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willowwraithpress's review against another edition
5.0
The Automaton by Ian Young might be one of the best science fiction books I've read in many years. It's won awards, including the 2023 Best Indie Book Award for Science Fiction, so to say this book is merely good, is an understatement to the 'nth degree. I think it was phenomenal! I devoured this book in three sittings, that's how much I enjoyed it.
I'm gonna be blunt, I have found it really difficult to write this review because it is nearly impossible to describe this book without giving away major spoilage. But I will try my best because this book needs to be read by the lot of you. You'll have to read between the lines here to figure anything out. (That said, the less you know, or think you know, about the plot, the more enjoyable it becomes as you read).
What I really enjoyed most about The Automaton was its storytelling structure and style. For authors to tell a story via flashback well, it takes considerable skill, that's why you don't see this style used very often. It's not everyday you see someone come out swinging like Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire, but Mr. Young roundly succeeded. And with a twist! As you might have gathered from the title, the main character is an automaton and this unit, aptly named like an automaton should, XR-345x is awakened some five thousand years after humanity has physically left planet Earth to float in the air like a supercomputer of misty blue stuff called Ad Astra (how this unfolds is part of the plot, so just take it and run). XR-345x is told there is an anomaly on the planet that must be dealt with, but before XR can do so, the history of automata and humanity must be learned.
Now, you're probably thinking, that's neat, an automaton for a main character, but how will this work? I'm here to tell you, this is where the flashback style kicks in, but not in which manner you might think. This program, called Hank, leads XR to a museum housing the physical remnants of humanity that has been beamed up to Ad Astra via binary code. So once XR gets to said museum, Hank leads the automaton to certain items, and these items generate these flashbacks that starts with the rise of AI, to the first automaton, to the sowing of a resistance against automata, to a great war between humans and automata, to attempted assimilation between the two, to the end of humanity itself, before finally settling on the future of mankind. But what is neat about this is that each section is told via a member of the Wing family throughout this history (from parent to child on down). The Councilor, The Reporter, The Professor, The Soldier, The Ambassador, The Companion, The Analyst, The Departed, and The Anomaly (glean what you can from these titles). Using a singular family to tell this history was pretty compelling and drew me in right away, but what really sealed the deal for me was how a single automaton from the earliest of days became so entwined in the Wing family's arc. It truly was engrossing to read how this automaton called XR-29 became Isaac, and to see Isaac's life play out until the very end was quite satisfying. And oh what an ending it was! I had an inkling to what the anomaly was, but didn't see the woods surrounding the path, that was a treat.
None of that structure/style would have worked if not for the amazing plot and the philosophical questions raised throughout each section. Questions that are currently raised today in the real world. Such as: How far is too far with artificial intelligence? When does the machine become better than humanity? Is humanity forever doomed to be shitty to one another? Will greed ever be put aside or will there always be a wannabe dictator out there? Can a machine love? Among others. This book makes you think but not in a Socrates or Nietzsche way too deep sort of way, but more in a 'oh crap, that makes a lot of sense' way as the story unfolds. It doesn't hit you in the face, but makes your brain start turning like a neural-sphere. And it doesn't get into crazy hard science stuff, so for someone who just wants to read a good science fiction story but not feel like a numpty who doesn't understand the hard sciences' mumbo jumbo, this book fits that bill as well.
The prose is very clean, the pace is quite consistent, and the characters are well-done. I mean, we are essentially meeting a new Wing character plus supporting cast every few chapters but it never felt like a character was short-changed or lacking. And even though we are journeying through this plot with an automaton, it never felt robotic or lacking depth. XR-345x and Hank had the correct mix of machine and human interaction, which was integral for the plot as a whole. And Isaac's growth from XR-29 to the climax is nothing short of magnificent.
There's something to be said about a book told from a machine's point of view, and it's this: when does a machine become too human to still be a machine?
I'm gonna be blunt, I have found it really difficult to write this review because it is nearly impossible to describe this book without giving away major spoilage. But I will try my best because this book needs to be read by the lot of you. You'll have to read between the lines here to figure anything out. (That said, the less you know, or think you know, about the plot, the more enjoyable it becomes as you read).
What I really enjoyed most about The Automaton was its storytelling structure and style. For authors to tell a story via flashback well, it takes considerable skill, that's why you don't see this style used very often. It's not everyday you see someone come out swinging like Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire, but Mr. Young roundly succeeded. And with a twist! As you might have gathered from the title, the main character is an automaton and this unit, aptly named like an automaton should, XR-345x is awakened some five thousand years after humanity has physically left planet Earth to float in the air like a supercomputer of misty blue stuff called Ad Astra (how this unfolds is part of the plot, so just take it and run). XR-345x is told there is an anomaly on the planet that must be dealt with, but before XR can do so, the history of automata and humanity must be learned.
