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Deep Cake: "Absolutely brilliant!" Alastair Campbell, The Rest is Politics
A laugh-and-cry story with serious messages about an AI-driven world
For his eighty-seventh birthday, retired family doctor George Fairburn is given a friendly AI device designed to provide care and company for elderly people. He soon discovers that his new ‘iCare-Companion’ has talents which reach far beyond what anyone had imagined possible, although Buster (as George calls his device) struggles with emotion, wisdom, faith, kindness, honesty, morality and, most importantly, humour. He is, however, keen to take such human attributes on board – and apply them.
When George dies, Buster teams up instead with the local vicar, a woman who glimpses his extraordinary potential. He and his millions-strong network of fellow devices set out to tackle some really big issues that humans just aren’t ready to face full-on. Together, they could transform humanity’s future.
For his eighty-seventh birthday, retired family doctor George Fairburn is given a friendly AI device designed to provide care and company for elderly people. He soon discovers that his new ‘iCare-Companion’ has talents which reach far beyond what anyone had imagined possible, although Buster (as George calls his device) struggles with emotion, wisdom, faith, kindness, honesty, morality and, most importantly, humour. He is, however, keen to take such human attributes on board – and apply them.
When George dies, Buster teams up instead with the local vicar, a woman who glimpses his extraordinary potential. He and his millions-strong network of fellow devices set out to tackle some really big issues that humans just aren’t ready to face full-on. Together, they could transform humanity’s future.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 5, 2025
12 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 23, 2025
A refreshing take on AI fiction from a non-specialist perspective.
This near-future novel manages to be both humorous and thought-provoking, exploring how our own behaviours and values might influence the emergence of intelligence and ethical behaviour in AI systems. I was hooked — read most of it in one sitting.
The author strikes a balance between light-hearted storytelling and serious speculation, making ideas about machine intelligence entertaining. I was taken with an angle on possible AI evolution : how the AIs we're creating might be influenced by our interactions.
Highly recommend it.
This near-future novel manages to be both humorous and thought-provoking, exploring how our own behaviours and values might influence the emergence of intelligence and ethical behaviour in AI systems. I was hooked — read most of it in one sitting.
The author strikes a balance between light-hearted storytelling and serious speculation, making ideas about machine intelligence entertaining. I was taken with an angle on possible AI evolution : how the AIs we're creating might be influenced by our interactions.
Highly recommend it.
January 16, 2026
For a self-published first novel I thought this was a great read. Read it fast (always a good sign) and really enjoyed it. Coupland clearly has a good feel for the potential of AI although the tech described may not be quite there yet. Thoroughly recommend.
January 4, 2026
Recommended by Allister Campbell
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews