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orionmerlin 's review for:
Service Model
by Adrian Tchaikovsky
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Characters: 7.5/10
Uncharles (formerly Charles, before he decided a little existential rebranding was in order) is one of the funnier sad-sack robots I’ve encountered. I adored his deadpan commitment to polishing silverware while civilization disintegrated outside the windows. But I’m not gonna lie: by page 200, I was ready to scream, “Just figure out the Wonk is human already, you clanking dunce!” The supporting cast felt more like a revolving door of jokes than a group of people (or machines) I cared about. The Wonk had great chaotic energy, but she wasn’t exactly deep. The rest were quippy props in the big satire diorama. Entertaining? For sure. Memorable? Sort of. Emotionally layered? Not a chance.
Uncharles (formerly Charles, before he decided a little existential rebranding was in order) is one of the funnier sad-sack robots I’ve encountered. I adored his deadpan commitment to polishing silverware while civilization disintegrated outside the windows. But I’m not gonna lie: by page 200, I was ready to scream, “Just figure out the Wonk is human already, you clanking dunce!” The supporting cast felt more like a revolving door of jokes than a group of people (or machines) I cared about. The Wonk had great chaotic energy, but she wasn’t exactly deep. The rest were quippy props in the big satire diorama. Entertaining? For sure. Memorable? Sort of. Emotionally layered? Not a chance.
Atmosphere/Setting: 7/10
The atmosphere was a clever mix of Kafka’s filing cabinets and Downton Abbey after a few nuclear wars. For the first hundred pages, I was eating it up—robots in crumbling manors, endless queues of bureaucratic nonsense, data archives that destroy everything for “efficiency.” But eventually, every setting started feeling like the same dusty, beige office building with different signage. I wanted a little more texture, or at least some escalation beyond, “Yep, everything’s still broken.” It’s a solid world to host a farce, but it never felt alive—more like a stage set where the same joke repeated on a loop.
The atmosphere was a clever mix of Kafka’s filing cabinets and Downton Abbey after a few nuclear wars. For the first hundred pages, I was eating it up—robots in crumbling manors, endless queues of bureaucratic nonsense, data archives that destroy everything for “efficiency.” But eventually, every setting started feeling like the same dusty, beige office building with different signage. I wanted a little more texture, or at least some escalation beyond, “Yep, everything’s still broken.” It’s a solid world to host a farce, but it never felt alive—more like a stage set where the same joke repeated on a loop.
Writing Style: 9/10
The prose? Absolutely my jam. Tchaikovsky’s writing is so polished I could see my face reflected in it (and boy, was it making an exasperated expression). I kept stopping to reread lines because they were that deliciously dry and quotable. Even when the plot was stuck in a holding pattern, I was still chuckling at the absurd metaphors and winking narration. Sure, the humor sometimes leaned on the same note a few too many times, but if you’re going to beat a joke to death, you might as well do it with style.
The prose? Absolutely my jam. Tchaikovsky’s writing is so polished I could see my face reflected in it (and boy, was it making an exasperated expression). I kept stopping to reread lines because they were that deliciously dry and quotable. Even when the plot was stuck in a holding pattern, I was still chuckling at the absurd metaphors and winking narration. Sure, the humor sometimes leaned on the same note a few too many times, but if you’re going to beat a joke to death, you might as well do it with style.
Plot: 6.5/10
The plot is where my goodwill started to wobble. The first act—Uncharles commits murder with a straight razor and then drags the body around while apologizing to everyone—was one of the best openings I’ve read in ages. But then the story just...loops. Every section is another flavor of bureaucratic horror. The middle third is such a slog I could feel my soul climbing out of my body to take a nap. And the Wonk’s “surprise” humanity? Come on, I clocked that in chapter two. It’s clever in concept, but the actual story felt like a hamster wheel.
The plot is where my goodwill started to wobble. The first act—Uncharles commits murder with a straight razor and then drags the body around while apologizing to everyone—was one of the best openings I’ve read in ages. But then the story just...loops. Every section is another flavor of bureaucratic horror. The middle third is such a slog I could feel my soul climbing out of my body to take a nap. And the Wonk’s “surprise” humanity? Come on, I clocked that in chapter two. It’s clever in concept, but the actual story felt like a hamster wheel.