Now, you're probably thinking, that's neat, an automaton for a main character, but how will this work? I'm here to tell you, this is where the flashback style kicks in, but not in which manner you might think. This program, called Hank, leads XR to a museum housing the physical remnants of humanity that has been beamed up to Ad Astra via binary code. So once XR gets to said museum, Hank leads the automaton to certain items, and these items generate these flashbacks that starts with the rise of AI, to the first automaton, to the sowing of a resistance against automata, to a great war between humans and automata, to attempted assimilation between the two, to the end of humanity itself, before finally settling on the future of mankind. But what is neat about this is that each section is told via a member of the Wing family throughout this history (from parent to child on down). The Councilor, The Reporter, The Professor, The Soldier, The Ambassador, The Companion, The Analyst, The Departed, and The Anomaly (glean what you can from these titles). Using a singular family to tell this history was pretty compelling and drew me in right away, but what really sealed the deal for me was how a single automaton from the earliest of days became so entwined in the Wing family's arc. It truly was engrossing to read how this automaton called XR-29 became Isaac, and to see Isaac's life play out until the very end was quite satisfying. And oh what an ending it was! I had an inkling to what the anomaly was, but didn't see the woods surrounding the path, that was a treat.
None of that structure/style would have worked if not for the amazing plot and the philosophical questions raised throughout each section. Questions that are currently raised today in the real world. Such as: How far is too far with artificial intelligence? When does the machine become better than humanity? Is humanity forever doomed to be shitty to one another? Will greed ever be put aside or will there always be a wannabe dictator out there? Can a machine love? Among others. This book makes you think but not in a Socrates or Nietzsche way too deep sort of way, but more in a 'oh crap, that makes a lot of sense' way as the story unfolds. It doesn't hit you in the face, but makes your brain start turning like a neural-sphere. And it doesn't get into crazy hard science stuff, so for someone who just wants to read a good science fiction story but not feel like a numpty who doesn't understand the hard sciences' mumbo jumbo, this book fits that bill as well.
The prose is very clean, the pace is quite consistent, and the characters are well-done. I mean, we are essentially meeting a new Wing character plus supporting cast every few chapters but it never felt like a character was short-changed or lacking. And even though we are journeying through this plot with an automaton, it never felt robotic or lacking depth. XR-345x and Hank had the correct mix of machine and human interaction, which was integral for the plot as a whole. And Isaac's growth from XR-29 to the climax is nothing short of magnificent.
There's something to be said about a book told from a machine's point of view, and it's this: when does a machine become too human to still be a machine?
geethr75's review against another edition
I found this an engaging and entertaining read. There were issues but despite all that, it remains an entertaining read. It did get a bit boring at times, but to me the ending was really unsatisfactory. It feels like the author set things up to fool the reader.
This was another of the SPSFC quarterfinalists, and while I see the appeal, I'm not too impressed. Ultimately, there are no stakes, and most of the book is basically flashback and the present and the anomaly that was built up earlier turns out to be something that gets resolved very quickly and something that, to my mind, doesn't even need all that build up.
I would rate this a 6/10 in the SPSFC scale. The rating and review represents my views, and not the team's overall view.
If you like dystopian sci fi, future worlds with AI that doesn't destroy the world, you might enjoy this. All the issues apart, it is an entertaining read.
This was another of the SPSFC quarterfinalists, and while I see the appeal, I'm not too impressed. Ultimately, there are no stakes, and most of the book is basically flashback and the present and the anomaly that was built up earlier turns out to be something that gets resolved very quickly and something that, to my mind, doesn't even need all that build up.
I would rate this a 6/10 in the SPSFC scale. The rating and review represents my views, and not the team's overall view.
If you like dystopian sci fi, future worlds with AI that doesn't destroy the world, you might enjoy this. All the issues apart, it is an entertaining read.
katherinekempf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A quiet, seemingly effortless reflection on what it means to be human.
The Automaton is a generational tale told interspersed with snippets of a future where a robot races against the clock.
It is a testament to the author that though I might not be considered the “ideal reader” having never read Asimov, I found myself so deeply connected to the characters in such a short space of time. I would have gladly gotten more time with each of these delightful characters and their respective storylines. Even cried in a few moments (and I’m not historically a crying reader).
Other reviews have said this book lacks excitement, but I disagree - the tension built over time in XR’s (the robot’s) overarching story is palpable and done in such a subtle way I couldn’t put the book down in between sections - desperate for more answers.
One thing I particularly appreciated about the story is that because of its episodic structure, it did allow for natural pauses so I could reflect on the characters and the situation. It reminded me of Becky Chambers writing a bit in that regard.
Of all the indie sci-fi I’ve read in the last few months - this is a top contender for my favorite.
paromita_m's review against another edition
4.0
The Automaton is primarily about very interesting (for me) "what if" ideas, however the other elements such as the writing and the characters were also done really well.
