5 GOLD stars
On Amazon (universal link)
On Goodreads
How I discovered this book: one of my favourite authors, so I look out for his new releases.
In a Nutshell: Character-orientated scifi. Robots. The future of mankind.
Blurb:
Centuries after the revolution, the remnants of humanity survive on agricultural communes where they are subjected to mandatory lobotomies before reaching adulthood.
The centuries-old, malfunctioning robots that control them have turned the lobotomy into a coming-of-age ceremony. Most children look forward to it, but not Jim. He dreads the impending surgery and contrives a plan to evade it.
Japeth, a nomadic surgical robot tasked with performing the lobotomies, admires Jim's rebellious spirit and decides to spare him. He promises to return, and makes a bold claim - he was once a man of flesh and blood.
Jim maintains the charade of being lobotomized as he awaits Japeth's promised return, but after years without rescue, he resolves to flee the commune. His quest takes him across a barren, post-apocalyptic landscape in a desperate search for the elusive Japeth.
The centuries-old, malfunctioning robots that control them have turned the lobotomy into a coming-of-age ceremony. Most children look forward to it, but not Jim. He dreads the impending surgery and contrives a plan to evade it.
Japeth, a nomadic surgical robot tasked with performing the lobotomies, admires Jim's rebellious spirit and decides to spare him. He promises to return, and makes a bold claim - he was once a man of flesh and blood.
Jim maintains the charade of being lobotomized as he awaits Japeth's promised return, but after years without rescue, he resolves to flee the commune. His quest takes him across a barren, post-apocalyptic landscape in a desperate search for the elusive Japeth.
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I was just talking to someone on Twitter about how hard it is to review books by this writer. This was how the conversation went:
T: I LOVED it. Just reviewed but couldn't do it justice. The prob with reviewing ZH's books is that you can't explain what they're like; I end up writing a barely sufficient review then saying 'it's brilliant, you have to read this' and that's kind of it.
T: I LOVED it. Just reviewed but couldn't do it justice. The prob with reviewing ZH's books is that you can't explain what they're like; I end up writing a barely sufficient review then saying 'it's brilliant, you have to read this' and that's kind of it.
C: That sums it up. Nobody else I've read does this combination of imaginative originality, characterisation, absurdity and just all round competence like that guy
Here it is, anyway!
There are probably as many different fictional versions of the future of our world as there are people who want to read and/or write them, but Mr Haradon's take on the subject is, as one would expect, a lot more imaginative and entertaining than most I've read.
The first part of the book is about Jim, at ages 6, 11 and 16, as he navigates life in the commune. I was completely engrossed from page one, but it was the second part, in the POV of Japeth, that made the book really take off for me, as he tells the story of how human became android became robot, and how the world collapsed. It's BRILLIANT. So good I wanted to read it again as soon as I'd finished it, even though I suspect I am light years away from the author when it comes to views on political and societal progression. Didn't matter. Always good to broaden one's outlook! 😉😆
The last part (back to Jim) is sad, touching, heartbreaking ... but not without a glimmer of light. I'm still thinking about this excellent novel, and will need a day before I can start anything else. This guy can write the arse off most authors - I was going to say 'in his genre' but he doesn't really have one. Highly, highly recommended.
I have this one on my list as well, Terry, and I can't wait to get to it. Having read some of his previous books, I know you're right.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's good to hear, Olga!!! I know you're going to love it :) x
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