A review by sipping_tea_with_ghosts
Autonomous by Annalee Newitz

2.0

Autonomous is split between two stories that eventually intersect at the end but the journey, as well as the destination are not worth the effort. The writing style is fine and works well at explaining the more advanced concepts, even to folk who like sci-fi but aren't scientifically literate. However, this was a story I had to motivate myself to finish. I wanted to believe it would get better, but it only got dumber and strayed away from the elements that made the first fourth of it captivating. As soon as it was done, I threw my hardcover in the trash. Focus shifts away from the interesting piracy and pharmaceutical debauchery and dives head first into the romance between a sentient piece of cardboard that apparently has a name and a machine, and it wasn't an even split. I would have been fine with going off on these tangents if the author had actually tried to put a spin on the tired trope but they don't and the regular detours into sex and awkward romance just pulled me out of any semblance of tension trying to be set up.

Decent world building but no twists, no surprises and nothing to satisfy the reader when it's done.