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A review by d_audy
Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A delightful and amusing story somewhere at the improbable intersection of Asimov's Robots, Becket, Boris Vian (the Vian of L'Herbe Rouge - specifically), Van Vogt, Swift, the Wizard of Oz, 1984, Dante's Inferno and Kafka (and yes, even something that's reminiscent of Edward Ka-Spel's little sci-fi stories, minus the soundtrack). Tchaikovsky offers a timely and slightly ironic, slightly tongue-in-cheek modern philosophical parable with a solid touch of the Absurd and a hefty serving of understated British humour. Service Model is outwardly a story about robots that has much to tell about the humans who made them and society's rapport to technology. With the emergence of so-called AI, which is anything but intelligent, this story couldn't come at a better time.
The central idea behind the novel isn't new, but Tchaikovsky makes it shine in the execution, adopting once again the perfect narrative voice (very English) to fit this story of Charles, high-end valet robot and accidental (?) murderer of his rich recluse master on a quest to find himself a new employer, understand what made this happen and, incidentally, where has human society gone all of a sudden? Paired up with the "defective" The Wonk the hereafter renamed UnCharles travels the collapsed world in search of answers, a tale told in five parts, each one with its own flavour. While the novel deals with serious questions, it never fails to do so in a light and amusing way, and is full of funny cultural/literary references.
For a guy who publishes 2-3 novels a year, Adrian sure knows how to deliver quality. This one continues his golden streak of recent years that has seen Children of Ruin, The Tyrant Philosophers, Elder Race etc. He's pretty much become an automatic must-read for me.
The central idea behind the novel isn't new, but Tchaikovsky makes it shine in the execution, adopting once again the perfect narrative voice (very English) to fit this story of Charles, high-end valet robot and accidental (?) murderer of his rich recluse master on a quest to find himself a new employer, understand what made this happen and, incidentally, where has human society gone all of a sudden? Paired up with the "defective" The Wonk the hereafter renamed UnCharles travels the collapsed world in search of answers, a tale told in five parts, each one with its own flavour. While the novel deals with serious questions, it never fails to do so in a light and amusing way, and is full of funny cultural/literary references.
For a guy who publishes 2-3 novels a year, Adrian sure knows how to deliver quality. This one continues his golden streak of recent years that has seen Children of Ruin, The Tyrant Philosophers, Elder Race etc. He's pretty much become an automatic must-read for me.