most about this book was the setting's vibe. It has a wonderful futuristic-yet-retro vibe that reminds me a bit of the Fallout universe(in fact, I wonder if the main character's name isn't a reference to Nick Valentine, from Fallout 4), except throwing back to a time that's a little earlier than the atomic age. I also liked the way the Mormon community the group encounters was used in this story. As someone who has known LGBTQ Mormons, I'm aware the situation isn't quite as black and white as many people might think, and I appreciated this take on what one offshoot community might look like in the future.
As a bonus, Al Hess is a talented artist. In addition to painting the cover of the book(!), he drew portraits of many of the main and secondary characters. Two — Valentine and Osric — are included at the front of the book, and the rest can be found on his website.
My biggest gripe with the book is that some plot threads seemed to be left dangling. The most egregious was the part about the mutant animals, which got built up and then just dropped. I don't care how sweet it is when our two leads kiss, I wanna know what was up with the mad science! But if you're reading primarily for the romance and characters, you shouldn't have any issues with this, as I feel that half of the plot was wrapped up very nicely. I can't promise you won't yell at the characters and pitch the book across the room, however, but isn't that just a sign of being invested in a good drama?
One of the things I loved the most about this book was the setting's vibe. It has a wonderful futuristic-yet-retro vibe that reminds me a bit of the Fallout universe(in fact, I wonder if the main character's name isn't a reference to Nick Valentine, from Fallout 4), except throwing back to a time that's a little earlier than the atomic age. I also liked the way the Mormon community the group encounters was used in this story. As someone who has known LGBTQ Mormons, I'm aware the situation isn't quite as black and white as many people might think, and I appreciated this take on what one offshoot community might look like in the future.
As a bonus, Al Hess is a talented artist. In addition to painting the cover of the book(!), he drew portraits of many of the main and secondary characters. Two — Valentine and Osric — are included at the front of the book, and the rest can be found on his website.
My biggest gripe with the book is that some plot threads seemed to be left dangling. The most egregious was the part about the mutant animals, which got built up and then just dropped. I don't care how sweet it is when our two leads kiss, I wanna know what was up with the mad science! But if you're reading primarily for the romance and characters, you shouldn't have any issues with this, as I feel that half of the plot was wrapped up very nicely. I can't promise you won't yell at the characters and pitch the book across the room, however, but isn't that just a sign of being invested in a good drama?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Transphobia, Alcohol, Trafficking, Violence, Deadnaming, and Sexual content
quinnyquinnquinn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Dysphoria, Trafficking, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, and Deadnaming
Minor: Animal death and Kidnapping
mar's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
At times dramatic but ultimately feel-good story about a trans scavenger on the Mad Max-y salt planes of near-future Utah, taking on a big job from the utopian Salt Lake City in the hopes of finally earning his admission into it - with the help of a temporarily-trapped-in-an-android-body AI. (Who is very hot... and smart... and cute... and- well. you get the picture 👀). I particularly enjoyed the worldbuilding around AIs and androids - the two usually get lumped together, and it was interesting seeing a world in which they were very distinct groups treated and perceived completely differently. If anything, some of the concepts/subplots in this book were so compelling I was disappointed not to see them expanded on even further (such as the test for determining sentience - for such an important part of the story it felt a little surface-level - or the animal-robot hybrids roaming the planes). I think just how easily everything got wrapped up into a neat happy ending was a bit unrealistic, but it's definitely a book to read for comfort rather than realism. Equal parts fun character-driven adventure and a sweet gay romance, it's a great read for a rainy day <3
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Dysphoria
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Toxic friendship, and Transphobia
Minor: Homophobia, Deadnaming, and Sexual assault