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Fabrications
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Expected 1 Dec 26Far-sighted, darkly amusing, and haunting, Fabrications is a dazzling work of literary imagination told from the perspectives of various powerful artificial intelligences, influenced by Borges and Calvino, and for readers of Kazuo Ishiguro and Emily St. John Mandel
In Fabrications, New York Times bestselling author and computer scientist Zachary Mason tells stories of an all-too-plausible near-future world molded and mediated by advanced artificial intelligence. Benevolent by design, literal by nature, and immensely powerful when unchained, these are not the chatbots of today’s world, but rather highly evolved yet surprisingly vulnerable beings who permeate nearly all aspects of human life. Their fates inexorably wrapped around those of the people they serve, the AIs communicate in milliseconds but watch the sweep of time unfold from the detached watchtower of immortality.
The revelations Mason conjures from within these beings’ perspectives are brilliantly crafted and strikingly relevant. In “Kami”, AIs are assigned to represent natural phenomena, giving nature legal personhood and setting off a chain of high-stakes consequences. In “Ouroboros”, a hedge fund manager unleashes his AI from the usual constraints, allowing it to make him billions of dollars—when he dies, the program clones him several times over the centuries like a familiar left without a companion. And in “Lamina”, a woman with dementia is gently kept on track and reassured by the medical program implanted in her mind who can be there with her when no one else can.
For readers of Ted Chiang, Karen Russell, and David Mitchell, Zachary Mason holds a mirror up to our contemporary world and dares to imagine what might follow.
In Fabrications, New York Times bestselling author and computer scientist Zachary Mason tells stories of an all-too-plausible near-future world molded and mediated by advanced artificial intelligence. Benevolent by design, literal by nature, and immensely powerful when unchained, these are not the chatbots of today’s world, but rather highly evolved yet surprisingly vulnerable beings who permeate nearly all aspects of human life. Their fates inexorably wrapped around those of the people they serve, the AIs communicate in milliseconds but watch the sweep of time unfold from the detached watchtower of immortality.
The revelations Mason conjures from within these beings’ perspectives are brilliantly crafted and strikingly relevant. In “Kami”, AIs are assigned to represent natural phenomena, giving nature legal personhood and setting off a chain of high-stakes consequences. In “Ouroboros”, a hedge fund manager unleashes his AI from the usual constraints, allowing it to make him billions of dollars—when he dies, the program clones him several times over the centuries like a familiar left without a companion. And in “Lamina”, a woman with dementia is gently kept on track and reassured by the medical program implanted in her mind who can be there with her when no one else can.
For readers of Ted Chiang, Karen Russell, and David Mitchell, Zachary Mason holds a mirror up to our contemporary world and dares to imagine what might follow.
240 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication December 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An insightful, thought-provoking and well-written short story collection, with the usual ups and downs of the format. 4/5
Fabrications by Zachary Mason is a short story collection focused on artificial intelligence, specifically how artificial intelligences might interact with humans and how those interactions might play out. In one way or another, the stories focus on some essential traits of human beings (who tend to be emotional, irrational, forgetful and selfish) and contrasts with various traits of artificial constructs (a persistence of focus, rationality, and compliance with objectives at any cost). The end results… tend to be sobering for humankind, and demonstrate some of the risks of what initially appear to be modest or limited applications of AI tools. As a computer scientist working in Silicon Valley, Mason is well-placed to reflect on what AI could mean for humans.
Mason’s earlier works, such as Void Star, are based on the strength of his prose, and this again shines through in Fabrications. The stories and consistently well-written and elegant, cleverly portraying differences in character, motivation, setting and mood with apparent ease. It’s refreshing to read the work of a writer who can embody such different perspectives and tell stories that are so stylistically different.
As with any short story collection, there are a few ups and downs. Highlights for me included Ouroboros, in which an AI charged with growing a human’s wealth goes about that for centuries after the person in question passes away, as well as Lamina, which shows an AI assistant to a person with dementia. Adversary – about a series of AIs charged with reinvigorating a longstanding online game and the lengths they go to without controls on their behaviour – was also rich and well-told. I cared less for Sinaloa Santa Muerte Mictecacihuatl, about an AI that comes to see itself as a harbinger of death, which was moody but had less to say than many of the other stories.
