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Letters to an Android
Cobalt is a created human, vat grown and born adult, with no human rights and indentured to serve others for the duration of his life. Liyan is a young man with wanderlust in his eyes, embarking on a career that takes him to the furthest regions of space. The two become unlikely friends and create a memorable long-distance correspondence. Through Liyan, Cobalt gets to explore the universe, living vicariously through his friend's wave transmissions. A strong bond develops between them that not even the stars can put asunder.
271 pages, ebook
First published July 6, 2014
33 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Rathbone
153 books347 followersWendy Rathbone has had dozens of stories published in anthologies such as: Hot Blood, Writers of the Future (second place,) Bending the Landscape, Mutation Nation, A Darke Phantastique, and more. The book "Dreams of Decadence Presents: Wendy Rathbone and Tippi Blevins" contains a large collection of her vampire stories and poems. Over 500 of her poems have been published in various anthologies and magazines. She won first place in the Anamnesis Press poetry chapbook contest with her book "Scrying the River Styx." Her poems have been nominated for the Science Fiction Poetry Association's Rhysling award at least a dozen times.
Her recent books include:
"Pale Zenith," science fiction novel
"The Foundling," male/male romance novel
"None Can Hold the Dark," sequel to "The Foundling"
"The Secret Sharer," science fiction romance novella
"Unearthly," omnibus collection of 7 out-of-print poetry booklets
"The Vampire Diaries: The Myth," available from Kindle Worlds
"The Vampire Dairies: Deep In the Virginia Woods," available from Kindle Worlds
"My House Is Full Of Whispers," erotica short story collection
"Letters To An Android," science fiction novel
Upcoming very soon:
"Risque Science Fiction," short stories by Wendy Rathbone
"The Red Fountain, Where Vampires Come to Drink," short stories and poetry by Wendy Rathbone
Look for more novels and short story collections coming up in 2014.
She lives in Yucca Valley, CA with her partner of 32 years, Della Van Hise.
Her recent books include:
"Pale Zenith," science fiction novel
"The Foundling," male/male romance novel
"None Can Hold the Dark," sequel to "The Foundling"
"The Secret Sharer," science fiction romance novella
"Unearthly," omnibus collection of 7 out-of-print poetry booklets
"The Vampire Diaries: The Myth," available from Kindle Worlds
"The Vampire Dairies: Deep In the Virginia Woods," available from Kindle Worlds
"My House Is Full Of Whispers," erotica short story collection
"Letters To An Android," science fiction novel
Upcoming very soon:
"Risque Science Fiction," short stories by Wendy Rathbone
"The Red Fountain, Where Vampires Come to Drink," short stories and poetry by Wendy Rathbone
Look for more novels and short story collections coming up in 2014.
She lives in Yucca Valley, CA with her partner of 32 years, Della Van Hise.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 2, 2017
I know Wendy Rathbone primarily as a poet, but she also writes beautiful, lyrical prose. And this is where she excels in this book. It is slow paced and there really is not much of a plot, but we get to visit so many amazing places in the galaxy and inside the 2 main characters that it really doesn't matter. Rathbone's writing reminds me a bit of Ursula K. LeGuin's in its lyricism and pace, but her writing is less austere than LeGuin's. Highly recommended especially if you believe love is love regardless of who loves whom.
December 6, 2020
This is a slow. lyrical, and imaginative book. Cobalt is an android, born in a vat, implanted with a false childhood, and destined to be property for all of his existence. He's currently owned by a space-station hotel owner, who uses him for bartending, as a concierge, and sometimes rents him out for other services on request. One night, while tending bar, he meets a young man on his way to the stars.
Liyan is brilliant and hard-working, and has managed to work himself through the education and testing needed to gain a job on the crew of a space liner. He's about to take his first trip off this station where he was born, and explore the wonders of a wider universe. In a moment of exalted delight, as he takes a drink and has a moment's conversation with the blue-haired bartender, he's aware of a connection. As they chat, he realizes that the freedom he's about to embark on is one that Cobalt can never have.
