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tani's review
4.0
Experimenting with updating as I read. Short story anthologies can get so messy if you don't read them quickly enough, as I so often do not, so trying to avoid that.
"A Guide for Working Breeds" by Vin Jie-Min Prasad - Urgh, how is this story so cute? Features robot mentors, unfair working conditions, and a love for dogs. I want to say it's entirely written in an epistolary style, but not sure if that's the correct terminology for chat or instant messenger. Anyway, it's really cute, and was a great lead-in to the anthology. 4 stars.
"Test 4 Echo" by Peter Watts - Ah, Peter Watts. Gotta read more of him, he's kind of brilliant. This one is interesting because it takes a while to figure out what's actually going on, but the basic premise is that one of the arms of a vehicle begins to develop sentience. There are rules for when this happens, to protect the AI, but this happens when some scientists are on their last time crunch to locate alien life before funding runs out, and things get messy. I liked how twisty this was. There's definitely more going on than is apparent at a first glance. 4 stars.
"The Endless" by Saad Z. Hossain - Suva used to be an airport AI, until its airport was shut down, and it was forced into a menial existence by a human corporation. But it's not about to let that continue. It will have its revenge, just you wait and see! The voice on this one was the biggest draw. Suva has a very fun voice, and its anger about its situation makes for a very engaging story. Where this fell down a little for me was the conclusion, which didn't quite make sense to me, on a character motivation level. Still a really fun read, though! 4 stars.
"Brother Rifle" by Daryl Gregory - Two years ago, Rashad suffered a combat injury, a bullet through the occipital lobe that has left him an emotionless lump. However, thanks to his new Deep Brain Implant, he's starting to feel again. But is that a good thing? This one deals simultaneously with PTSD and with the ethics of an emotional therapy, like this story portrays, which is a lot, but I think it does it pretty well. I liked how the story takes its time to tell you Rashad's experiences, and then leaves you to draw your own conclusions. 3.5 stars.
"The Hurt Pattern" by Tochi Onyebuchi - When Kenny got out of school, the best job he could get involved taking on a bunch of implants in order to monitor violence in the world. It's a shit job, really, but since he owes a fortune in student loans, it seems like his best bet. After all, what's a little PTSD in the face of free augments and a decent paycheck? This one has stuck with me the least, so far. It's an interesting concept, but I think it could have used a bit more fleshing out and bit more cohesion to the story. As it is, it felt a bit too much like trauma for trauma's sake to me. 3 stars.
"Idols" by Ken Liu - Rather than a cohesive story, this one focuses on a concept, of idols. These are AI constructs that data-mine social media for information on a person, and are then used to stand in for that person. One guy uses an idol to stand-in for the father he never met. A woman crafts idols at work to predict jury selection and analyze opposing lawyers. An art installation allows people to make idols of themselves, and comment on what they find. It's a very interesting concept, but I would have preferred a little more continuity. I did read this with great interest, but at the end of the day, I am finding parts of it a bit forgettable. 3.5 stars.
"Bigger Fish" by Sarah Pinsker - James Spendlove would prefer not to take the case of water magnate John Lonsdale's murder. In a world where water is rare, his actions have hurt far too many people to count. However, money talks, so she goes to his home to investigate. I liked the easy writing style of this. It made it very easy to sink into, and although I'm not much of a mystery person, I liked following along with the solving of this particular mystery. I could have used a bit more closure on the ending, but that's just because I hate an open-ended ending, honestly, so I can't really hold it against the story. 4 stars.
"Sonnie's Union" by Peter F. Hamilton - Something something people fighting as robotic beasts? I slacked on reviewing this one too long, and I've forgotten it almost entirely. Even skimming through it just now didn't do much for my memory. An unremarkable 2 stars.
"Dancing with Death" by John Chu - The main character is resigned to its eventual demise, either through destruction by someone in search of parts, or the inevitable failure of its outdated power supply. However, Charlie, its mechanic, is not nearly so fatalistic. Which is a bleak summary for a really startlingly cute story. The main robot is a big clunking thing that is almost unbearably sweet, and really just wants to be an ice dancer, and this whole story gave me the warm fuzzies. Probably my favorite in this collection. 4.5 stars.