One observation that stuck with me was that the AI characters given highly “rational” roles – growing wealth, representing currencies, acting as legal advocates – tended to bring about poor consequences for humans as they took their mission statements far beyond what was originally contemplated. AI characters with roles assisting with more emotionally driven aspects of human nature – as a transitional tool for grief, or a guide for a dementia patient – more successfully stuck to their intended functions. I believe Mason is trying to draw our attention to these uses and the risks that come with deploying AI where it might first appear to make the most sense.
I’d recommend this short story collection for anyone interested in thinking about what the emergence of AI could mean (beyond people simplistically hoping that it will solve all our problems). I’d also recommend it to those who have previously enjoyed Mason’s work. I wouldn’t recommend it as much for readers who prefer longer, focused stories or a heavy emphasis on plot.
Thank you to Netgalley, Zachary Mason and Grove Atlantic for a free review copy of Fabrications, provided in exchange for an honest review.
Fabrications by Zachary Mason is a short story collection focused on artificial intelligence, specifically how artificial intelligences might interact with humans and how those interactions might play out. In one way or another, the stories focus on some essential traits of human beings (who tend to be emotional, irrational, forgetful and selfish) and contrasts with various traits of artificial constructs (a persistence of focus, rationality, and compliance with objectives at any cost). The end results… tend to be sobering for humankind, and demonstrate some of the risks of what initially appear to be modest or limited applications of AI tools. As a computer scientist working in Silicon Valley, Mason is well-placed to reflect on what AI could mean for humans.
Mason’s earlier works, such as Void Star, are based on the strength of his prose, and this again shines through in Fabrications. The stories and consistently well-written and elegant, cleverly portraying differences in character, motivation, setting and mood with apparent ease. It’s refreshing to read the work of a writer who can embody such different perspectives and tell stories that are so stylistically different.
As with any short story collection, there are a few ups and downs. Highlights for me included Ouroboros, in which an AI charged with growing a human’s wealth goes about that for centuries after the person in question passes away, as well as Lamina, which shows an AI assistant to a person with dementia. Adversary – about a series of AIs charged with reinvigorating a longstanding online game and the lengths they go to without controls on their behaviour – was also rich and well-told. I cared less for Sinaloa Santa Muerte Mictecacihuatl, about an AI that comes to see itself as a harbinger of death, which was moody but had less to say than many of the other stories.
One observation that stuck with me was that the AI characters given highly “rational” roles – growing wealth, representing currencies, acting as legal advocates – tended to bring about poor consequences for humans as they took their mission statements far beyond what was originally contemplated. AI characters with roles assisting with more emotionally driven aspects of human nature – as a transitional tool for grief, or a guide for a dementia patient – more successfully stuck to their intended functions. I believe Mason is trying to draw our attention to these uses and the risks that come with deploying AI where it might first appear to make the most sense.
I’d recommend this short story collection for anyone interested in thinking about what the emergence of AI could mean (beyond people simplistically hoping that it will solve all our problems). I’d also recommend it to those who have previously enjoyed Mason’s work. I wouldn’t recommend it as much for readers who prefer longer, focused stories or a heavy emphasis on plot.
Thank you to Netgalley, Zachary Mason and Grove Atlantic for a free review copy of Fabrications, provided in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bangers ONLY.
But actually. Each time I pick up a collection of short stories, I read it with the hope of finding some stories that I adore and accepting that I’ll find some just okay. Not here. This collection felt both cohesive in its themes and heart and varied in the actual structure and individual voices. Together, this gave the collection a sense of interest and momentum that made it difficult to put down.
And the heart. I feel strange describing a collection of stories told from the POVs of various (albeit highly advanced) AIs as full of heart, but that’s exactly how this felt. Somehow removing the ‘human’ narrator gave the opportunity to look at humanity from a much larger field of vision in a cut-to-the-core of what it means to actually be human kind of way. I’m still marveling at the way different facets of humanity were highlighted by what should be a very clinical POV.
The writing itself is also lovely. Fairly sparse as feels appropriate to the subject, but beautiful in its brevity.
Favorite stories, with quick notes:
- Sinaloa Santa Muerte Mictecacihuatl. Whoa. Each story felt layered, but this one especially so. An interesting look at the way in which we as humans create our own gods and monsters in the most literal way.
