Review by rasha_reads - Service Model

rasha_reads 's review for:

Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky

4.75

adventurous challenging funny informative reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

If asked for an example of a good science fiction book, “Service Model” will now be one example that comes to mind. This is an oddly quirky and compelling piece of speculative fiction that amuses and inspires in equal measure.

Imagine a robot valet, Charles, who suddenly finds himself unemployed due to the fact that a fault causes him to murder his owner. He then proceeds to wander around a world which has disintegrated…

The book is divided into five parts named, very appropriately after authors and reflecting their style and thoughts (with hidden titles of each section in Leet / robot speak…)

Part 1: KR15-T ➡️ Christie

Part 2: K4FK-R ➡️ Kafka

Part 3: 4-WL ➡️ Orwell

Part 4: 80RH-5 ➡️ Borges

Part 5: D4NT-A ➡️ Dante

As Charles / Uncharles moves forward from one to the next on his journey, he not only explores the world but faces the questions of existence, awareness, sentience and justice. What makes this novel shine is that Charles’ approach is entirely logical leading to some very interesting conclusions and actions in a world that is immaculately imagined and described.

There are a lot of layers in Tchaikovsky’s tale of this C-3PO like robot replete with modern pop culture references as well as literary and philosophical ones so this can be read as a satirical what-if or viewed with an eye towards better understanding the human (robot) condition.

The only reason I did not give this five stars lay in the repetitive nature of the story, at least in the beginning (which was, I admit, probably part of the point the author was trying to make). You have to stick with it - the payoff starts coming through at about the 2/3 mark.

For me, the major takeaway from this book was the robots’ downfall, which, in turn, lay with the illogical nature of following rules, regulations and lists to the exclusion of all other factors. Like the saying goes: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” The whole results in an entertaining read that is also a lesson which should not be ignored.

4.75 stars

@aptshadow

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