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ambrose_7's review against another edition
2.0
Apparently, there's a novel published by this author that's also set in this world, and it was published first. I did not know this and so I went into this blind and I can concede this might be why I didn't like it. I just found little value in it. It felt like I read 25 pages from the middle of a novel. It didn't hold the allure that a good short story has. Cool concept, and I bet the novel is well written. It didn't feel like the author knew how to write a short story to me. Lackluster plot with too many flashbacks. I did like the interaction between the robot and the human at the end. Thought-provoking and interesting undoubtedly, but it felt like it came out of nowhere and had little to no relevance to the rest of the story.
taaya's review against another edition
2.0
I don't think I understood the story, because surely there must have been something else between the lines than just the romance bit (that was also introduced with one of the most hurtful, most traumatising sentences an asexual person could hear/read about their asexuality and that really made me stumble and made my mind go blank in fear for a moment).
While I always said I'm looking for stories about how an ace and an allo person can be together,... This... This felt like it was supposed to be about something else that I couldn't grasp, plus all the world building that was left unexplained...
Could've worked as a novel, where all of that would've explained in detail, but like this, it was just not for me. And partially really hurtful.
While I always said I'm looking for stories about how an ace and an allo person can be together,... This... This felt like it was supposed to be about something else that I couldn't grasp, plus all the world building that was left unexplained...
Could've worked as a novel, where all of that would've explained in detail, but like this, it was just not for me. And partially really hurtful.
mouthoflethe's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
roadtripreader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Well, that started out spicy - I'm still curious abou Bella's managerial style letting two employees bone in the supply closet and actually yelling at the to "not get any fluids on the merchandise". Like Uhm...WTF and also I never EVER want to be that comfortable with my boss. Ever.
Brazen openings are either hit or miss but this time, the sheer audacity of everything in this short is a hit for me.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
It's the year 2145 and things are about as Dystopian-TechAdvanced-Bleak-Yet-Hopeful that one would expect of the future.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Oh John (Threezed) a former slave turned indentured laborer who used to stream naked at night whilst journaling in a cubicle out there. When we meet him, he's won his freedom. When I said bleak tech future, I was not picturing this much suffering.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
FFS! even the future has these neanderthals. If you've ever had the "Where are you from originally question thrown at you - this scene captured the undertones:
The man looked at him more closely, his pale blue eyes like flecks of aluminum-doped glass. “Where you from?”
“Farm outside Lucky Lake.”
The man gave a big-throated laugh that vacuumed geniality out of the air. “No. I mean, where are you from originally?”
It was a menacing question.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “He turned back just once before he fled, [...] saw Med transform into an avenging angel. Only she was better than an angel. She was real, made of carbon alloy and flesh, not feathers and faith. She’d saved him. Possibly she’d even saved the world.” (Well, now I want to meet Med)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Cross Species Biohacking
■Indenture School Dormitory, WTF😲
■ Franchising people
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Brazen openings are either hit or miss but this time, the sheer audacity of everything in this short is a hit for me.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
It's the year 2145 and things are about as Dystopian-TechAdvanced-Bleak-Yet-Hopeful that one would expect of the future.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Oh John (Threezed) a former slave turned indentured laborer who used to stream naked at night whilst journaling in a cubicle out there. When we meet him, he's won his freedom. When I said bleak tech future, I was not picturing this much suffering.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
FFS! even the future has these neanderthals. If you've ever had the "Where are you from originally question thrown at you - this scene captured the undertones:
The man looked at him more closely, his pale blue eyes like flecks of aluminum-doped glass. “Where you from?”
“Farm outside Lucky Lake.”
The man gave a big-throated laugh that vacuumed geniality out of the air. “No. I mean, where are you from originally?”
It was a menacing question.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “He turned back just once before he fled, [...] saw Med transform into an avenging angel. Only she was better than an angel. She was real, made of carbon alloy and flesh, not feathers and faith. She’d saved him. Possibly she’d even saved the world.” (Well, now I want to meet Med)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Cross Species Biohacking
■Indenture School Dormitory, WTF😲
■ Franchising people
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
jessereadsthings's review against another edition
fast-paced
2.0
Meh. Interesting ideas, but overall execution of the ideas was just not there.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Racism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Slavery, and Rape
tancredquinn's review against another edition
reflective
3.75
I liked the ideas behind the text and ace representation is always nice, but the way these themes were presented to the reader could have been a bit more subtle. Perhaps it is more of a problem of short stories, and not the actual author, but it bothered me none the less.
eacolgan's review against another edition
3.0
i actually liked this better than [b:Autonomous|28209634|Autonomous|Annalee Newitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1484305104l/28209634._SY75_.jpg|48237590], i think it had more interesting things to say about robots, humanity, autonomy, and how those concepts intersect. i would've liked it better if it was from med's pov, i think, but it was a nice little side-story from the autonomous universe either way.
also, hell yes ace representation, even better an ace robot who chooses not to explore sexuality even in context of being in love because it just doesn't interest her.
also, hell yes ace representation, even better an ace robot who chooses not to explore sexuality even in context of being in love because it just doesn't interest her.
hapikohw's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this and now definitely want to read Autonomous. This was a quick but juicy bite into a slice of life-esque snippet of a now free man's 4 random days in August. It focuses on his relationships, his trauma and desires 1 year into being free, with a robot roommate who also escaped indentured servitude with him, both being given freedom from their same last master. The world was interesting and made me want to know more. The way trauma and love and desire are explored with sex was nice. The right and desire to not have sex, and exploring asexuality and non-sexual intimacy is even nicer - it's what jumped this up for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Slavery, Xenophobia, and Trafficking
taseenmuhtadi's review against another edition
4.0
Great short story exploring some interesting themes.