Scan barcode
iddylu's review against another edition
2.0
I think I might have rated this one a little more highly if it hadn't been so different from what I'd expected going in. The premise led me to expect an in-depth exploration of AI personhood and the relationship between artificial mother and child, similar to [b:A Closed and Common Orbit|29475447|A Closed and Common Orbit (Wayfarers, #2)|Becky Chambers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1457598923l/29475447._SY75_.jpg|48620653] (or, if things took a darker twist - which could have been interesting! - the film I Am Mother). But while the book certainly touched on those things, it didn't really delve into them in any sort of satisfying way, and the bulk of it was actually taken up by the technothriller-esque plotline about biowarfare - which I'd expected to be scene-setting and background info rather than the main thrust of the plot.
bcgoakander's review against another edition
2.0
Another "great premise, terrible execution" disappointment. The stars went down every quarter after the midway mark, when the story we'd been following poofed out of existence and was replaced by useless and unnecessary trauma with no character payoff and a complete rejection of the established world tenets. Super disappointing
nickymaund's review against another edition
3.0
The blurb of this one really appealed - and I was keen to know how it would play out. I’m going to admit, there were several parts of this that I really struggled with. Particularly the first part (which had most of the science speak and went way over my head).
We’re given multiple timelines and viewpoints to follow with this story as the risk to our survival is discovered and the plans for ensuring we overcome this. There were parts of this that really did pull me along, but sadly it wasn’t enough to make me really enjoy it.
We’re given multiple timelines and viewpoints to follow with this story as the risk to our survival is discovered and the plans for ensuring we overcome this. There were parts of this that really did pull me along, but sadly it wasn’t enough to make me really enjoy it.
salazar62's review against another edition
1.0
When I first read the blurb, I thought it was an excellent idea, sort of "Iron Giant" meets "AI" (which explains why Steven Spielberg's production company bought it), but I was disappointed. The story gets bogged down by too many technical explanations, the characters don't stand out enough so we can't fully get behind their decisions, and ultimately, I think the book fails to make its point - can a well-programmed robot replace human parents?
pilebythebed's review against another edition
3.0
Carole Stiver’s novel The Mother Code sits in a long literary tradition. The idea of robots, or artificial intelligences, growing and raising children has a long history in the science fiction. Some older examples include The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov (1950s), Earthsearch (originally a BBC radio drama) by James Follett (1970s) and Voyage from Yesteryear by James P Hogan (1980s). More recently, the Australian-made Netflix film I Am Mother explored this territory. But the concept goes back to an older literary tradition of children not raised by humans – from the myth of Romulus and Remus, raised by wolves through to stories like Tarzan or The Jungle Book. And in an age of children reared with devices powered by Siri or Cortana, it is possible that the reality is catching up to the fiction.
When The Mother Code opens, a group of “mothers” is flying to safety with their precious cargo. While following one of these, and her son Kai, the narrative also drops back in time to explore why the need for this drastic action. Unsurprisingly it is a slow-moving, man-made pandemic using a new technology that alters the DNA of the victims. While scientists search for a cure, they also turn to a plan B – creating embryos that will be immune and sentient robots to raise them. Nothing goes quite according to plan, and as the two stories come together things only get more dire for the children, leading to some tough moral questions and plenty of action.
Stivers does not make the most of her premise in The Mother Code. Much of the story is told rather than shown, the characters only really coming to life in the second half of the book but still manage to keep making bad, rapid decisions that tend to make the situation worse. The children are the type of precocious ten and eleven year olds that only tend to be found in novels. And much of the plot is driven by a series of highly unlikely coincidences
One of the joys of science fiction is its capacity to create a sandbox in which to test real world issues. As with other books and stories that tackle this issue there is a lot of food for thought underlying the action. Stivers takes full advantage of her premise to dig deeply into questions of what it means to be a parent and to raise a child, and to explore the bonds between parents and children. But also more complex questions such as how important is it for a child to have a belief system, and how an artificial intelligence could be flexible enough to support children to explore their boundaries and become independent. These questions in particular, drive the action in the last third of the book, creating a fascinating tension out of the moral quandaries that the characters find themselves in.
When The Mother Code opens, a group of “mothers” is flying to safety with their precious cargo. While following one of these, and her son Kai, the narrative also drops back in time to explore why the need for this drastic action. Unsurprisingly it is a slow-moving, man-made pandemic using a new technology that alters the DNA of the victims. While scientists search for a cure, they also turn to a plan B – creating embryos that will be immune and sentient robots to raise them. Nothing goes quite according to plan, and as the two stories come together things only get more dire for the children, leading to some tough moral questions and plenty of action.
Stivers does not make the most of her premise in The Mother Code. Much of the story is told rather than shown, the characters only really coming to life in the second half of the book but still manage to keep making bad, rapid decisions that tend to make the situation worse. The children are the type of precocious ten and eleven year olds that only tend to be found in novels. And much of the plot is driven by a series of highly unlikely coincidences
One of the joys of science fiction is its capacity to create a sandbox in which to test real world issues. As with other books and stories that tackle this issue there is a lot of food for thought underlying the action. Stivers takes full advantage of her premise to dig deeply into questions of what it means to be a parent and to raise a child, and to explore the bonds between parents and children. But also more complex questions such as how important is it for a child to have a belief system, and how an artificial intelligence could be flexible enough to support children to explore their boundaries and become independent. These questions in particular, drive the action in the last third of the book, creating a fascinating tension out of the moral quandaries that the characters find themselves in.
erickalonsos's review against another edition
5.0
Muy buena historia. Me parece muy original todo el contexto de la creación de los bots, la pandemia, cómo intentan recuperar a los niños.
Muy recomendable si les gustan las novelas de ciencia ficción.
Muy recomendable si les gustan las novelas de ciencia ficción.
kibiz's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
karenreads1000s's review against another edition
3.0
This book was slow until about 100 pages in. Not great for a 300 page book. A trouble with sci-fi is all the effort that has to go into creating the scene. I felt this book warned against the errors that can occur when people make unilateral decisions.
colleen987's review against another edition
4.0
My first thought was "this will make a fantastic movie!"
2050 -Biological warfare has turned into biological nightmare as the world is facing extinction from a virus that has mutated into a deadly disease from which no-one is safe.
After failing to stop the spread, its instead decided that humanity will start again. Cue the building of robots designed to carry and birth the next generation.
Overall a very enjoyable read.
2050 -Biological warfare has turned into biological nightmare as the world is facing extinction from a virus that has mutated into a deadly disease from which no-one is safe.
After failing to stop the spread, its instead decided that humanity will start again. Cue the building of robots designed to carry and birth the next generation.
Overall a very enjoyable read.
leannaaker's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable story. I agree with the reviewer who said that this would make a great film. As a novel, the character development was lacking, and things felt really forced to me. I also think that the idea of "what makes a mother?" is not the primary message in this book. Nevertheless, this was a quick, fun read.