And so he promises to write, via communication waves, from the places he visits. He can't give Cobalt - a very expensive property - his freedom. But he can let the android see by proxy a dozen worlds he will otherwise never experience. And Cobalt serves as Liyan's sounding block, his anchor, his secret friend, and an uncritical ear in which Liyan can expound on his new life.
The letters Liyan writes are lovely, the worlds fascinating, and the low-key emotions poignant. This is a very slow burn book, and by the end I grew just a little impatient with the travelogue parts of the letters, as lovely as they were. But the slow build reaches a satisfying ending, (although I was left wondering if the MCs would do anything to tackle the bigger societal issue and not just the personal.) Recommended for those who love a slow burn full of imagination.
Liyan is brilliant and hard-working, and has managed to work himself through the education and testing needed to gain a job on the crew of a space liner. He's about to take his first trip off this station where he was born, and explore the wonders of a wider universe. In a moment of exalted delight, as he takes a drink and has a moment's conversation with the blue-haired bartender, he's aware of a connection. As they chat, he realizes that the freedom he's about to embark on is one that Cobalt can never have.
And so he promises to write, via communication waves, from the places he visits. He can't give Cobalt - a very expensive property - his freedom. But he can let the android see by proxy a dozen worlds he will otherwise never experience. And Cobalt serves as Liyan's sounding block, his anchor, his secret friend, and an uncritical ear in which Liyan can expound on his new life.
The letters Liyan writes are lovely, the worlds fascinating, and the low-key emotions poignant. This is a very slow burn book, and by the end I grew just a little impatient with the travelogue parts of the letters, as lovely as they were. But the slow build reaches a satisfying ending, (although I was left wondering if the MCs would do anything to tackle the bigger societal issue and not just the personal.) Recommended for those who love a slow burn full of imagination.
September 6, 2017
"even a force field cannot
hold back the void
only a human embrace"
Such a lovely book!
Letters to an Android is one of those books that's perfectly summarized by its title.
Liyan, a young man dreaming about working on a starliner cruising through the galaxy, meets Cobalt one day before he starts his career of travelling from planet to planet. As they talk, he realizes that Cobalt is an android, and thus bound by a contract to work forever with no freedom or rights, unable to leave his home station. Liyan promises to write him of his travels. So begins a wonderful friendship that's mainly told in the letters the two protagonists exchange. It spans over a decade: Liyan's career, how he grows up and finds out about himself, the places he visits and what he experiences there, the wonders of faraway words, but also Cobalt's life, all of their feelings, poetry, philosophie and more.
In this book, androids are not built. They are grown. Biologically, they are completely human, though they are "born" adults but given memories of an imagined childhood. Legally, they are objects that have to be owned, though essentially, they are slaves. I found this angle interesting, but also quite heavy. The book is not sad, but it does maintain an almost melancholic mood.
The story is beautifully told, slow and bittersweet.
I enjoyed reading it a lot, and the amosphere it creates is easy to get lost in and wonderfully encompasing.
hold back the void
only a human embrace"
Such a lovely book!
Letters to an Android is one of those books that's perfectly summarized by its title.
Liyan, a young man dreaming about working on a starliner cruising through the galaxy, meets Cobalt one day before he starts his career of travelling from planet to planet. As they talk, he realizes that Cobalt is an android, and thus bound by a contract to work forever with no freedom or rights, unable to leave his home station. Liyan promises to write him of his travels. So begins a wonderful friendship that's mainly told in the letters the two protagonists exchange. It spans over a decade: Liyan's career, how he grows up and finds out about himself, the places he visits and what he experiences there, the wonders of faraway words, but also Cobalt's life, all of their feelings, poetry, philosophie and more.
In this book, androids are not built. They are grown. Biologically, they are completely human, though they are "born" adults but given memories of an imagined childhood. Legally, they are objects that have to be owned, though essentially, they are slaves. I found this angle interesting, but also quite heavy. The book is not sad, but it does maintain an almost melancholic mood.
The story is beautifully told, slow and bittersweet.
I enjoyed reading it a lot, and the amosphere it creates is easy to get lost in and wonderfully encompasing.
