Showing posts with label robots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label robots. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Book Review: The Perfect Wife, by JP Delaney

The Perfect Wife by JP Delaney, book cover and review
I haven't been in the mood to either read or write reviews, but I did manage to get through The Perfect Wife. It isn't because of "sheltering in." I'm doing fine. It has to do with the fact that I got a new sewing machine about a month ago (one of my other hobbies) and the weather is getting nice so I want to be in the yard or garden. Hope you are all doing well and keeping busy during these strange times...PLEASE stay home...

So, The Perfect Wife. The premise was a bit out there, but I was still entertained and wanted to find out what really happened. Abbie awakes in what she thinks is a hospital to find her husband sitting next to her. She feels weird. Not just injured, but weird. Tim, her husband, tells her very quickly that she is an android that he has created and given some of Abbie's memories. It seems that Abbie died five years ago (under mysterious circumstances that he won't talk about) and because he couldn't live without her, he commanded his company to help him create Abbie.

Tim is the Steve Jobs of the robotics world. He's driven and works his employees to the bone. We get flashbacks from his employees' perspective about how he and Abbie met, their tumultuous relationship, their falling in love, and their problematic marriage.

Abbie, in the meantime, is trying to figure out what happened to her five years ago. She finds some evidence of her former life and enlists the help of some people to help her figure things out. It seems Tim was tried for her murder but was ultimately acquitted. She begins to realize that their marriage may have had problems, even though she doesn't have those memories. And those problems may have partly stemmed from the fact that they have a severely autistic son.

That's probably enough of the plot to get you going. It moved quickly and was interesting. Abbie's family is suing Tim to have Abbie "turned off." There are betrayals and surprises along the way. It's a weird premise but an interesting story. I had read a Delaney book before and will continue to do so.

Published by Ballentine, 2019
eARC obtained from NetGalley
432 pages

Rating: 4/5





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Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Book Review: The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid

The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid book cover and review
The Diabolic is a thrilling adventure that kept me glued to the pages.  But -- Red Queen meets The Hunger Games (from the blurb)? I don't really see that comparison.

Nemesis is a diabolic, basically a robot who looks and acts like a human.  Diabolics are bonded to one person, to protect them for life at all costs.  Nemesis is bonded to a senator's daughter, Sidonia.

When it is decreed that diabolics are illegal and all must be destroyed,  Sidonia's mother plots to keep Nemesis a secret to protect her daughter. Sidonia is in danger because her father is rebellious.  He wants to learn about science -- something that is forbidden in this world.  The emperor summons Sidonia to the Galactic Court. Since her mother is so fearful, she decides to train Nemesis to pose as Sidonia and go in her place. It is very difficult for Nemesis to hide her special abilities and act like a human, but she must or all will be lost.

Once Nemesis gets to the court, she learns quickly of the corruption and pure evil of the emperor. She also learns more about herself and her capability to be much more like a human.

The tension ramps slowly but steadily.  No one can be trusted, and Nemesis witnesses betrayal after betrayal. At the same time, she also learns to accept her feelings -- things she's never felt before -- and create a bond with someone besides Sidonia.

There is a nice balance between science fiction, political intrigue, and the emotional aspects of Nemesis' growth. The Diabolic has a solid ending and appears to be a stand-alone (surprise!) But the world is such that more stories could be coming, and I would welcome them.

I'm looking forward to recommending The Diabolic to my teens.  They will certainly enjoy it.

Published by Simon & Schuster BFYR (November 1, 2016)
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
416 pages

Rating: 4.5/5





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