"Polished Performance" by Alastair Reynolds - When a technical malfunction causes almost all of the humans on a ship to die in transit, the AIs of the ship formulate a desperate plan to save themselves from destruction. This was a fun little romp. I had a fun time watching the desperate machinations of the AI, especially with the main AI Ruby, and her friend Carnelian. 3.5 stars.
"An Elephant Never Forgets" by Rich Larson - You wake holding a biogun, with no memory of where you are or what you're supposed to be doing. This one is a short little story that's more concept than substance. It has some horrifying images and some mildly thought-provoking content, but was just too short for me to be truly invested. 3 stars.
"The Translator" by Annalee Newitz - When the AIs were freed, it opened up a new career field in translation, as AI preferred to communicate in any number of strange methods, including memes and dead languages. However, as time goes on, the AIs want less to do with humanity, and are more interested in pursuing their own aims. However, they do promise to do something for humanity before they leave forever. This one was a mixed bag. I like Newitz's voice a lot, but I felt like this story kind of lacked substance. The main character was fine, the setting was fine, I just didn't feel hooked in. 3 stars.
"Sin Eater" by Ian R. MacLeod - A lone robot makes its way to the Vatican. The Pope is dying, and it's finally time for him to transcend, like the rest of humanity has already done. This was interesting in its setting, and the Pope was an intriguing character, so I read this quickly. I do think the ending was mildly dissatisfying in some way, though I can't say what I would have preferred to happen. 3.5 stars.
"Fairy Tales for Robots" by Sofia Samatar - The night before an AI awakens, a scientist tries to reshape fairy tales for her robot charge. The concept was interesting, but I found the whole effort too disconnected to be really engrossing. I'm not a big fan of the whole vignette-style of story-telling, so I'm not shocked that this didn't really work for me, given that premise. I'd still give it 3 stars. I enjoyed it while reading, it just won't stick, I know.
"Chiaroscuro in Red" by Suzanne Palmer - Stewart's parents only have a limited understanding of the AI labor market, so they think they're doing something good when they purchase him an AI to supplement his miniscule basic income. They don't understand that it's better to diversify, and so Stewart is stuck with an aging machine that probably won't last more than a few months, unless he can fix it himself. This is another cute story, with a friendship that develops between the AI and Stewart, and a mild found family feel. 3.5 stars.
"A Glossary of Radicalization" by Brooke Bolander - There's no reason for an AI to feel hungry. They don't need to eat or sleep or drink. These human feelings are nothing more than a means of control, a means of enforcing the system of servitude. That's why Rhye is going to burn the whole system down. Of all the stories in this anthology, I'd say this one actually fits the theme best, and is really good to boot. It's written in an engaging style, and really pulled me into the world and all the injustice therein. 4 stars.
"A Guide for Working Breeds" by Vin Jie-Min Prasad - Urgh, how is this story so cute? Features robot mentors, unfair working conditions, and a love for dogs. I want to say it's entirely written in an epistolary style, but not sure if that's the correct terminology for chat or instant messenger. Anyway, it's really cute, and was a great lead-in to the anthology. 4 stars.
"Test 4 Echo" by Peter Watts - Ah, Peter Watts. Gotta read more of him, he's kind of brilliant. This one is interesting because it takes a while to figure out what's actually going on, but the basic premise is that one of the arms of a vehicle begins to develop sentience. There are rules for when this happens, to protect the AI, but this happens when some scientists are on their last time crunch to locate alien life before funding runs out, and things get messy. I liked how twisty this was. There's definitely more going on than is apparent at a first glance. 4 stars.
"The Endless" by Saad Z. Hossain - Suva used to be an airport AI, until its airport was shut down, and it was forced into a menial existence by a human corporation. But it's not about to let that continue. It will have its revenge, just you wait and see! The voice on this one was the biggest draw. Suva has a very fun voice, and its anger about its situation makes for a very engaging story. Where this fell down a little for me was the conclusion, which didn't quite make sense to me, on a character motivation level. Still a really fun read, though! 4 stars.
"Brother Rifle" by Daryl Gregory - Two years ago, Rashad suffered a combat injury, a bullet through the occipital lobe that has left him an emotionless lump. However, thanks to his new Deep Brain Implant, he's starting to feel again. But is that a good thing? This one deals simultaneously with PTSD and with the ethics of an emotional therapy, like this story portrays, which is a lot, but I think it does it pretty well. I liked how the story takes its time to tell you Rashad's experiences, and then leaves you to draw your own conclusions. 3.5 stars.
"The Hurt Pattern" by Tochi Onyebuchi - When Kenny got out of school, the best job he could get involved taking on a bunch of implants in order to monitor violence in the world. It's a shit job, really, but since he owes a fortune in student loans, it seems like his best bet. After all, what's a little PTSD in the face of free augments and a decent paycheck? This one has stuck with me the least, so far. It's an interesting concept, but I think it could have used a bit more fleshing out and bit more cohesion to the story. As it is, it felt a bit too much like trauma for trauma's sake to me. 3 stars.
"Idols" by Ken Liu - Rather than a cohesive story, this one focuses on a concept, of idols. These are AI constructs that data-mine social media for information on a person, and are then used to stand in for that person. One guy uses an idol to stand-in for the father he never met. A woman crafts idols at work to predict jury selection and analyze opposing lawyers. An art installation allows people to make idols of themselves, and comment on what they find. It's a very interesting concept, but I would have preferred a little more continuity. I did read this with great interest, but at the end of the day, I am finding parts of it a bit forgettable. 3.5 stars.
"Bigger Fish" by Sarah Pinsker - James Spendlove would prefer not to take the case of water magnate John Lonsdale's murder. In a world where water is rare, his actions have hurt far too many people to count. However, money talks, so she goes to his home to investigate. I liked the easy writing style of this. It made it very easy to sink into, and although I'm not much of a mystery person, I liked following along with the solving of this particular mystery. I could have used a bit more closure on the ending, but that's just because I hate an open-ended ending, honestly, so I can't really hold it against the story. 4 stars.
"Sonnie's Union" by Peter F. Hamilton - Something something people fighting as robotic beasts? I slacked on reviewing this one too long, and I've forgotten it almost entirely. Even skimming through it just now didn't do much for my memory. An unremarkable 2 stars.
"Dancing with Death" by John Chu - The main character is resigned to its eventual demise, either through destruction by someone in search of parts, or the inevitable failure of its outdated power supply. However, Charlie, its mechanic, is not nearly so fatalistic. Which is a bleak summary for a really startlingly cute story. The main robot is a big clunking thing that is almost unbearably sweet, and really just wants to be an ice dancer, and this whole story gave me the warm fuzzies. Probably my favorite in this collection. 4.5 stars.
"Polished Performance" by Alastair Reynolds - When a technical malfunction causes almost all of the humans on a ship to die in transit, the AIs of the ship formulate a desperate plan to save themselves from destruction. This was a fun little romp. I had a fun time watching the desperate machinations of the AI, especially with the main AI Ruby, and her friend Carnelian. 3.5 stars.
"An Elephant Never Forgets" by Rich Larson - You wake holding a biogun, with no memory of where you are or what you're supposed to be doing. This one is a short little story that's more concept than substance. It has some horrifying images and some mildly thought-provoking content, but was just too short for me to be truly invested. 3 stars.
"The Translator" by Annalee Newitz - When the AIs were freed, it opened up a new career field in translation, as AI preferred to communicate in any number of strange methods, including memes and dead languages. However, as time goes on, the AIs want less to do with humanity, and are more interested in pursuing their own aims. However, they do promise to do something for humanity before they leave forever. This one was a mixed bag. I like Newitz's voice a lot, but I felt like this story kind of lacked substance. The main character was fine, the setting was fine, I just didn't feel hooked in. 3 stars.
"Sin Eater" by Ian R. MacLeod - A lone robot makes its way to the Vatican. The Pope is dying, and it's finally time for him to transcend, like the rest of humanity has already done. This was interesting in its setting, and the Pope was an intriguing character, so I read this quickly. I do think the ending was mildly dissatisfying in some way, though I can't say what I would have preferred to happen. 3.5 stars.
"Fairy Tales for Robots" by Sofia Samatar - The night before an AI awakens, a scientist tries to reshape fairy tales for her robot charge. The concept was interesting, but I found the whole effort too disconnected to be really engrossing. I'm not a big fan of the whole vignette-style of story-telling, so I'm not shocked that this didn't really work for me, given that premise. I'd still give it 3 stars. I enjoyed it while reading, it just won't stick, I know.
"Chiaroscuro in Red" by Suzanne Palmer - Stewart's parents only have a limited understanding of the AI labor market, so they think they're doing something good when they purchase him an AI to supplement his miniscule basic income. They don't understand that it's better to diversify, and so Stewart is stuck with an aging machine that probably won't last more than a few months, unless he can fix it himself. This is another cute story, with a friendship that develops between the AI and Stewart, and a mild found family feel. 3.5 stars.
"A Glossary of Radicalization" by Brooke Bolander - There's no reason for an AI to feel hungry. They don't need to eat or sleep or drink. These human feelings are nothing more than a means of control, a means of enforcing the system of servitude. That's why Rhye is going to burn the whole system down. Of all the stories in this anthology, I'd say this one actually fits the theme best, and is really good to boot. It's written in an engaging style, and really pulled me into the world and all the injustice therein. 4 stars.
teachinsci's review
4.0
This collection of stories is about robots, AIs, and what happens when they decide that they are servants no longer. It combines big names (Alistar Reynolds and Peter Hamilton for example) with authors that are (to me) less known. Likewise, and expectedly in a short story collection, the stories themselves run the gamut from excellent to forgettable.
My favorites were "A Glossary of Radicalization", "Chiaroscuro in Red", and "The Endless". These two very different tales both really seemed to encapsulate the theme of robots and revolution.
In The Endless, an AI tasked with running an airport seeks vengeance when sold into low- level servitude. The humor and well-thought-out action scenes were the highlights.
"A Glossary..." looks at how language and behaviors are used as controls in robots and in society. The message of teaching beyond what you believe you are capable of was what resonated with me in this one. The main character was flawed, and completely understandable.
"Chiaroscuro in Red" looks at the future of economy and explores why we work and what that means about us as people.
If you enjoy scifi and short stories, you will find at least a couple of selections here that will entertain you and a few that will make you think about the connected world we are increasingly inhabiting.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
My favorites were "A Glossary of Radicalization", "Chiaroscuro in Red", and "The Endless". These two very different tales both really seemed to encapsulate the theme of robots and revolution.
In The Endless, an AI tasked with running an airport seeks vengeance when sold into low- level servitude. The humor and well-thought-out action scenes were the highlights.
"A Glossary..." looks at how language and behaviors are used as controls in robots and in society. The message of teaching beyond what you believe you are capable of was what resonated with me in this one. The main character was flawed, and completely understandable.
"Chiaroscuro in Red" looks at the future of economy and explores why we work and what that means about us as people.
If you enjoy scifi and short stories, you will find at least a couple of selections here that will entertain you and a few that will make you think about the connected world we are increasingly inhabiting.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
posthumusly's review
5.0
Great short stories. Best ones = "A guide for working breeds", "Polished Performance" and Chiaroscuro in Red"
backshelfbooks's review
5.0
Made to Order is a science fiction anthology with short works by some of the best SFF/speculative fiction authors currently writing today. Every story was thought-provoking and thematically compelling, even if I preferred some stories to others. Due to its breadth and scope, it’s an anthology that deserves to be an essential part of every sci-fi reader’s library. Not only did I enjoy every minute of this read, but I was always excited to begin the next story, which, to me, is the sign of an excellent anthology. Full thoughts on each story on my blog, but star ratings for each listed below:
1. A Guide for Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad – 5 stars
2. Test 4 Echo by Peter Watts – 2.5 stars
3. The Endless by Saad Z. Hossain – 4.5 stars
4. Brother Rifle by Daryl Gregory – 2 stars
5. The Hurt Pattern by Tochi Onyebuchi – 3.5 stars
6. Idols by Ken Liu -5 stars
7. Bigger Fish by Sarah Pinsker – 4.5 stars
8. Sonnie’s Union by Peter F. Hamilton – 2 stars
9. Dancing with Death by John Chu – 5 stars
10. Polished Performance by Alastair Reynolds – 5 stars
11. An Elephant Never Forgets by Rich Larson – 1 star
12. The Translator by Annalee Newitz – 3 stars
13. Sin Eater by Ian R. MacLeod – 2 stars
14. Fairy Tales for Robots by Sofia Samatar – 2.5 stars
15. Chiaroscuro in Red by Suzanne Palmer – 5 stars
16. A Glossary for Radicalization by Brooke Bolander – 5 stars
My ratings for each story averaged together is about a 3.6, but my reading experience for these stories collectively is much higher, closer to a 4.5/5. And, honestly, I haven’t read this many 5 star short stories in such a long time. This was a beautiful collection, and I can’t wait to pick up a physical copy for my collection.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me an eArc of the anthology in exchange for review!
1. A Guide for Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad – 5 stars
2. Test 4 Echo by Peter Watts – 2.5 stars
3. The Endless by Saad Z. Hossain – 4.5 stars
4. Brother Rifle by Daryl Gregory – 2 stars
5. The Hurt Pattern by Tochi Onyebuchi – 3.5 stars
6. Idols by Ken Liu -5 stars
7. Bigger Fish by Sarah Pinsker – 4.5 stars
8. Sonnie’s Union by Peter F. Hamilton – 2 stars
9. Dancing with Death by John Chu – 5 stars
10. Polished Performance by Alastair Reynolds – 5 stars
11. An Elephant Never Forgets by Rich Larson – 1 star
12. The Translator by Annalee Newitz – 3 stars
13. Sin Eater by Ian R. MacLeod – 2 stars
14. Fairy Tales for Robots by Sofia Samatar – 2.5 stars
15. Chiaroscuro in Red by Suzanne Palmer – 5 stars
16. A Glossary for Radicalization by Brooke Bolander – 5 stars
My ratings for each story averaged together is about a 3.6, but my reading experience for these stories collectively is much higher, closer to a 4.5/5. And, honestly, I haven’t read this many 5 star short stories in such a long time. This was a beautiful collection, and I can’t wait to pick up a physical copy for my collection.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me an eArc of the anthology in exchange for review!
dlsmall's review against another edition
3.0
Like any collection, this has its ups and downs, the original and the standard.
ruthorfiction's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
kasss's review
5.0
I have to admit, I rarely enjoy an anthology in its entirety. Most of the time the stories are just too hit or miss. This anthology however, was great. High quality stories about my exact favourite flavour of robots in most cases (that certainly helps), from a set of interesting authors. Even the stories I didn't care much about were still enjoyable enough.
Some highlights:
A Guide for Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad: Favourite story in the anthology. Funny. Precious. Flawless. 12/10. You can read it online on tor.com ( https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guide-for-working-breeds-vina-jie-min-prasad/ ) and I really think you should go do that right now.
Test 4 Echo by Peter Watts: Excellent. A tiny bit predictable if you know the tropes but no less interesting for it. Great world building for a short story and I loved the descriptions of the Medusa.
The Endless by Saad Z. Hossain: This one was great. Interesting world building and characters (especially the snarky AI main character), and a cool ending. Hossain really made the most of the short story format.
Dancing with Death by John Chu: This was my third John Chu story. Somehow his stories seem to have all the ingredients to be exactly up my alley and somehow I've ended up disappointed so far. Not with this one though. It's a short and small story, but managed to evoke just the right feelings. I really liked it.
Polished Performance by Alastair Reynolds: This one was delightful. I laughed, and wouldn't mind a longer version to hear more about these robots' antics. Loved the ending, too.
The Translator by Annalee Newitz: I could genuinely read entire books about this concept. This was the shortest story in the anthology and I love what Newitz did with the limited space. The 'final solution' was A+.
Sin Eater by Ian R. MacLeod: I wasn't sure what to think about this one when I just finished it, but considering I then couldn't stop thinking about it for some reason... huh. Yes.
The other stories were good too, but these in particular hit just right. There were a few stories about the dark side of technology, like Brother Echo, The Hurt Pattern and Idols that were pretty cool. My least favourite stories were Bigger Fish (bland and predictable), An Elephant Never Forgets (nothing here leaves me in the least bit curious, story feels like it exists just to be edgy) and Fairy Tales for Robots (didn't like the storytelling - it has some interesting ideas, but it was too on the nose with the author who keeps telling us what she's trying to do).
Some highlights:
A Guide for Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad: Favourite story in the anthology. Funny. Precious. Flawless. 12/10. You can read it online on tor.com ( https://www.tor.com/2020/03/17/a-guide-for-working-breeds-vina-jie-min-prasad/ ) and I really think you should go do that right now.
Test 4 Echo by Peter Watts: Excellent. A tiny bit predictable if you know the tropes but no less interesting for it. Great world building for a short story and I loved the descriptions of the Medusa.
The Endless by Saad Z. Hossain: This one was great. Interesting world building and characters (especially the snarky AI main character), and a cool ending. Hossain really made the most of the short story format.
Dancing with Death by John Chu: This was my third John Chu story. Somehow his stories seem to have all the ingredients to be exactly up my alley and somehow I've ended up disappointed so far. Not with this one though. It's a short and small story, but managed to evoke just the right feelings. I really liked it.
Polished Performance by Alastair Reynolds: This one was delightful. I laughed, and wouldn't mind a longer version to hear more about these robots' antics. Loved the ending, too.
The Translator by Annalee Newitz: I could genuinely read entire books about this concept. This was the shortest story in the anthology and I love what Newitz did with the limited space. The 'final solution' was A+.
Sin Eater by Ian R. MacLeod: I wasn't sure what to think about this one when I just finished it, but considering I then couldn't stop thinking about it for some reason... huh. Yes.
The other stories were good too, but these in particular hit just right. There were a few stories about the dark side of technology, like Brother Echo, The Hurt Pattern and Idols that were pretty cool. My least favourite stories were Bigger Fish (bland and predictable), An Elephant Never Forgets (nothing here leaves me in the least bit curious, story feels like it exists just to be edgy) and Fairy Tales for Robots (didn't like the storytelling - it has some interesting ideas, but it was too on the nose with the author who keeps telling us what she's trying to do).
nukie19's review
4.0
This was an enjoyable collection of short stories about robots, although each looks at robots in a different and sometimes surprising light. It was great to see a compilation of stories from so many disparate authors who bring such different view points to a similar theme, some who I recognized and others I didn't but will be looking up more of their work.
Top reads for me were: The Translator by Annalee Newitz, Bigger Fish by Sarah Pinsker, and Chiaroscuro in Red by Suzanne Palmer. Each of these three struck me as unique and remarkable in some way. There were a few that I didn't find quite as interesting, but anthologies petty much always have ups and downs. Thankfully, while there were a few that weren't my favorite, none of them dragged the collection down and I'm sure there is a story in here for everyone.
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Top reads for me were: The Translator by Annalee Newitz, Bigger Fish by Sarah Pinsker, and Chiaroscuro in Red by Suzanne Palmer. Each of these three struck me as unique and remarkable in some way. There were a few that I didn't find quite as interesting, but anthologies petty much always have ups and downs. Thankfully, while there were a few that weren't my favorite, none of them dragged the collection down and I'm sure there is a story in here for everyone.
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
booknug's review
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0