September 12, 2022
Kindle-Sort-ReRead
Enjoyed this, it wasn't what I expected from the blurb. It's largely a travelogue, Liayan venturing through space corresponding with his friend android Cobalt. A very slow story it spans 13yrs. Quite simple, subtle on some points, felt strangely powerful.
Liayan has such innocence about him, even as he earns his Captaincy his dreams and hopes are vivid. There's a sense of wonder about him, you can see how he expands Cobalt's life.
Cobalt is owned, not considered human, resigned to that, barely daring to dream. He doesn't complain or rebel or detail any ordeal. The more he communicates a sweet soul is shown and Space brought to him through the 'waves' seems incredible.
The relationship will likely not be what most expect and while it worked and ends well I wanted perhaps a scene more at the end.
Enjoyed this, it wasn't what I expected from the blurb. It's largely a travelogue, Liayan venturing through space corresponding with his friend android Cobalt. A very slow story it spans 13yrs. Quite simple, subtle on some points, felt strangely powerful.
Liayan has such innocence about him, even as he earns his Captaincy his dreams and hopes are vivid. There's a sense of wonder about him, you can see how he expands Cobalt's life.
Cobalt is owned, not considered human, resigned to that, barely daring to dream. He doesn't complain or rebel or detail any ordeal. The more he communicates a sweet soul is shown and Space brought to him through the 'waves' seems incredible.
The relationship will likely not be what most expect and while it worked and ends well I wanted perhaps a scene more at the end.
May 26, 2017
I LOVED Letters to an Android. It's more genre fic, but there is a love element that prevades the book that is simply amazing. The night I finished reading it I had the most amazing dreams. The imagery in Liyan's letters transported me away to those wonderful planets. Thank you so much for the breathtaking descriptions of worlds unknown.
August 29, 2022
I wasn't expecting this book to be as complicated and as beautiful as it was. I was holding back tears almost the whole time. My heart ached for Cobalt. Though I will say this isn't exactly a traditional m/m romance. More of a
There's something special about science fiction that allows us to explore the human condition unlike any other genre. Maybe something about a story taking place in an alien and foreign universe makes us cling harder to the familiar. That of human emotions and relationships.
I may not have liked
This story was beautiful and heartfelt. My only wish was we got an epilogue scene where
Highly recommend though.
There's something special about science fiction that allows us to explore the human condition unlike any other genre. Maybe something about a story taking place in an alien and foreign universe makes us cling harder to the familiar. That of human emotions and relationships.
I may not have liked
This story was beautiful and heartfelt. My only wish was we got an epilogue scene where
Highly recommend though.
May 15, 2019
It’s a mm love story between a spaceship officer named Liyan an an android called Cobalt. They mostly communicate by letter. The story was very moving and the imagery of the places visited was stunning and imaginative.
Issues of personhood, slavery, sex workers, and the behavior of the rich are brought up.
There’s implied sex but nothing descriptive. I actually prefer that.
The ending was not what I expected but it was still satisfying. The scenario I had hoped for could still take place.
Typos: there were a couple of confusing phrases and instances of unconventional comma placement. The one outright error occurred in the last pages. The author reworked a sentence but forgot to clean it up (“he did also blamed himself.”).
Issues of personhood, slavery, sex workers, and the behavior of the rich are brought up.
There’s implied sex but nothing descriptive. I actually prefer that.
The ending was not what I expected but it was still satisfying. The scenario I had hoped for could still take place.
Typos: there were a couple of confusing phrases and instances of unconventional comma placement. The one outright error occurred in the last pages. The author reworked a sentence but forgot to clean it up (“he did also blamed himself.”).
March 1, 2018
This is the first book I've read by Wendy Rathbone but it most certainly won't be the last. I loved Cobalt, the android in the story and the other characters were all well written. The love story isn't the generic boy meets android, falls in love and they live happily ever after. It takes some twists and turns and takes a long time for everything to fall into place. I loved that it wasn't the traditional romance and can't wait to see what awaits me in Wendy's other books.
October 9, 2020
An ache of something excruciatingly desired but always just out of reach accompanies every passage, mostly through a delightfully poetic exchange of correspondence between the two protagonists. An acceptance of the condition of virtual, very real, slave on both their parts gradually morphs into longing for something else, and a certain freedom is achieved through their constant communication, yet always accompanied by that subtle, longing ache.