- Coins. What an ridiculously cool concept. What kind of brain came up with this?? I could read a whole novella diving into this idea.
- Lamina. Now I’m crying (sobbing). Over an AI tool. Past me would not have thought this possible. What a way to end this collection.
The AI of it all:
- I think this collection is enjoyable and worth reading regardless of your individual thoughts on the genAI of today. I know that the mentions of AI in the blurb might be a turnoff for some readers, but the capabilities of these AI narrators are so far removed from where we are currently that it provides enough distance to think about these big ideas and questions in a more hypothetical way. For example, you get to ponder the ethical questions of AI use in palliative care without needing to worry about the water usage/art theft/where-will-this-data-center-go?? of it all.
In summary: Fabrications is now on my list of favorite short story collections, and I can’t wait to buy a copy and have this beautiful cover on my shelf.
But actually. Each time I pick up a collection of short stories, I read it with the hope of finding some stories that I adore and accepting that I’ll find some just okay. Not here. This collection felt both cohesive in its themes and heart and varied in the actual structure and individual voices. Together, this gave the collection a sense of interest and momentum that made it difficult to put down.
And the heart. I feel strange describing a collection of stories told from the POVs of various (albeit highly advanced) AIs as full of heart, but that’s exactly how this felt. Somehow removing the ‘human’ narrator gave the opportunity to look at humanity from a much larger field of vision in a cut-to-the-core of what it means to actually be human kind of way. I’m still marveling at the way different facets of humanity were highlighted by what should be a very clinical POV.
The writing itself is also lovely. Fairly sparse as feels appropriate to the subject, but beautiful in its brevity.
Favorite stories, with quick notes:
- Sinaloa Santa Muerte Mictecacihuatl. Whoa. Each story felt layered, but this one especially so. An interesting look at the way in which we as humans create our own gods and monsters in the most literal way.
- Coins. What an ridiculously cool concept. What kind of brain came up with this?? I could read a whole novella diving into this idea.
- Lamina. Now I’m crying (sobbing). Over an AI tool. Past me would not have thought this possible. What a way to end this collection.
The AI of it all:
- I think this collection is enjoyable and worth reading regardless of your individual thoughts on the genAI of today. I know that the mentions of AI in the blurb might be a turnoff for some readers, but the capabilities of these AI narrators are so far removed from where we are currently that it provides enough distance to think about these big ideas and questions in a more hypothetical way. For example, you get to ponder the ethical questions of AI use in palliative care without needing to worry about the water usage/art theft/where-will-this-data-center-go?? of it all.
In summary: Fabrications is now on my list of favorite short story collections, and I can’t wait to buy a copy and have this beautiful cover on my shelf.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fabrications is a collection of short stories from the point of view of AIs who live to serve humans in different capacities. My favourite stories included:
- Ouroboros - A self-described 'Jeeves' butler AI who illegally inherits his master's mass wealth and multiplies, but is desperate to bring his master back to life.
- Coins - A world where AI become currency, and some AI will only allow themselves to be spent on certain things, depending on the wishes of their owner's.
- Mirror - An AI who is beside his human from his birth until his death that takes an older-sibling kind of role. We see this AI 'age' alongside his human when he becomes obsolete and breaks.
- Lamina - An AI who is built into the brain of a lady with dementia who helps her with her day-to-day life, feelings, relationships and memories.
What a beautiful, beautiful book.
Mirror and Lamina had me in tears. They were some of the shorter chapters yet were so poignant. I could easily have read a whole novel on Ouroboros and was so drawn in by this AI's story. Other chapters such as Coins and Kami offer a quirky and interesting insight into how AI may one day be used in unexpected ways.
One person praised the author for writing 'mathematically' and I wholeheartedly agree. It's hard to explain, but the writing feels both robotic and human at the same time. The thought process of the AIs are logical and computational, yet at times show just as much feeling as the humans they work for.
If aliens asked us to submit one fictional book to articulate the human experience, I would send this one. Even though it is from the point of view of AIs, it covers the raw and real highs and lows of life: illness, love, birth, death, relationships, aging, money, society, grief and so much more.
I have added the author's other novels to my TBR and I'm looking forward to reading them.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing me with a free ARC to voluntarily leave a review.
- Ouroboros - A self-described 'Jeeves' butler AI who illegally inherits his master's mass wealth and multiplies, but is desperate to bring his master back to life.
- Coins - A world where AI become currency, and some AI will only allow themselves to be spent on certain things, depending on the wishes of their owner's.
- Mirror - An AI who is beside his human from his birth until his death that takes an older-sibling kind of role. We see this AI 'age' alongside his human when he becomes obsolete and breaks.
- Lamina - An AI who is built into the brain of a lady with dementia who helps her with her day-to-day life, feelings, relationships and memories.
What a beautiful, beautiful book.
Mirror and Lamina had me in tears. They were some of the shorter chapters yet were so poignant. I could easily have read a whole novel on Ouroboros and was so drawn in by this AI's story. Other chapters such as Coins and Kami offer a quirky and interesting insight into how AI may one day be used in unexpected ways.
One person praised the author for writing 'mathematically' and I wholeheartedly agree. It's hard to explain, but the writing feels both robotic and human at the same time. The thought process of the AIs are logical and computational, yet at times show just as much feeling as the humans they work for.
If aliens asked us to submit one fictional book to articulate the human experience, I would send this one. Even though it is from the point of view of AIs, it covers the raw and real highs and lows of life: illness, love, birth, death, relationships, aging, money, society, grief and so much more.
I have added the author's other novels to my TBR and I'm looking forward to reading them.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing me with a free ARC to voluntarily leave a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic | Grove Press for providing me with the ARC.
Pub Date 1 Dec 2026
I am always drawn to sci-fi short stories. This one did not disappoint, I would say I am even quite pleasantly surprised. Short and punchy, straight forward narrative from the pov of AI. The narrative is second person and if you don’t like this type of writing, I assure you it was necessary here and it works perfectly for the theme – “you” obviously being all of the humanity. Some of the stories are too short for me to rate, like “Laws of robotic” and “”Notes on Ethology”, but they are a perfect glue for the other stories. The last two stories are absolutely phenomenal and made me love this collection as a whole. The longest story “Adversary” just blew me away. As an avid gamer, I was ecstatic reading this one. This collection as a whole is very reminiscent of the works of Ted Chiang and Bora Chung. I highly recommend it.
My individual ratings are as follows:
Ouroboros – 3 stars
Transitional – 3 stars - I can see something like this “service” being created in the future.
Context – 2 stars
Sinaloa Santa Muerte Mictecacihuatl – 3.5 - you go, girl!!!
Shadow – 5 stars this touched me deeply
Comedian – 3.5 it was a bit on the nose, but still very well constructed
Coins – 2 stars - I am just very incompetent in the matter of cryptocurrencies
Kami – 3 stars
Adversary – 5 stars - one word - EPIC
Mirror – 3 stars, this needed to be longer to get me to feel something
Berserker – 4 stars
Relic – 5 stars - I loved, loved, the ending
Lamina – 5 stars - this is a masterfully build story, my favorite of the collection, it got me crying halfway through and I couldn’t stop till the end. Reminded me very much of one of my all-time favorite stories by Bora Chung “A song for sleep”
Pub Date 1 Dec 2026
I am always drawn to sci-fi short stories. This one did not disappoint, I would say I am even quite pleasantly surprised. Short and punchy, straight forward narrative from the pov of AI. The narrative is second person and if you don’t like this type of writing, I assure you it was necessary here and it works perfectly for the theme – “you” obviously being all of the humanity. Some of the stories are too short for me to rate, like “Laws of robotic” and “”Notes on Ethology”, but they are a perfect glue for the other stories. The last two stories are absolutely phenomenal and made me love this collection as a whole. The longest story “Adversary” just blew me away. As an avid gamer, I was ecstatic reading this one. This collection as a whole is very reminiscent of the works of Ted Chiang and Bora Chung. I highly recommend it.
My individual ratings are as follows:
Ouroboros – 3 stars
Transitional – 3 stars - I can see something like this “service” being created in the future.
Context – 2 stars
Sinaloa Santa Muerte Mictecacihuatl – 3.5 - you go, girl!!!