Intrigue: 7/10
I started out riveted. I tore through the opening like I was on a mission. But once I hit the third “here’s another malfunctioning institution doing nothing” segment, my excitement fizzled. I kept going because I respected the craft and liked the voice—but it was more dutiful trudging than breathless anticipation. If I had set it down halfway through, I’m honestly not sure I’d have felt a huge compulsion to pick it back up.
I started out riveted. I tore through the opening like I was on a mission. But once I hit the third “here’s another malfunctioning institution doing nothing” segment, my excitement fizzled. I kept going because I respected the craft and liked the voice—but it was more dutiful trudging than breathless anticipation. If I had set it down halfway through, I’m honestly not sure I’d have felt a huge compulsion to pick it back up.
Logic/Relationships: 8/10
This book has impeccable internal logic—everything is consistently absurd in exactly the same way. The robots’ inability to self-correct felt perfectly believable in the context of a world designed by committees and left to rot. The relationships were...functional. Mostly transactional, occasionally amusing, never warm. That worked for the story, but there were times I wished Uncharles would grow beyond “confused Roomba with a tuxedo.” The Wonk was the closest thing to a real connection, and even that felt like a running gag stretched thin.
This book has impeccable internal logic—everything is consistently absurd in exactly the same way. The robots’ inability to self-correct felt perfectly believable in the context of a world designed by committees and left to rot. The relationships were...functional. Mostly transactional, occasionally amusing, never warm. That worked for the story, but there were times I wished Uncharles would grow beyond “confused Roomba with a tuxedo.” The Wonk was the closest thing to a real connection, and even that felt like a running gag stretched thin.
Enjoyment: 8/10
Overall, I had a blast—for a while. I laughed out loud. I highlighted whole paragraphs. I sent quotes to friends. But by the end, I was also sighing and checking how many pages were left. This is a book that peaks early and then runs the same routines until it breaks your patience. Still, even when I was bored, I never stopped admiring the wit. I’d recommend it—just with the caveat that you might want to pace yourself and maybe schedule a snack break to recover from the middle section.
Overall, I had a blast—for a while. I laughed out loud. I highlighted whole paragraphs. I sent quotes to friends. But by the end, I was also sighing and checking how many pages were left. This is a book that peaks early and then runs the same routines until it breaks your patience. Still, even when I was bored, I never stopped admiring the wit. I’d recommend it—just with the caveat that you might want to pace yourself and maybe schedule a snack break to recover from the middle section.
Final Verdict:
Service Model felt like watching a brilliant sketch comedian do the same routine five times in a row—impressive, hilarious, and eventually exhausting. I loved the concept: a robot valet having a polite meltdown while civilization decays. I adored the prose. I even respected the commitment to keeping Uncharles hopelessly oblivious. But the repetition was real, the middle was a slog, and the emotional depth was about as shallow as a teaspoon. I’m glad I read it. I just wish it knew when to call it a night.
Service Model felt like watching a brilliant sketch comedian do the same routine five times in a row—impressive, hilarious, and eventually exhausting. I loved the concept: a robot valet having a polite meltdown while civilization decays. I adored the prose. I even respected the commitment to keeping Uncharles hopelessly oblivious. But the repetition was real, the middle was a slog, and the emotional depth was about as shallow as a teaspoon. I’m glad I read it. I just wish it knew when to call it a night.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, War, Classism
Minor: Emotional abuse, Slavery, Suicide, Grief
This is a darkly satirical science fiction novel centered on a robot valet who accidentally kills his master and embarks on a surreal, bureaucratic journey through the ruins of post-human society. The murder is described in a matter-of-fact way without lingering graphic detail, but the dead body remains present in early scenes and is treated with an unsettling mix of comedy and horror.
Throughout the book, robots are depicted as unable to deviate from their programming, resulting in extended themes of dehumanization, loss of autonomy, and existential despair. Classism is a major focus, with critiques of aristocracy and systemic oppression. Some readers may find the tone emotionally cold or the repeated depictions of purposelessness and confinement distressing.
There is no sexual content or overtly graphic gore, but the story includes frequent references to death, violence, and the psychological toll of an unravelling society. While dark in theme, the tone is often absurd and humorous.