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Menagerie
“The tricky part isn’t making you see things; it’s making you believe what you see.”
Menagerie is the newest pet craze from the Acme Corporation. The robotic animals genetically bind to their owners. Only three easy steps to link:
1) Put a drop of fluid (saliva or blood) in its mouth
2) Wait for 24 hours
3) Tell your dreams and fears to your forever friend
By the way, genetic binding is an imperfect science.
Timothy Hollow believes the measure of a man is how much he gains. He is a successful analyst, climbing Corinth’s societal ladder. In Corinth, the societal ladder also means living in the upper levels of the colossal buildings that stretch hundreds of floors upward. The higher the better.
However, his universe is turned upside down when his mother brings him an unexpected gift, a Menagerie.
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Longer than a short story, shorter than a novella. This novelette is 14,600 words, give or take a character or two. If you read, please post a review.
Menagerie is the newest pet craze from the Acme Corporation. The robotic animals genetically bind to their owners. Only three easy steps to link:
1) Put a drop of fluid (saliva or blood) in its mouth
2) Wait for 24 hours
3) Tell your dreams and fears to your forever friend
By the way, genetic binding is an imperfect science.
Timothy Hollow believes the measure of a man is how much he gains. He is a successful analyst, climbing Corinth’s societal ladder. In Corinth, the societal ladder also means living in the upper levels of the colossal buildings that stretch hundreds of floors upward. The higher the better.
However, his universe is turned upside down when his mother brings him an unexpected gift, a Menagerie.
-----
Longer than a short story, shorter than a novella. This novelette is 14,600 words, give or take a character or two. If you read, please post a review.
64 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 24, 2014
The concept of this science fiction novella was very interesting - a pet (any animal you choose) that becomes linked to you through a drop of your blood or saliva. It helps you overcome your fears and inhibitions... but what else will it do? The ending was ok, mostly because I didn't really get it - was it supposed to be funny, scary, or just weird? A quick, interesting read.
May 11, 2014
Futuristic Familiars
This stellar novelette takes a concept found more often in fantasy and transcends it into the science fiction genre. It's a clever idea that a creature (based on the witch's familiar) could be upgraded to a future toy (or something more nefarious) craze. Along with a city that suffers from its heightened class structures, overpopulation, pollution, and the destruction of the real natural world replaced with these synthetics. Though it does leave off at the end, making me wonder about the protagonist's predicament. I would love to read more on this world, its characters, and the menagerie effects.
This stellar novelette takes a concept found more often in fantasy and transcends it into the science fiction genre. It's a clever idea that a creature (based on the witch's familiar) could be upgraded to a future toy (or something more nefarious) craze. Along with a city that suffers from its heightened class structures, overpopulation, pollution, and the destruction of the real natural world replaced with these synthetics. Though it does leave off at the end, making me wonder about the protagonist's predicament. I would love to read more on this world, its characters, and the menagerie effects.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2013
This unusual novelette sucked me in immediately, with a great main character and an interesting premise. There was a very cinematic quality to the writing, and I felt like I was inside the story. I loved the underlying sinister feeling which ran throughout. I could've easily read on, which isn't a criticism, as it's a good thing to be left wanting more. But . . . could you please write some more, A.K. Meek?
October 14, 2023
Has potential but never gets anywhere
I downloaded this book years ago and only just got around to reading it, so I don't remember if I paid for it. Probably it was free but I'm just guessing there. On the whole I'm not terrible impressed - but not upset about it either. It only took a couple hours to read, which is okay I guess. But the story just never gets moving.
Some far future dystopia where all animals are extinct, so a new invention introduces artificial pets and it becomes all the rage. The twist is that they have to "link" to their owners by some unexplained process that seems more magic than science. You give it your DNA, and it somehow uses that to create a psychic bond between you that can never be broken
Anyway .. halfway through we start getting all this foreshadowing that maybe there's something ominous about these *menagerie" pets - but then it never really explains what the problem is and it all goes nowhere and then the book suddenly ends for no reason.
Unsatisfying.
But almost readable. The premise is flawed but interesting and somewhat thought provoking. So I'll give it at least a little credit for that.
I downloaded this book years ago and only just got around to reading it, so I don't remember if I paid for it. Probably it was free but I'm just guessing there. On the whole I'm not terrible impressed - but not upset about it either. It only took a couple hours to read, which is okay I guess. But the story just never gets moving.
Some far future dystopia where all animals are extinct, so a new invention introduces artificial pets and it becomes all the rage. The twist is that they have to "link" to their owners by some unexplained process that seems more magic than science. You give it your DNA, and it somehow uses that to create a psychic bond between you that can never be broken
Anyway .. halfway through we start getting all this foreshadowing that maybe there's something ominous about these *menagerie" pets - but then it never really explains what the problem is and it all goes nowhere and then the book suddenly ends for no reason.
Unsatisfying.
But almost readable. The premise is flawed but interesting and somewhat thought provoking. So I'll give it at least a little credit for that.
January 6, 2022
Was really interesting with the world building but it ends so abruptly it doesn't answer any questions.
August 10, 2014
This story starts long after the wars have ended, in the city of Corinth. It is preferred to live in the Towers, as opposed to the surface, and everyone is getting the newly released Acme toy, Menagerie.
A great start to this series. I truly enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading “Acme's Brazen Cow”. I’ll be wearing my best hat.
A great start to this series. I truly enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading “Acme's Brazen Cow”. I’ll be wearing my best hat.
February 24, 2016
Well written, interesting concept. Characters were not very likable, but that was consistent with the story and setting. I really like A. K. Meeks books, and he seems to be a really nice guy! I have enjoyed several of his books and recommend them to anyone looking for something completely different.
May 10, 2014
Interesting concept fuels this speculative fiction (sci fi) short story.
December 7, 2015
Liked it!
I really liked this short story and would have loved to read a whole book based on this story !!!
I really liked this short story and would have loved to read a whole book based on this story !!!
January 12, 2017
Felt that the plot was not very strong, and just when it was going somewhere the book ended....
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews