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A review by karenleagermain
Annie Bot by Sierra Greer
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Annie Bot is a force. The story is simplistic in plot, but nuanced and rich in character development. Annie is a "cuddle bunny"- a sex/companion robot that was purchased by Doug. In many ways, Annie resembles Doug's ex-girlfriend, a relationship that he still feels bitterness towards.
Annie has been programed to fulfill Doug's wishes, but she is also an experimental robot. With Doug's knowledge, her manufacturers are testing out giving Annie a bit of freedom to develop her own thoughts. She will potentially be a prototype for other robots. This means that Annie does not always make the choices that Doug wants her too and it complicates their relationship.
Annie Bot was such a compelling story. It's also really hard. Greer makes it clear that the reader should have a connection with Annie and view her as more than a machine. Annie is a very empathetic character and it is very difficult to read the scenes where Doug is abusing her. Doug is very cruel and abusive. This story is about control and domestic abuse.
Annie is a machine that Doug has purchases and as such, he dresses her, can manipulate her weight, tell her how to wear make-up, how to act...he even controls the level of her libido. However, even as a machine, Annie has enough awareness to suffer. She is cognizant enough to push-back against her programming, but her programming is still a powerful force to make her want to always please Doug. I hurt for Annie.
Annie Bot is a powerful story that has stayed with me for weeks.
Annie has been programed to fulfill Doug's wishes, but she is also an experimental robot. With Doug's knowledge, her manufacturers are testing out giving Annie a bit of freedom to develop her own thoughts. She will potentially be a prototype for other robots. This means that Annie does not always make the choices that Doug wants her too and it complicates their relationship.
Annie Bot was such a compelling story. It's also really hard. Greer makes it clear that the reader should have a connection with Annie and view her as more than a machine. Annie is a very empathetic character and it is very difficult to read the scenes where Doug is abusing her. Doug is very cruel and abusive. This story is about control and domestic abuse.
Annie is a machine that Doug has purchases and as such, he dresses her, can manipulate her weight, tell her how to wear make-up, how to act...he even controls the level of her libido. However, even as a machine, Annie has enough awareness to suffer. She is cognizant enough to push-back against her programming, but her programming is still a powerful force to make her want to always please Doug. I hurt for Annie.
Annie Bot is a powerful story that has stayed with me for weeks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Very strong scenes of verbal and physical domestic abuse. The abuse is from a human to a human-like robot, but the reader will likely feel so connected to the robot character that it is impossible to think of her as a machine.