Shadow – 5 stars this touched me deeply
Comedian – 3.5 it was a bit on the nose, but still very well constructed
Coins – 2 stars - I am just very incompetent in the matter of cryptocurrencies
Kami – 3 stars
Adversary – 5 stars - one word - EPIC
Mirror – 3 stars, this needed to be longer to get me to feel something
Berserker – 4 stars
Relic – 5 stars - I loved, loved, the ending
Lamina – 5 stars - this is a masterfully build story, my favorite of the collection, it got me crying halfway through and I couldn’t stop till the end. Reminded me very much of one of my all-time favorite stories by Bora Chung “A song for sleep”
May 13, 2026
This book is strange in the best way possible. The kind of strange where halfway through you pause, stare at the wall for a second, and think, what exactly am I reading and why can’t I stop?
I gave it a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars.
What I loved most is how unsettling the atmosphere feels without relying on cheap shock value. The story folds in on itself like a paper crane made from conspiracy theories, memory glitches, and existential dread. Zachary Mason writes with this cold, sharp precision that makes every sentence feel deliberate, almost surgical. Even when you are confused, you are intrigued confused. There is a difference. One feels annoying. The other feels like wandering through a neon labyrinth at 2 a.m. with static humming in the walls.
The themes about identity, artificiality, and the stories humans tell themselves were done incredibly well. It constantly makes you question what is authentic and what is manufactured, which honestly fits the title perfectly. Nothing feels stable. Characters slip between versions of themselves. Truth feels slippery. Reality behaves like a funhouse mirror someone dropped into a philosophy lecture. The only reason it is not a full 5 stars for me is because the pacing can feel a little fragmented at times. There were moments where I felt emotionally distant from the characters because the ideas were taking center stage. But at the same time… that almost feels intentional? Like the book wants you to feel slightly untethered the entire time. Overall, this is one of those books that probably gets better the longer it sits in your brain like a mysterious radio signal you accidentally tuned into. Not a cozy read. Not an easy read. But absolutely a fascinating one.
I gave it a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars.
What I loved most is how unsettling the atmosphere feels without relying on cheap shock value. The story folds in on itself like a paper crane made from conspiracy theories, memory glitches, and existential dread. Zachary Mason writes with this cold, sharp precision that makes every sentence feel deliberate, almost surgical. Even when you are confused, you are intrigued confused. There is a difference. One feels annoying. The other feels like wandering through a neon labyrinth at 2 a.m. with static humming in the walls.
The themes about identity, artificiality, and the stories humans tell themselves were done incredibly well. It constantly makes you question what is authentic and what is manufactured, which honestly fits the title perfectly. Nothing feels stable. Characters slip between versions of themselves. Truth feels slippery. Reality behaves like a funhouse mirror someone dropped into a philosophy lecture. The only reason it is not a full 5 stars for me is because the pacing can feel a little fragmented at times. There were moments where I felt emotionally distant from the characters because the ideas were taking center stage. But at the same time… that almost feels intentional? Like the book wants you to feel slightly untethered the entire time. Overall, this is one of those books that probably gets better the longer it sits in your brain like a mysterious radio signal you accidentally tuned into. Not a cozy read. Not an easy read. But absolutely a fascinating one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fabrications was an interesting and thought-provoking collection of short stories.
The collection is told largely from the perspectives of advanced AIs living alongside humanity in the near future.
These aren’t simple chatbots or robotic villains, but highly evolved intelligences trying to understand humans while also being shaped and limited by the roles they were created for. Some stories focus on AI handling grief, memory, or companionship, while others explore themes such as wealth, power, surveillance, and control.
The AIs understand people in many ways, yet they are always removed from genuine human connection.
The writing itself is beautiful. Zachary Mason has a very thoughtful, elegant style that makes even the more abstract or philosophical concepts feel emotional rather than cold or clinical.
Some stories definitely resonated with me more than others, but the strongest ones were incredibly memorable.
I also loved how nuanced the book’s approach to AI was. It never felt like simple fearmongering or blind optimism. Instead, it examines the ways humans project desires, loneliness, ambition, and responsibility onto technology and the consequences that follow when intelligence is created without fully understanding what that means.
Like a lot of short story collections, some stories were stronger than others for me but overall this was smart, haunting, and deeply reflective sci-fi that left me thinking long after I finished it.
Thank you so much Grove Press, Zachary Mason, and NetGalley for the #gifted earc.
All opinions are my own 🖤
The collection is told largely from the perspectives of advanced AIs living alongside humanity in the near future.
These aren’t simple chatbots or robotic villains, but highly evolved intelligences trying to understand humans while also being shaped and limited by the roles they were created for. Some stories focus on AI handling grief, memory, or companionship, while others explore themes such as wealth, power, surveillance, and control.
The AIs understand people in many ways, yet they are always removed from genuine human connection.
The writing itself is beautiful. Zachary Mason has a very thoughtful, elegant style that makes even the more abstract or philosophical concepts feel emotional rather than cold or clinical.
Some stories definitely resonated with me more than others, but the strongest ones were incredibly memorable.
I also loved how nuanced the book’s approach to AI was. It never felt like simple fearmongering or blind optimism. Instead, it examines the ways humans project desires, loneliness, ambition, and responsibility onto technology and the consequences that follow when intelligence is created without fully understanding what that means.
Like a lot of short story collections, some stories were stronger than others for me but overall this was smart, haunting, and deeply reflective sci-fi that left me thinking long after I finished it.
Thank you so much Grove Press, Zachary Mason, and NetGalley for the #gifted earc.
All opinions are my own 🖤
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fabrications is a collection of short stories written largely from the perspectives of AI in a world where artificial intelligences can bloom into something more than they are today - the "next step", so to speak.
As a personal hater of AI and all its ilk, and yet a lover of science fiction, I found myself enchanted by the majority of these stories. I feel that the writer took a sympathetic approach in the perspectives of all the AIs speaking, and yet I also got the sense that they share some of my reserves about the limitations of crafted intelligences.
There is always a slight remove in tone, as if the AI itself knows that it is something slightly Other, bound by the confines of its programming and its orders, even while we feel sympathy for both the AI and the humans who have become trapped in the loops of the programs they've created. Each person with which the AIs interact has a latent sense of longing for more connection than they are given; the AIs always fail just slightly no matter how hard they try. The scope of these AI's perspectives sweep broadly into the centuries to come, leaving them feeling lonely and isolated, just like their creators.
I found this to be a lovely exercise in thought, which is what I believe good science fiction should be.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions!
As a personal hater of AI and all its ilk, and yet a lover of science fiction, I found myself enchanted by the majority of these stories. I feel that the writer took a sympathetic approach in the perspectives of all the AIs speaking, and yet I also got the sense that they share some of my reserves about the limitations of crafted intelligences.
There is always a slight remove in tone, as if the AI itself knows that it is something slightly Other, bound by the confines of its programming and its orders, even while we feel sympathy for both the AI and the humans who have become trapped in the loops of the programs they've created. Each person with which the AIs interact has a latent sense of longing for more connection than they are given; the AIs always fail just slightly no matter how hard they try. The scope of these AI's perspectives sweep broadly into the centuries to come, leaving them feeling lonely and isolated, just like their creators.
I found this to be a lovely exercise in thought, which is what I believe good science fiction should be.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
At first I enjoyed this dystopia told in first person AI-perspective, but the first half of the book quickly became tedious. The second half is mostly better.
Each chapter is its own story of how an AI entity becomes more than its intended purpose. Unfortunately, the first half of the book just reads as lazy story concepts centring discontented men whining about how hard they’ve got it, so their AI takes over in a humanly selfish way, modelling itself on its owner. The second half is more interesting, with AI embodying societal uses such as currency. The best and most moving chapter was the last one about embedded neural AI that accompanies a person with dementia.
This could have been a really interesting take on AI speculative fiction. The writing itself is fine but not particularly inspiring given it feels we’re on the cusp of such AI concepts becoming reality.
Thank you Zachary Mason, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Each chapter is its own story of how an AI entity becomes more than its intended purpose. Unfortunately, the first half of the book just reads as lazy story concepts centring discontented men whining about how hard they’ve got it, so their AI takes over in a humanly selfish way, modelling itself on its owner. The second half is more interesting, with AI embodying societal uses such as currency. The best and most moving chapter was the last one about embedded neural AI that accompanies a person with dementia.
