I've been recommended Adrian Tchaikovsky as an author a couple years back, and must admit I was hesitant because of my prejudice against the masculine name and my previous less than enjoyable experience with male authors, especially in the scifi genre.

I have, however, been proved wrong by Service Model, as I started to listen to it out of curiosity (because it's just easier to start an audiobook and dnf it if need be) and it's a lot of fun and very clever, but not in a rub-it-in-your-face -way. I also love that it's read by the author himself, as the author knows best what was intended with the words and therefore knows best what to emphasise.

I love the protagonist and the world, which feels strangely Fallout-ish at times, despite the lack of ghouls.

I'm about halfway through with the story and sincerely hope it stays as enjoyable as it has been so far! I'm already thinking I'll have to get a physical copy in my hands and do a read at some point in the future.

(Bad Books Autumn officially beaten)

#bookstodon #AdrianTchaikovsky #ServiceModel

Time to post my opinions about the novels that were finalists for the Hugos this year!

In SERVICE MODEL, by Adrian Tchaikovsky, the valet robot Uncharles is responsible for laying out his owner's clothes every morning and helping with his morning ablutions... until one day when Uncharles cuts his owner's throat while shaving him. Uncharles doesn't remember the actual event, or why they did it.

The death brings a detective robot to the house, and after their ineffectual investigation is completed, Uncharles goes out to explore the world. It becomes clear that the system is crumbling: the detective talks for the sake of humans, even if there are no humans present; requests are put into queues that are not being processed; actions are repeated endlessly. I started to wonder, are there any humans left alive at all?

This book was hilarious, in a sardonic and cynical way. The humans built a system of convenience and automation that's smart, but not smart enough to be resilient or to understand its own mistakes. It's a perfect book for the AI-obsessed moment.

Not read by me: ALIEN CLAY, also by Adrian Tchaikovsky.

(1/5)

#TheHugoAwards #books #bookstodon #AdrianTchaikovsky #ServiceModel

Norwescon’s official year-round book club, Norwescon’s Bibliophiles, focuses on science fiction and fantasy books selected throughout the year by the participants. Feel free to join us for some Norwescon camaraderie and connection all year long. Once they’re announced in January, we’ll read a selection of the Philip K Dick nominees. In late spring we often read some of the Hugo nominees. The club has a Facebook page and monthly meetings. Most of the meetings are virtual, but there is an in-person meeting during Norwescon as well as two or three additional in-person meetings throughout the year.

Upcoming book discussions include:

• October 21: Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes. A sci-fi horror novel just in time for Halloween.
• November 18: Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Mad Max if Max were C3PO!
• December 16: The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson. A new take on A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court? We’ll find out.

Join us on Facebook!

Note: Norwescon’s official book club has new leadership. Last month, in an elegant ceremony, Kevin Black passed the official book club scepter to Jon Lavinder and Crystal Lloyd, trusting them to coordinate Norwescon’s official year-round book club, Norwescon’s Bibliophiles.

https://www.norwescon.org/2024/09/19/norwescons-bibliophiles-update/

#AdrianTchaikovsky #BookClub #BrandonSanderson #DeadSilence #NorwesconsBibliophiles #SABarnes #ServiceModel #TheFrugalWizardsGuideForSurvivingMedievalEngland

Norwescon’s Bibliophiles Update: Norwescon’s official year-round book club, Norwescon’s Bibliophiles, focuses on science fiction and fantasy books selected throughout the year by the participants. Feel free to join us for some Norwescon camaraderie and connection al… (#AdrianTchaikovsky #BookClub #BrandonSanderson #DeadSilence #NorwesconsBibliophiles #SABarnes #ServiceModel #TheFrugalWizardsGuideForSurvivingMedievalEngland)

Full post: https://www.norwescon.org/2024/09/19/norwescons-bibliophiles-update/

'Filth Wagon'

Really enjoying #ServiceModel by @aptshadow

If you want a book set in a societal collapse where one plucky robot valet seeks new employment, and ends up finding & confronting god, then don't miss it.

For extra enjoyment the Author has recorded the Audiobook and he does the voices very well.

It's been a great listen while I do all the household chore I wish I had a robot for...

https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/adrian-tchaikovsky/service-model/9781035045662

#amreading

« To them the world was a good and ordered place because they’d done quite well out of it.
…
They were part of the problem, even though they never actively did bad things to people. They just benefited from all the bad things that had been done.” »
#ServiceModel
Adrian Tchaikovsky @aptshadow

Read it, before you enthusiastically embrace trying out one more AI toy owned by a billionaire or, even worse, owned by your privileged person’s retirement portfolio, over which you claim no control.