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crowsandprose's review against another edition
4.0
I breezed through this fast little novel in two days, and it was a nice palate cleanser after my last read.
Good things: I really love how they explain that Ray, our robot protagonist, can pick up sensory details, how he relates to Ada and applies afterimages that may or may not be connected to whoever her personality imprint is based off of. The templating is good, and the afterimages are excellent -- he explains Ada's control of him, but he doesn't seem to rankle at the idea that she broke into him at some point and reprogrammed him to get from the semi-profitable PI business to the killer-for-hire business. At no time do we know what Ray was originally programmed for, but that's easily explained by knowing that he was broken down and rebuilt...
...but not perfectly. Between his creator's template and his own 'after image' memories, he is able to have some idea of what it is to smile, frown, laugh. He sometimes remembers details he shouldn't, after images on his tapes. He remembers a humanity that he's been gifted, and it makes him more sympathetic even if he can throw sparks from his fingertips and has an internal Geiger counter.
The prose is short and sharp, and has a nice pulpy feel to it. I didn't quite like how the dialogue was handled because it seemed a touch choppy, but beyond that it was good.
Bad things: I could have done with some fleshing of the plot, and more on Ada's involvement expounded on -- especially since it's clear that she has Ray on a leash and without him she has no hands or eyes or legs, but with her he's a puppet and less free than he seems. That relationship needed more meat. However, the ending brings up great questions about how their relationship will evolve in regards to his upgrades, and I definitely want to get the next book because it opens up a lot of character possibility, so hopefully in the next book we'll learn a lot more.
In short: good noir read, needs a little meatier plot but the character of Ray and his attempts to sort of human through his robot life is engaging and makes the thinner plot worth the read. Will get the next book.
Good things: I really love how they explain that Ray, our robot protagonist, can pick up sensory details, how he relates to Ada and applies afterimages that may or may not be connected to whoever her personality imprint is based off of. The templating is good, and the afterimages are excellent -- he explains Ada's control of him, but he doesn't seem to rankle at the idea that she broke into him at some point and reprogrammed him to get from the semi-profitable PI business to the killer-for-hire business. At no time do we know what Ray was originally programmed for, but that's easily explained by knowing that he was broken down and rebuilt...
...but not perfectly. Between his creator's template and his own 'after image' memories, he is able to have some idea of what it is to smile, frown, laugh. He sometimes remembers details he shouldn't, after images on his tapes. He remembers a humanity that he's been gifted, and it makes him more sympathetic even if he can throw sparks from his fingertips and has an internal Geiger counter.
The prose is short and sharp, and has a nice pulpy feel to it. I didn't quite like how the dialogue was handled because it seemed a touch choppy, but beyond that it was good.
Bad things: I could have done with some fleshing of the plot, and more on Ada's involvement expounded on -- especially since it's clear that she has Ray on a leash and without him she has no hands or eyes or legs, but with her he's a puppet and less free than he seems. That relationship needed more meat. However, the ending brings up great questions about how their relationship will evolve in regards to his upgrades, and I definitely want to get the next book because it opens up a lot of character possibility, so hopefully in the next book we'll learn a lot more.
In short: good noir read, needs a little meatier plot but the character of Ray and his attempts to sort of human through his robot life is engaging and makes the thinner plot worth the read. Will get the next book.
cloneknight's review against another edition
3.0
A fun little mystery about the last robot in the world running around Hollywood. I felt like the ending came and went a little too quickly, but there's a lot of character to this book that I appreciated.
Also I couldn't help but imagine Timothy Olyphant as Fresco Peterman.
Also I couldn't help but imagine Timothy Olyphant as Fresco Peterman.
stee's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
inwit's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
geekwayne's review against another edition
3.0
'Made to Kill' by Adam Christopher seems to have all the things I like in a book: a noir detective story, a robot, and intriguing mystery.
Raymond Electromatic is a private eye, and a pretty good one. He's also the last robot, as all the rest were put out of commission. His office mate Ada is a supercomputer and has an inside voice in Ray's head. When a familiar looking woman arrives, Ray finds himself on the case in Hollywood. The plot becomes about something bigger than Ray anticipated, and now Ray may find himself in trouble.