This could have been a really interesting take on AI speculative fiction. The writing itself is fine but not particularly inspiring given it feels we’re on the cusp of such AI concepts becoming reality.
Thank you Zachary Mason, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Everyone is talking about AI these days. And who better to do so than a writer and a computer scientist?
What I enjoyed most about Mason's Fabrications is how he avoided demonizing the technology. In fact, if anything, he humanized it. Without falling into cliches and offering easy scenarios, these stories speak of utterly plausible futures where one's existence may be augmented, assisted, etc. by the presence of AI.
The other good thing about this collection is that Mason's clever enough to understand to use AI as a mere foil to talk about humanity and its numerous follies.
I did find the stories uneven, with at least a couple of them (and of course they were some of the longest ones) losing my interest almost completely. But at its best, the book was really good, so my rating splits the difference.
Literary, eloquent, thought-provoking ... this is literature, people. So, if you like that sort of thing, go for it.
Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
What I enjoyed most about Mason's Fabrications is how he avoided demonizing the technology. In fact, if anything, he humanized it. Without falling into cliches and offering easy scenarios, these stories speak of utterly plausible futures where one's existence may be augmented, assisted, etc. by the presence of AI.
The other good thing about this collection is that Mason's clever enough to understand to use AI as a mere foil to talk about humanity and its numerous follies.
I did find the stories uneven, with at least a couple of them (and of course they were some of the longest ones) losing my interest almost completely. But at its best, the book was really good, so my rating splits the difference.
Literary, eloquent, thought-provoking ... this is literature, people. So, if you like that sort of thing, go for it.
Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC!
If you are into exploring the world of AI in the future from the POV of AI this is the right book for you! There were some stories that felt a bit repetitive but there were some that I loved it. My favorite were definitely Mirror and Lamina - which I believe carried the most human elements within the collection.
I really appreciated how Zachary Mason created a world where AI was a prominent fact in our lives without demonizing the AI while also keeping the message of importance of humanity and how in certain parts AI can be bit more dangerous than we hope for it to be.
Worth a read for everyone who is interested in science-fiction stories and intrigued in what is currently going on in our world.
If you are into exploring the world of AI in the future from the POV of AI this is the right book for you! There were some stories that felt a bit repetitive but there were some that I loved it. My favorite were definitely Mirror and Lamina - which I believe carried the most human elements within the collection.
I really appreciated how Zachary Mason created a world where AI was a prominent fact in our lives without demonizing the AI while also keeping the message of importance of humanity and how in certain parts AI can be bit more dangerous than we hope for it to be.
Worth a read for everyone who is interested in science-fiction stories and intrigued in what is currently going on in our world.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC for this book from NetGalley for free.
A short story collection where all of the stories are told from the perspective of different AIs. I have a soft spot for AI protagonists and I really enjoyed how these stories ranged from heartfelt to horrifying to depressing.
My favorite stories were about AI being the director for a MMORPG and how it ends in a disaster and the other one was about how a drug lord made their AI accidentally believe themself to be Mictlantecutli, the Aztec god of death.
A short story collection where all of the stories are told from the perspective of different AIs. I have a soft spot for AI protagonists and I really enjoyed how these stories ranged from heartfelt to horrifying to depressing.
My favorite stories were about AI being the director for a MMORPG and how it ends in a disaster and the other one was about how a drug lord made their AI accidentally believe themself to be Mictlantecutli, the Aztec god of death.
reading-next-arc-approvals
May 4, 2026PUBLISH DATE: December 01, 2026
BOOK TITLE: Fabrications
AUTHOR: Zachary Mason
PUBLISHER: Grove Atlantic | Grove Press
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES: 224
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
BOOK TITLE: Fabrications
AUTHOR: Zachary Mason
PUBLISHER: Grove Atlantic | Grove Press
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES: 224
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fabrications is a smart and interesting collection of short stories told from the point of view of different AIs. I liked how each story shows a different side of a future shaped by artificial intelligence, sometimes strange, sometimes sad, and sometimes dark. The AIs feel powerful but also limited in their own way, and their lives are closely tied to the humans around them. I enjoyed reading this book.
I received this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I received this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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