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Robot Romance
Pandemonium results when creative genius Bixby Wyler enrolls in SilCo High to learn all about computers.
- GenresScience FictionRobots
179 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
About the author
Ellen Leroe
30 books5 followersEllen W. Leroe grew up writing fairy tales in northern New Jersey. After graduating from Elmira College, in New York State, she worked as a fashion buyer. But she soon returned to her original love, writing.
Ellen moved to San Francisco and began working on novels while working at various administrative and editorial positions. When her first Young Adult novel was published in 1983, she became a full-time writer.
Thirty of her children’s books have been published since then, and Ellen has also created a greeting card line, won poetry awards, and lent song lyrics to a jazz CD. Writing continues to be her passion and chief form of entertainment. She lives in San Francisco.
Ellen moved to San Francisco and began working on novels while working at various administrative and editorial positions. When her first Young Adult novel was published in 1983, she became a full-time writer.
Thirty of her children’s books have been published since then, and Ellen has also created a greeting card line, won poetry awards, and lent song lyrics to a jazz CD. Writing continues to be her passion and chief form of entertainment. She lives in San Francisco.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 4, 2024
This was a wild read. My copy is an ex-library with shelf labels indicating it as a J book (not YA) and the book was published by Harper and Row Junior Books so I REALLY wasn't expecting the main character to visit a marital aids shop. And I can't say I was expecting the robot principal to objectify and fall in love with one of his teenage students either. Eww.
Nor did I see it coming when the main character decides to secretly use another student as the model for his robot build, but then develops a relationship with her. When she finds out he's been secretly taping all their conversations, she is justifiably mad but (because J level book) immediately forgives him this heinous transgression when she sees his humanoid. Oh, he also lies about perfecting a dating algorithm and randomly starts matching people together instead....who start dating each other.
There are also some more subtle offenses, including loading the humanoid up with fashion magazines so it can hold conversations with the female students. The main character "...casually asked her: 'So what do you think about the lead singer in the Cuticle Club?' Ally flashed her eyes, began to breathe heavily, and squealed: 'Lance Hendricks? He's perfection beyond belief! I just adore him.'"
Did you just sprain your eyes? Yeah, me too.
I picked this up thinking it would be fun to see what we thought AI would be back in 1985 and, honestly, making realistic-looking humans out of robotic sex-toys seems spot on. So kudos to Leroe for that.
While the subject matter went a little adult a little too quickly for a kid's book, I thought it was kind of funny and enjoyed the sheer horror of 1980s sexism. Also - the cover is fire.
Nor did I see it coming when the main character decides to secretly use another student as the model for his robot build, but then develops a relationship with her. When she finds out he's been secretly taping all their conversations, she is justifiably mad but (because J level book) immediately forgives him this heinous transgression when she sees his humanoid. Oh, he also lies about perfecting a dating algorithm and randomly starts matching people together instead....who start dating each other.
There are also some more subtle offenses, including loading the humanoid up with fashion magazines so it can hold conversations with the female students. The main character "...casually asked her: 'So what do you think about the lead singer in the Cuticle Club?' Ally flashed her eyes, began to breathe heavily, and squealed: 'Lance Hendricks? He's perfection beyond belief! I just adore him.'"
Did you just sprain your eyes? Yeah, me too.
I picked this up thinking it would be fun to see what we thought AI would be back in 1985 and, honestly, making realistic-looking humans out of robotic sex-toys seems spot on. So kudos to Leroe for that.
While the subject matter went a little adult a little too quickly for a kid's book, I thought it was kind of funny and enjoyed the sheer horror of 1980s sexism. Also - the cover is fire.
Displaying 1 of 1 review