I like the idea of this more than the execution. I'm not sure what exactly didn't work for me, but Ray feels like a cool gadget that never gets fully used. He spends a lot of time thinking about the emotions he should be having, but I just never felt any sympathy for him. Perhaps this changes in later books. I did enjoy the read and the flavor. I just wanted to like it more than I did.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Macmillan Tor/Forge and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Raymond Electromatic is a private eye, and a pretty good one. He's also the last robot, as all the rest were put out of commission. His office mate Ada is a supercomputer and has an inside voice in Ray's head. When a familiar looking woman arrives, Ray finds himself on the case in Hollywood. The plot becomes about something bigger than Ray anticipated, and now Ray may find himself in trouble.
I like the idea of this more than the execution. I'm not sure what exactly didn't work for me, but Ray feels like a cool gadget that never gets fully used. He spends a lot of time thinking about the emotions he should be having, but I just never felt any sympathy for him. Perhaps this changes in later books. I did enjoy the read and the flavor. I just wanted to like it more than I did.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Macmillan Tor/Forge and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
hivequeen's review against another edition
4.0
I got a copy of this book through Netgalley.
This book was a quintessential private eye mystery novel with an old-fashioned sci-fi twist, and it was very enjoyable. The main character had many of the mannerisms of a "private dick" but he was better, because he was a robot.
I really enjoyed how Ray Electromatic-- the main character-- was obviously technology that did not exist during the 60's in real life, but it was somehow more realistic in the story. For example, Ray could take pictures with his eyes, but he only had 4 rolls of film, so he was limited in how many he could take. His technology was futuristic, but not too futuristic. It was also interesting the way that Ada expressed herself. She was just a computer sitting in a room, but her way of communicating to Ray through images and impressions was very cool.
One thing I was confused about was how Ray could be the last robot on earth but still live and work in relative anonymity. How does he not have curious people showing up at his work all the time?
Overall this book was very entertaining, and I recommend it to anyone that is a fan of mystery novels, and of robots.
This book was a quintessential private eye mystery novel with an old-fashioned sci-fi twist, and it was very enjoyable. The main character had many of the mannerisms of a "private dick" but he was better, because he was a robot.
I really enjoyed how Ray Electromatic-- the main character-- was obviously technology that did not exist during the 60's in real life, but it was somehow more realistic in the story. For example, Ray could take pictures with his eyes, but he only had 4 rolls of film, so he was limited in how many he could take. His technology was futuristic, but not too futuristic. It was also interesting the way that Ada expressed herself. She was just a computer sitting in a room, but her way of communicating to Ray through images and impressions was very cool.
One thing I was confused about was how Ray could be the last robot on earth but still live and work in relative anonymity. How does he not have curious people showing up at his work all the time?
Overall this book was very entertaining, and I recommend it to anyone that is a fan of mystery novels, and of robots.
entropydoc's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
colindalaska's review against another edition
3.0
The concept is a lot better than the execution.
Despite establishing that everyone hates robots, that our character is the last robot in existence and that he kills without compassion, nobody seems to hate him, nobody seems very surprised to see him and he doesn’t kill many people.
But the plot is interesting enough and hangs together for the ending. Just not as exciting as expected.
Despite establishing that everyone hates robots, that our character is the last robot in existence and that he kills without compassion, nobody seems to hate him, nobody seems very surprised to see him and he doesn’t kill many people.
But the plot is interesting enough and hangs together for the ending. Just not as exciting as expected.
c96aes's review against another edition
2.0
Funny and interesting premise and written well enough, but still lacks something. Everything here would be OK in a masterpiece, if only some other part of it would raise it to that level. It never loses its style, the plot follows the expected trajectory, but it just never reaches for anything higher.
I think I would like to read the author again, after he's found his thing.
I think I would like to read the author again, after he's found his thing.
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book. The concept of it and Raymond. Raymond may have some human like aspects about him but it is his quirky robotic mannerisms that really make him fun, personable, unique, and Raymond. Oh and I can't forget Ada. She is the perfect girl Friday. Together they make a good working match. So why do you say then did I only give this book four stars? Well it is because of the rest of the story itself. If this book had just been about Raymond then my rating might have been different but the story itself while it had the glitch and glam of old Hollywood was "safe". There was not a lot of action and what little I did experience did not jump off the pages in my face. Plus, the characters were a tad boring. So I can remember the beginning some of the middle and then the ending. Yet, I did enjoy reading this book enough to check out the next one.