It was a pleasure to read a novel which was this focused on exploring neat ideas front and centre unapologetically, I would also add that the handling of "human vs machine" was very topical.
Minor nitpicks:
- I wished this novel was longer! Wanted to immerse myself more.
- Some of the character interactions felt a bit rushed and too exposition-heavy but I honestly didn't mind because it was really interesting to read.
The Automaton has writing apt for the story, few beautiful reflections and moments, but where it shines is going all-in on the ideas and committing to exploring them throughout.
Nice brain food.
It was a pleasure to read a novel which was this focused on exploring neat ideas front and centre unapologetically, I would also add that the handling of "human vs machine" was very topical.
Minor nitpicks:
- I wished this novel was longer! Wanted to immerse myself more.
- Some of the character interactions felt a bit rushed and too exposition-heavy but I honestly didn't mind because it was really interesting to read.
The Automaton has writing apt for the story, few beautiful reflections and moments, but where it shines is going all-in on the ideas and committing to exploring them throughout.
Nice brain food.
stevenanteau's review against another edition
2.0
I like the ideas in the book but the dual storylines just broke up the narrative for me and the story itself about the crumbling empire and corrupt leaders and civil war was very childish.
"There's corruption in our one world government!?!"
It just lacked bite and direction.
"There's corruption in our one world government!?!"
It just lacked bite and direction.
clarkeyhk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
4.0
azrah786's review against another edition
4.0
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I read this book as a judge for the third annual Self Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC), this review is solely my own and does not reflect the opinions of the whole team**
CW: violence, murder, death, discussions of suicide/self-harm, infertility/pregnancy
--
The book basically follows an Automaton who has been awoken after 5 thousand years of being in statis in order to deal with an Anomaly that has arisen on Earth. Through the guidance of a holographic AI, the Automaton XR-345x is led on a quest to uncover the history of the world, from the creation of the Automata, to their fall out with humanity all the way through to humanity’s ascension to a digital consciousness. Only there is a timer to the directive as a rebel Automaton group is hunting XR down to stop it.
This had the feel of a classic sci-fi novel but the story itself is fresh and I really liked the way the narrative was formatted in segments of connected accounts – like a collation of short stories – that lead you through the book. The opening chapters easily hook you in and Young’s writing continues to keep you engaged throughout.
Each of the aforementioned segments focuses on a different moment in history and a different set of characters (though there is a very clever connection) which was a little confusing at first but the further I read the more I realised how well it worked.
The characterisation in general was good though and there is a great balance of humour and emotion which made it easy to get invested in what was going to happen just as much as XR was as it was revisiting the past.
I really enjoyed following the socio-political commentary around AI and humanity and how it was shifting and changing through time. I do feel like sometimes the story dragged a little and this often came down to when the narrator was monologuing fragments of history. These parts provided really interesting context but felt slightly info dumpy. That being said the need to know all of the details and how the events linked up kept me reading just as much as the suspense of the chase from XR’s adversaries and this mysterious Anomaly.
I did manage to catch on to some of the twists and reveals by the end but this didn’t deter my overall enjoyment of the book!
**I read this book as a judge for the third annual Self Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC), this review is solely my own and does not reflect the opinions of the whole team**
CW: violence, murder, death, discussions of suicide/self-harm, infertility/pregnancy
--
The book basically follows an Automaton who has been awoken after 5 thousand years of being in statis in order to deal with an Anomaly that has arisen on Earth. Through the guidance of a holographic AI, the Automaton XR-345x is led on a quest to uncover the history of the world, from the creation of the Automata, to their fall out with humanity all the way through to humanity’s ascension to a digital consciousness. Only there is a timer to the directive as a rebel Automaton group is hunting XR down to stop it.
This had the feel of a classic sci-fi novel but the story itself is fresh and I really liked the way the narrative was formatted in segments of connected accounts – like a collation of short stories – that lead you through the book. The opening chapters easily hook you in and Young’s writing continues to keep you engaged throughout.
Each of the aforementioned segments focuses on a different moment in history and a different set of characters (though there is a very clever connection) which was a little confusing at first but the further I read the more I realised how well it worked.
The characterisation in general was good though and there is a great balance of humour and emotion which made it easy to get invested in what was going to happen just as much as XR was as it was revisiting the past.
I really enjoyed following the socio-political commentary around AI and humanity and how it was shifting and changing through time. I do feel like sometimes the story dragged a little and this often came down to when the narrator was monologuing fragments of history. These parts provided really interesting context but felt slightly info dumpy. That being said the need to know all of the details and how the events linked up kept me reading just as much as the suspense of the chase from XR’s adversaries and this mysterious Anomaly.
I did manage to catch on to some of the twists and reveals by the end but this didn’t deter my overall enjoyment of the book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Infertility, Death, and Pregnancy
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