Marvelously imaginative descriptions of space, of the movement through a system of transport between folds in space, and of planets and their inhabitants and atmospheres, create the sensations of exploration into another reality, yet grounded in human perception.
Beyond poetry, over and above sci-fi, deeply romantic, sensual emotionally, lyrically oniric.
Marvelously imaginative descriptions of space, of the movement through a system of transport between folds in space, and of planets and their inhabitants and atmospheres, create the sensations of exploration into another reality, yet grounded in human perception.
Beyond poetry, over and above sci-fi, deeply romantic, sensual emotionally, lyrically oniric.
February 29, 2020
A wonderful moving book
This book is soars. There is poetry, love, friendship and a moving, developing relationship. The resolution is personal, but it feels political too. Despite the cruelty of some of the world, it is beautiful too. The descriptions of other planets, and the poetry that the two men write to each other bring out the beauty even in an unjust world. There is a happy ending, but there are no cheap answers to that injustice and that feels right.
This book is soars. There is poetry, love, friendship and a moving, developing relationship. The resolution is personal, but it feels political too. Despite the cruelty of some of the world, it is beautiful too. The descriptions of other planets, and the poetry that the two men write to each other bring out the beauty even in an unjust world. There is a happy ending, but there are no cheap answers to that injustice and that feels right.
January 14, 2018
Refreshingly unique, this is a slowly paced story, told mostly through Colbalt and Liyan's letters, but worth it in the end. The detailed descriptions of Liyan's adventures are divine and their relationship is completely captivating. I read it twice!
September 30, 2016
I love stories where there are a series of love letters between the mc's. But reader beware, the love story you expect from the blurb is not what you get. I felt extremely cheated on that score.
August 9, 2022
What a fantastic book!!! I would rate it to the stars if I had the means.
This is not just a story of growth and dreams, it is also a metaphor and imagination at its best. It mists the eyes and lifts your lips in a little smile, it takes an average human soul in the cup of its hands and colors it in the best of humanity. It is also a lot of food for thought, of what androids could become, while those haiku fill your soul with the heart of a multiverse...
I loved everything about it, I think it is my favorite Wendy Rathbone book so far.
This is not just a story of growth and dreams, it is also a metaphor and imagination at its best. It mists the eyes and lifts your lips in a little smile, it takes an average human soul in the cup of its hands and colors it in the best of humanity. It is also a lot of food for thought, of what androids could become, while those haiku fill your soul with the heart of a multiverse...
I loved everything about it, I think it is my favorite Wendy Rathbone book so far.
March 14, 2021
Unexpected and touching
Although this was a bit wordier than I normally enjoy - a lot of the plot is driven by correspondence between the two main protagonist's, with lengthy, poetic descriptions of other worlds - I was entranced by the relationship between Liyan and Cobalt.
This is not a traditional romance, but there is a happy ending and it's quite thought provoking.
Although this was a bit wordier than I normally enjoy - a lot of the plot is driven by correspondence between the two main protagonist's, with lengthy, poetic descriptions of other worlds - I was entranced by the relationship between Liyan and Cobalt.
This is not a traditional romance, but there is a happy ending and it's quite thought provoking.
October 15, 2020
All the feels
This amazing love story is a low heat, sweet story of people who the law and circumstance keep apart. It has beautiful world building and insightful characters. I adored this book.
This amazing love story is a low heat, sweet story of people who the law and circumstance keep apart. It has beautiful world building and insightful characters. I adored this book.
June 7, 2019
This was a really nice surprise. Well written, very slow burn, different.
July 16, 2022
4.5* Beautifully written “observation” of a decade travelling in space, via communications that tug at the heartstrings while you watch the two MCs fall in love.
January 28, 2016
Letters to an Android is a sweet far-future love story between a charming young man who wants to fly between the stars and the sensitive android bartender he falls in love with the night before he leaves for training. It's largely told as a series of interstellar emails between the boys, as the android bravely faces his life as a chattel without human rights, cheered by Liyan's descriptions of the wonders of far-distant star systems.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews