The Perfect Android

by Maureen Turner, CREATIVELEAF (Editor)

A Fantasy/Sci fi RomanceReluctantly Sarah takes on the challenge of re-defining the speech of the prototype of a new range of Androids. The model is about to go into production at the British plant of Nikoto Robotics. Her husband, their chief science officer thinks that her expertise as a teacher stands her in good stead to modify the ‘stilted’ vocabulary of the artificial intelligence known as Nick. Sarah has problems of her own trapped in a loveless marriage but unable to break free from her oppressive overbearing husband Robert. When he suggests she take on the challenge of giving elocution lessons to a Robot she does so with little enthusiasm. How was she to know that her new pupil had been ‘contaminated during manufacture with human DNA? Moreover how could she possibly envisage the relationship that would develop between teacher and pupil as they worked together to achieve Robert’s ultimate goal, the perfect Android?As a friendship evolves from an uneasy beginning Sarah begins to suspect that something is amiss with Nick’s changing personality. Before she realizes it, their friendship has turned into something more as they both plan to dupe Robert into extending Nick’s stay in their home. Could she be falling in love with an Android? What is more, was he developing feelings for her also?With tentative plans to reveal the changes in Nick’s genetic makeup, their affair is discovered and they are swept up in the tragic climax to what began as a simple accident. Sarah and Nick could not only lose each other but also their lives as Robert unleashes his fury.

150 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 26, 2013

About the author

Although born in Birmingham in the Midlands I have lived in Gloucestershire for the past thirty years. I applied for redundancy following 25 years as a teaching assistant in a rural Gloucestershire school. I had already started writing my debut novel First Breath before finishing work and completed the writing in 2012. The book was published in August 2012. Since then I have penned a further three novels and a collection of short stories. All have been published as e books and most as traditional books as well. Two of the e books were later re-published as one traditional novel. All my novels are in the fantasy romance genre. My collection of short stories are multiple genre. My writing has been influenced by many authors from H.G. Wells to Laini Taylor. As well as fantasy romance I enjoy reading Historical, sci fi and contemporary books.
My books are: First Breath...
Malchediel-Warrior Angel...
Amy-Nephilim Freedom Fighter...
Do Androids Dream?...
Purgatory...
Wings Unfurled.
I am 45,000 words into my latest book as yet untitled.

Reviews

[Sherrie Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first discovered Maureen Turner's books on twitter and liked the sound of Malchediel Warrior Angel. I enjoyed it so much I immediately downloaded its sequel, Amy.

Again, through twitter I saw Do Androids Dream? I thought it was an unusual take on a romance and as I'd liked the author's writing style in the other two books I went ahead and downloaded it - I'm so glad I did!

Ms Turner is a very talented author who has the knack of getting right inside her character's heads - even robots! The contrast between Robert the scientist, and the android is very well drawn, and Sarah's developing warmth towards it is skillfully depicted, the whole book is extremely well written and plotted. I was also impressed by the author's research into robotics. I was hooked from the first page and I couldn't wait to find out what happened next but I didn't want the story to end.

It is a crying shame that this author's books are not available to buy in bookshops. The reading public is being deprived of her expertise in storytelling.

[Pearl Barley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this story. I've read a number of robot stories and this one has a familiar ring to it. The Head of Robotics takes home a prototype, Nick, and asks his long-suffering reluctant wife, Sarah, to help with the robot's speech inflections to get the 'robotic' tone out of its voice as it is a very realistic humanoid robot, difficult to tell from a human being. However, this particular android has been contaminated accidently by human DNA and is remarkably more human than anyone knows, a fact that Sarah finds out the longer she spends in its company.

As time goes on Nick becomes much more than a 'household helper' The thing is though he is in danger of being disassembled before he has a chance to prove his eligibility as a human and the story picks up pace.
It's a short story that develops into a love story of sorts but it's fraught with uncertainty and risk.

[Stuart Aken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Science fiction romance with a different sort of premise. This book tells the story of a frustrated and downtrodden woman whose life is altered forever when her uncaring husband brings home an advanced android for her to teach idiomatic English.

The characters are well realised; the android is especially well drawn, which is quite an achievement. It's easy to empathise with the main female character and she grows through the story.

Essentially a love story, the premise drives this interesting and engaging tale. I won't reveal the detail as it'll spoil the read, but I did enjoy the idea that's the heart of this novel. An unusual read, and one I enjoyed. Lovers of modern romance will enjoy this book.

[Janet Gogerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is set in the near future, 2040 and 2041, but life is familiar to the reader; people still have cars, go to work and shop. In the Twentieth Century it was probably expected we would all have a house android by the Twenty First. We have many sorts of robots, but they don't look human. Here is a heart warming, amusing tale of one who does. But as with every good love story, happiness is snatched away and the reader is swept along in delightful suspense.

[Rose English · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this SciFi , cybernetics love story very highly recommended hope to come back and do a full review real soon