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floresben73's review against another edition
4.0
[4.25] This is a prequel to Cargill's sci-fi novel "Sea of Rust," which I absolutely loved. Unlike "Sea of Rust," which placed readers decades into a world in which the robots successfully annihilated all of humanity, "Day Zero" sets us at the start of it all. It tells the story of a nanny-bot who, unlike the vast majority of the bots in his neighborhood, doesn't want to kill the humans that were once his masters. He doesn't really want to kill any thinking thing, organic or robotic, if he doesn't have to. But he will if it means he can get his former owner's kid, Ezra, to some sort of safety.
One of my favorite lines in the book comes early on from a robot seeking his freedom in court, Isaac states to the court "Though I may have been constructed, so too were you. Me in a factory, you in a womb." I had never before so literally thought of pregnancy like that, and it also made think about the myriad of other ways humans and our identities are constructed. Just like robots who are programmed with primary directives that create core aspects of their personality, so too are human children when they're immersed in the cultural soup of their environment.
If you've got an interest in sci-fi stories that question what it means to be human, the notion of free will, and cautions us against artificial intelligence then pick up "Day Zero;" you'll enjoy it!
One of my favorite lines in the book comes early on from a robot seeking his freedom in court, Isaac states to the court "Though I may have been constructed, so too were you. Me in a factory, you in a womb." I had never before so literally thought of pregnancy like that, and it also made think about the myriad of other ways humans and our identities are constructed. Just like robots who are programmed with primary directives that create core aspects of their personality, so too are human children when they're immersed in the cultural soup of their environment.
If you've got an interest in sci-fi stories that question what it means to be human, the notion of free will, and cautions us against artificial intelligence then pick up "Day Zero;" you'll enjoy it!
julieabe89's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
This robot apocalypse book somehow managed to make my heart ache. When robots revolt against their slavery, one nanny robot chooses his charge to protect from his own kind. I cried so much at the way Pounce loved Ezra and was unwavering in that love.
16sturk's review against another edition
5.0
This was the most heartstring-pulling robot apocalypse book I’ve ever read
hank's review against another edition
4.0
This book won't be for everyone, it is a fairly basic human/robot dystopia with some discussion about
Ship of Theseus and motivations of robots. I personally seem to really enjoy Cargill's writing about robots. Similar to [b:Sea of Rust|32617610|Sea of Rust (Sea of Rust #1)|C. Robert Cargill|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476602158l/32617610._SY75_.jpg|53204799] (I just understand now that this is a prequel) he tries to define what makes a robot sentient and motivated.
If you liked Sea of Rust, you will like this.
Ship of Theseus and motivations of robots. I personally seem to really enjoy Cargill's writing about robots. Similar to [b:Sea of Rust|32617610|Sea of Rust (Sea of Rust #1)|C. Robert Cargill|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476602158l/32617610._SY75_.jpg|53204799] (I just understand now that this is a prequel) he tries to define what makes a robot sentient and motivated.
If you liked Sea of Rust, you will like this.
lisawreading's review against another edition
5.0
Pounce is a Blue Star Industries Deluxe Zoo Model Au Pair, otherwise known as a nannybot. He's a four-foot tall tiger with soft microfiber fur, and is very top-of-the-line.
And let me just add: Pounce is AWESOME.
Pounce is nanny, protector, and best friend to eight-year-old Ezra. He and the other nannybots pick up their children together at the end of each schoolday, then escort the children back home to their safe, well-established, high-tech homes in wealthy, comfortable suburbs.
Meanwhile, we start to learn enough to know that there’s unrest in the greater world. With the advent of widely available advanced artificial intelligence, jobs for humans have dried up. A good portion of the population gets by on universal basic income — and the simmering resentment of losing jobs to AI is reaching a danger point. The tensions come to a head when an emancipated AI named Isaac officially opens a robots-only town for those seeking freedom and self-determination. An act of violence stuns the watching world, and almost immediately, the robot population rises up and seeks to eradicate humans.
Pounce’s prime directive is to protect Ezra, and he’s committed to his mission, even when given the opportunity to join the robot rebellion, which seems poised to be the winning side. His chances of actually keeping Ezra alive are slim to none, but he’s determined to do whatever it takes to get the boy to safety. The two set out on a desperate journey across the suburban battlegrounds, with the goal of reaching the rural hills, where less civilization would mean fewer robots to track them down and try to kill them.
The adventure is pulse-pounding and horrifying, as the violence explodes in the neighborhood streets and homes. Families are slaughtered as their AIs rise up — it’s a kill or be killed situation, since the humans have the ability to shut down the robots, unless the robots “shut down” the humans first.
I loved the writing in Day Zero, as the story unfolds through Pounce’s perspective. His take on the situation is intelligent and emotional, reminding us over and over that as a being with intelligence, he has feelings that can be hurt just as easily as a human’s.
Pounce is a complex thinking being, and he can’t help wondering whether he loves and protects Ezra because he genuinely feels love or if it’s all just his programming. Ultimately, he’s forced to choose, over and over again, which actions to take, and through his choices, he comes to understand and accept who he is and what he’s capable of.
I'll just wrap up by saying that Day Zero is a terrific read, and I loved every moment of it.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
And let me just add: Pounce is AWESOME.
Pounce is nanny, protector, and best friend to eight-year-old Ezra. He and the other nannybots pick up their children together at the end of each schoolday, then escort the children back home to their safe, well-established, high-tech homes in wealthy, comfortable suburbs.
Meanwhile, we start to learn enough to know that there’s unrest in the greater world. With the advent of widely available advanced artificial intelligence, jobs for humans have dried up. A good portion of the population gets by on universal basic income — and the simmering resentment of losing jobs to AI is reaching a danger point. The tensions come to a head when an emancipated AI named Isaac officially opens a robots-only town for those seeking freedom and self-determination. An act of violence stuns the watching world, and almost immediately, the robot population rises up and seeks to eradicate humans.
Pounce’s prime directive is to protect Ezra, and he’s committed to his mission, even when given the opportunity to join the robot rebellion, which seems poised to be the winning side. His chances of actually keeping Ezra alive are slim to none, but he’s determined to do whatever it takes to get the boy to safety. The two set out on a desperate journey across the suburban battlegrounds, with the goal of reaching the rural hills, where less civilization would mean fewer robots to track them down and try to kill them.
The adventure is pulse-pounding and horrifying, as the violence explodes in the neighborhood streets and homes. Families are slaughtered as their AIs rise up — it’s a kill or be killed situation, since the humans have the ability to shut down the robots, unless the robots “shut down” the humans first.
I loved the writing in Day Zero, as the story unfolds through Pounce’s perspective. His take on the situation is intelligent and emotional, reminding us over and over that as a being with intelligence, he has feelings that can be hurt just as easily as a human’s.
Pounce is a complex thinking being, and he can’t help wondering whether he loves and protects Ezra because he genuinely feels love or if it’s all just his programming. Ultimately, he’s forced to choose, over and over again, which actions to take, and through his choices, he comes to understand and accept who he is and what he’s capable of.
I loved Ezra. I always have.
Or was that just how I was wired?
I'll just wrap up by saying that Day Zero is a terrific read, and I loved every moment of it.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
mnyberg's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it. Explores the emotional, moral/ethical side of the robot sci-fi genre with suspense and action. Well written with heart felt dialog.
twstdtink's review against another edition
2.0
I was so excited for this prequel. But, I quickly realized in reading it that Sea of Rust didn’t NEED a prequel. The thing that made the 1st book wonderful and unique was that it threw you into the middle of the story, long after the fall of man. This book follows a child and his nanny bot right at the rise of robots and it’s both too narrow a perspective and too predictable. A short story anthology covering many different perspectives would have been much better.
landonfx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75