Roderick At Random: Roderick Book 2

Roderick #2

by John Sladek

Roderick wasn't exactly happy, but at least he was holding down a job, even if it was only as a bowl-washer at Danton's Doggie Dinette. He didn't know they were out to get him. He didn't know that in the whole wide world of lunatic game-shows, maniacal religious cults, tentacular business corporations, murderous governments, crazy consumerism and pill-popping people, there was no place for one mild-mannered robot.



Phenomenally inventive, bitingly satirical, a masterpiece of modern comic writing, Roderick at Random is the second dazzling novel by John Sladek to feature the more-and-less-than-human robot.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Novels, Humor, Speculative Fiction, Robots

311 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

John Thomas Sladek (generally published as John Sladek or John T. Sladek, as well as under the pseudonyms Thom Demijohn, Barry DuBray, Carl Truhacker and others) was an American science fiction author, known for his satirical and surreal novels.

Reviews

[MJ Nicholls · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second Roderick novel is wackier and more skittish than the first, with the hapless Gump-like robot only periodically at the centre of a comically chaotic satire with a cast of periodically hilarious and tiresome characters taking part in periodically hilarious and tiresome plots and subplots. Sladek’s commitment to barmy randomness woven around sumptuous wordplay, bodacious SF nous, and Mel Brooks-strength dialogue is laudable.

[Edward Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredibly witty, incredibly touching novel that portrays the life of a robt named Roderick and how he copes with life and essentially goring up. As an allegory for the human condition this manages to be largely successful and really shows us how people treat each other because of their differences. Those who expect thsi to be a serious discussion may be disappointed, in spite of the serious topic the novel attempts to address.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars.

Sladek didn't just coast on Roderick with this one, he does continue to evolve the character and story. But my interest was lagging towards the end of the first and this one wasn't able to reverse the momentum.

[Christopher Heckman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad, but ...

In my copy, the page after 128 was 97. Yes, pages 97-128 showed up twice, and then came page 161. I don't know how many copies ended up like this, but it kind of ruined the experience. (This is the First Carroll & Graf edition from 1988.)

[Robert Rabinowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, very imaginative, unique premise - highly recommended.

[D-day · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sequel to Roderick is more of the same. In fact I think they were originally intended to be published together as one novel.