A review by katherinekempf
The Automaton by Ian Young

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.