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Brobots #1
Brobots
Brobots is substantial science fiction with gay characters told across three continuous books.
Rod burners. Scaff dawgs. Laggers. Bucket dumpers. Lerps. Duct monkeys. Tin knockers. Lumbergs. Artificial big guys. Product of a troubled firm. Brobots.
They’re easy to treat like trash. But they’re not so easy to ignore; especially the ones experiencing “the wake up.” The idea was that they could work hidden in society’s plain sight, allowing humanity time to get used to the fact of sentient machines.
But it’s all too easy for others to take advantage of those who live on the edge. What they, and their allies, must do is work out who, and why, before it gets too late.
Plug them in. Wish they never end.
Brobots Book 1:
Jared takes home a cute man he finds in a dumpster and then gets drawn into a world of robots, parenting and conspiracy.
Artificial intelligence can’t be programmed. It has to be grown. Some machines are learning who they are, and humans could do with a bit of that, too.
Rod burners. Scaff dawgs. Laggers. Bucket dumpers. Lerps. Duct monkeys. Tin knockers. Lumbergs. Artificial big guys. Product of a troubled firm. Brobots.
They’re easy to treat like trash. But they’re not so easy to ignore; especially the ones experiencing “the wake up.” The idea was that they could work hidden in society’s plain sight, allowing humanity time to get used to the fact of sentient machines.
But it’s all too easy for others to take advantage of those who live on the edge. What they, and their allies, must do is work out who, and why, before it gets too late.
Plug them in. Wish they never end.
Brobots Book 1:
Jared takes home a cute man he finds in a dumpster and then gets drawn into a world of robots, parenting and conspiracy.
Artificial intelligence can’t be programmed. It has to be grown. Some machines are learning who they are, and humans could do with a bit of that, too.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2016
6 people are currently reading
734 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 29, 2017
I LOVED the concept of this story!
It reminded me so much of Isaac Asimov's early works on robotics that it felt like a loving homage in some ways, while being an original piece of m/m fiction at the same time. Awesome!
The year is 2060. America's President is called "T. junior", but let's just let that slide, LOL.
Jared is a professional programmer sharing his house with his dog Artie - and not doing much except meet with his best friend Yana over drinks once in a while or fixing some odd broken junk. His last relationship recently went down the drain - which doesn't surprise Yana much, knowing that Jared's urge to 'fix things' also applies to his relationships, so he occasionally sends guys packing because of it.
Taking Artie out for a walk is Jared's usual evening routine. Losing himself in thoughts and walking a tad bit further than usual is not. Jared stumbles upon a construction site in the city that he hasn't been to before. Not a big deal in itself, but...why are there shoes sticking out of a construction waste container - with legs attached to it??
When the handsome muscled construction worker lying on top of a pile of rubbish doesn't turn out to be a corpse, but a broken human-like robot, Jared only has one thought: How to get the gorgeous machine home to fix it??
And come on, who WOULDN'T snatch a guy like this from a pile of trash?
Stealing him from the dumpster isn't hard, but fixing the guy is. It even involves an international conspiracy that requires Jared to make use of his hacking skills and expose illegal government operations - and all that just because he needs a new battery for his guy (which turns out to be as expensive by itself as purchasing a new 'sentient brobot').
Waking and getting to know 'Byron' isn't the only difficulty in Jared's life, though. Especially as more and more robots with artificial intelligence leave their work and request to be accepted as individual entities by human society.
Helping - and falling for - lovely, dorky and cute Byron requires more than just giving him a place to stay under his roof. Jared needs to fight to help Byron and his 'bro's' get accepted within human society when they turn out to be more than life-like machines, but actual intelligent beings with emotions - beings who have to learn that emotions can be a wonderful thing, but can also result in tragedy.
This story was freaking amazing!
Fixing a broken robot who looks like a hot bodybuilder model is like a life dream of mine!!
I absolutely loved the notion of sentient robots having 'a spark', making them self-aware in a way that thousands of other similar robots aren't. So the research of artificial intelligence has enabled mankind to create life-like robots with feelings, but mankind STILL hasn't solved the riddle of what intelligence and self-awareness actually is. So sentient brobots are a new (technological) species that needs to learn what it means to be alive.
It was adoring how this book kind of revolved around certain communities where men call each other 'bro', in a cool and laid-back way. So the 'brobots' are programmed to be just like that: A bunch of straight-acting construction worker dudes who have yet to learn the finer points of human life and social interactions. Some of them even have gay feelings, posing an additional layer of difficulty for their identity-finding process.
I also loved the author's side blow at the m/m genre in general, criticizing that gay MCs always seem to go for sex whenever possible. Gay men aren't like that (all the time), so this story took a refreshing turn in having two MCs in love being able to ignore their erections, because they were adults and able to tame themselves down. I really admired this (although I still love all our m/m MCs, as sex-driven and lusty as they sometimes are).
Oh, and if you wonder why life-like muscled robots would be used as construction workers (where robots as used in the automobile industry would be more efficient): The sentient brobots are the first of a new line of humanoid robots that the company 'Brobotics' wants to test-run first by doing construction or military work instead of throwing them on the market for human customers. This made *enough* sense for me, LOL.
The story has a very strong HFN and is the first part in a series, apparently. There is an AMAZING cliffhanger that will stir up things in the next book for sure - for ALL of mankind ;-)
However, the POV switches were a bit sloppy at times, so I deducted a half star. All in all, the story is awesome!
4.5 stars and a favorite!
It reminded me so much of Isaac Asimov's early works on robotics that it felt like a loving homage in some ways, while being an original piece of m/m fiction at the same time. Awesome!
The year is 2060. America's President is called "T. junior", but let's just let that slide, LOL.
Jared is a professional programmer sharing his house with his dog Artie - and not doing much except meet with his best friend Yana over drinks once in a while or fixing some odd broken junk. His last relationship recently went down the drain - which doesn't surprise Yana much, knowing that Jared's urge to 'fix things' also applies to his relationships, so he occasionally sends guys packing because of it.
Taking Artie out for a walk is Jared's usual evening routine. Losing himself in thoughts and walking a tad bit further than usual is not. Jared stumbles upon a construction site in the city that he hasn't been to before. Not a big deal in itself, but...why are there shoes sticking out of a construction waste container - with legs attached to it??
When the handsome muscled construction worker lying on top of a pile of rubbish doesn't turn out to be a corpse, but a broken human-like robot, Jared only has one thought: How to get the gorgeous machine home to fix it??
And come on, who WOULDN'T snatch a guy like this from a pile of trash?
Stealing him from the dumpster isn't hard, but fixing the guy is. It even involves an international conspiracy that requires Jared to make use of his hacking skills and expose illegal government operations - and all that just because he needs a new battery for his guy (which turns out to be as expensive by itself as purchasing a new 'sentient brobot').
Waking and getting to know 'Byron' isn't the only difficulty in Jared's life, though. Especially as more and more robots with artificial intelligence leave their work and request to be accepted as individual entities by human society.
Helping - and falling for - lovely, dorky and cute Byron requires more than just giving him a place to stay under his roof. Jared needs to fight to help Byron and his 'bro's' get accepted within human society when they turn out to be more than life-like machines, but actual intelligent beings with emotions - beings who have to learn that emotions can be a wonderful thing, but can also result in tragedy.
This story was freaking amazing!
Fixing a broken robot who looks like a hot bodybuilder model is like a life dream of mine!!
I absolutely loved the notion of sentient robots having 'a spark', making them self-aware in a way that thousands of other similar robots aren't. So the research of artificial intelligence has enabled mankind to create life-like robots with feelings, but mankind STILL hasn't solved the riddle of what intelligence and self-awareness actually is. So sentient brobots are a new (technological) species that needs to learn what it means to be alive.
It was adoring how this book kind of revolved around certain communities where men call each other 'bro', in a cool and laid-back way. So the 'brobots' are programmed to be just like that: A bunch of straight-acting construction worker dudes who have yet to learn the finer points of human life and social interactions. Some of them even have gay feelings, posing an additional layer of difficulty for their identity-finding process.
I also loved the author's side blow at the m/m genre in general, criticizing that gay MCs always seem to go for sex whenever possible. Gay men aren't like that (all the time), so this story took a refreshing turn in having two MCs in love being able to ignore their erections, because they were adults and able to tame themselves down. I really admired this (although I still love all our m/m MCs, as sex-driven and lusty as they sometimes are).
Oh, and if you wonder why life-like muscled robots would be used as construction workers (where robots as used in the automobile industry would be more efficient): The sentient brobots are the first of a new line of humanoid robots that the company 'Brobotics' wants to test-run first by doing construction or military work instead of throwing them on the market for human customers. This made *enough* sense for me, LOL.
The story has a very strong HFN and is the first part in a series, apparently. There is an AMAZING cliffhanger that will stir up things in the next book for sure - for ALL of mankind ;-)
However, the POV switches were a bit sloppy at times, so I deducted a half star. All in all, the story is awesome!
4.5 stars and a favorite!
March 22, 2018
Pearl Ruled at 9%. Too much to overlook already. Example: Suddenly the problematically begun with rape (in the old Rape of the Lock sense) relationship, already squicky, proceeds with the human suddenly, inexplicably, impossibly knowing the robot's "name."
...?...
So, no.
...?...
So, no.
December 6, 2017
I love reading science fiction. I love reading M/M Romance. No way could I pass up a book that combined two of my favorite genres.
Brobots is a near-future sci-fi. It's my favorite kind since it provides plausible science. I'm old enough to know we are now living many of the sci-fi elements in books published in my youth.
In Brobots, we have sentient AI built into human looking (and working) bodies. Our H, Jared, retrieves (rescues?) our H, Byron, from a construction dumpster where he was dumped after his battery failed. Replacement batteries were almost as expensive as buying a whole new unit, didn't you know?
So begins a story that develops into so much more. This is not a character driven plot. It is not strictly M/M Romance either. Instead, it can be classified as Gay Sci-Fi.
Like many sci-fi plots, this one contains strong political overtones. It focuses on the rights of a marginalized group and the struggle against both government and society.
Although we get a strong HFN, the end of the story introduces new variables that will no doubt be addressed and sussed out in the following books.
I'm dropping a star from my rating because I'm not a fan of cliffhangers of any type. Also, I admit to a bit of a problem with the UK English in this book, especially when it came to dialogue.
Even so, I have to strongly recommend it to those like me who enjoy reading both, Science Fiction, and Gay Lit.
Brobots is a near-future sci-fi. It's my favorite kind since it provides plausible science. I'm old enough to know we are now living many of the sci-fi elements in books published in my youth.
In Brobots, we have sentient AI built into human looking (and working) bodies. Our H, Jared, retrieves (rescues?) our H, Byron, from a construction dumpster where he was dumped after his battery failed. Replacement batteries were almost as expensive as buying a whole new unit, didn't you know?
So begins a story that develops into so much more. This is not a character driven plot. It is not strictly M/M Romance either. Instead, it can be classified as Gay Sci-Fi.
Like many sci-fi plots, this one contains strong political overtones. It focuses on the rights of a marginalized group and the struggle against both government and society.
Although we get a strong HFN, the end of the story introduces new variables that will no doubt be addressed and sussed out in the following books.
I'm dropping a star from my rating because I'm not a fan of cliffhangers of any type. Also, I admit to a bit of a problem with the UK English in this book, especially when it came to dialogue.
Even so, I have to strongly recommend it to those like me who enjoy reading both, Science Fiction, and Gay Lit.
March 10, 2017
Одно сплошное разочарование. DNF
Если кому заходят подробные описания, возможно, эта книга даже понравится, но мне такое не по душе. Серьезно, описания подробные до крайностей. Так, в самом начале книги, сломанного робота относят на свалку на протяжении трех страниц... Описано кого позвали, как они его поднимали, как обвязывали веревкой, как отвозили и как помещали в контейнер, а потом не менее подробно описано, как главгер извлекал тело из контейнера, как держал, как поднимал, как тащил к такси, как вытаскивал из такси, как тянул по дорожке к входной двери, как затаскивал в дом (я не шучу!), как волок до стола, как поднимал на стол... Дайте стену, чтоб убиться.
Но, допустим, чрезмерная описательность это дело вкуса, так и с сюжетом началась херня. Прочитав аннотацию, я думала, что главгер найдет робота и починит, но не тут то было. Он прячет находку и просит свою подругу помочь с расследованием, и тут стартует какой-то гетный мартисью детектив! Подруга вся такая крутая добивается встречи с самым главным босом, приходит в короткой юбке, всех обводит вокруг пальца, а потом выбивает информацио о поломке робота, получает для главгера все права на обладание этим роботом и даже ГАРАНТИЮ на обслуживание и ремонт!!! То есть, меня основательно так наебали! Чинить находку перс даже не думает! Он просто ждет, когда ему все принесут на блюдечке.
Фигня какая-то.
Учитывая, что за книгу я заплатила деньги, с чистой совестью ставлю единицу.
Если кому заходят подробные описания, возможно, эта книга даже понравится, но мне такое не по душе. Серьезно, описания подробные до крайностей. Так, в самом начале книги, сломанного робота относят на свалку на протяжении трех страниц... Описано кого позвали, как они его поднимали, как обвязывали веревкой, как отвозили и как помещали в контейнер, а потом не менее подробно описано, как главгер извлекал тело из контейнера, как держал, как поднимал, как тащил к такси, как вытаскивал из такси, как тянул по дорожке к входной двери, как затаскивал в дом (я не шучу!), как волок до стола, как поднимал на стол... Дайте стену, чтоб убиться.
Но, допустим, чрезмерная описательность это дело вкуса, так и с сюжетом началась херня. Прочитав аннотацию, я думала, что главгер найдет робота и починит, но не тут то было. Он прячет находку и просит свою подругу помочь с расследованием, и тут стартует какой-то гетный мартисью детектив! Подруга вся такая крутая добивается встречи с самым главным босом, приходит в короткой юбке, всех обводит вокруг пальца, а потом выбивает информацио о поломке робота, получает для главгера все права на обладание этим роботом и даже ГАРАНТИЮ на обслуживание и ремонт!!! То есть, меня основательно так наебали! Чинить находку перс даже не думает! Он просто ждет, когда ему все принесут на блюдечке.
Фигня какая-то.
Учитывая, что за книгу я заплатила деньги, с чистой совестью ставлю единицу.
January 22, 2017
Brobots
By Trevor Barton
Published by the author, 2016
Cover design by the author
Four stars
“What does your heart tell you?” Strange question for a lobbying scientist to ask a robot.
Near-future sci-fi always makes me a little sad, because it seems within reach, and yet I know I’ll be dead by then. Trevor Barton’s “Brobots” pops us into America of the 2060s, a world radically changed by technology, yet somehow still very familiar. On a construction site, one of the workers takes a header off a girder onto a pile of rubble. Turns out, his battery died and his warranty is just passed. Rather than spend the money on a new battery, they just put him in the dumpster and file a complaint with the manufacturer.
The robot is a model D Sentient, produced by Brobotics. His name is Byron. And he’s cute. His inanimate carcass is rescued from the dumpster by Jared, a computer programmer (code monkey) out walking his dog, Artemis. Jared is a compulsive fixer. He is shocked by the waste of a costly piece of machinery, but also attracted by Byron’s cute button nose, hazel eyes and burly bear-cub physique.
And thus begins a saga of love, friendship, and techno-political science fiction that is by turns charming, fascinating, and philosophically rather pointed. It is surely the first book I’ve ever read that deals with issues of AI (artificial Intelligence) and explores the idea of the spark of humanity. Not being a sci-fi aficionado, my only personal interaction with AI characters has been through HAL9000 in “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) and Lieutenant Data from the 1990s Star Trek series. Somewhere in between those two is C3-P0 from Star Wars. I rather loved Data, and his increasingly humane non-humanity. He also seemed completely gay to me. HAL was just a nightmare of technology gone rogue, and the droids in Star Wars were just robots – interesting and amusing in their almost-humanity. I raise that point, because Barton brings that very thing up in “Brobots:” the Sentients are accepted by society as long as they stay in some carefully defined role that seems to suit their artificial status. They can be useful, they can be interesting or amusing. Once they branch out into human realms, expressing human needs, they begin to cut too close and people begin to fret.
The developing relationship between Jared and Byron is at the center of Barton’s substantial narrative, but it is not the point of the narrative, which is what pulls this book away from M/M and into gay lit/sci-fi. The real guts of the story is Jared’s emerging understanding of the nature of these complex, technologically miraculous machines, as well as the Sentients’ awakening to the possibilities of the intelligence they have been given. Overlaid onto this plot is an international military-industrial complex fantasy that feels too plausible to laugh off (especially in the strange political moment at which I write this, January 22, 2017).
If I have a complaint about “Brobots,” it would be that Barton piles on a great deal of new material at the end of the book – introducing new characters and new plot points that were really interesting, but felt rather crowded and rushed. There is something of a climactic moment at the end that felt just a bit off to me, because it was dropped in almost out of nowhere. If somehow Barton had insinuated hints of this earlier on, it wouldn’t have felt so jarring (at least to me).
I should also note that I was slightly bemused by the fact that Barton hasn’t made any attempt to disguise his British English. The book is supposedly set in Colorado in the US, but everyone speaks a language full of British colloquialisms. I tried to pretend that in 50 years we’ll all speak that way, but it didn’t really work. I’ve read lots of British books of late, so the language is perfectly familiar; but it sort of broke the sense of place. I’m not sure why Barton didn’t set the book in the UK, since the American location didn’t seem to matter hugely (except, perhaps, for the need for isolated places).
All that said, I loved this story and the premise behind it. There’s no mystery that the Sentients are a metaphor for any marginalized group that’s ever struggled for equal rights. At the core of what I liked best in “Brobots” is the eternal puzzle of why human beings, the most complex and miraculous of all biological machines, can become monsters.
A second book is promised, and I look forward to it with great pleasure.
By Trevor Barton
Published by the author, 2016
Cover design by the author
Four stars
“What does your heart tell you?” Strange question for a lobbying scientist to ask a robot.
Near-future sci-fi always makes me a little sad, because it seems within reach, and yet I know I’ll be dead by then. Trevor Barton’s “Brobots” pops us into America of the 2060s, a world radically changed by technology, yet somehow still very familiar. On a construction site, one of the workers takes a header off a girder onto a pile of rubble. Turns out, his battery died and his warranty is just passed. Rather than spend the money on a new battery, they just put him in the dumpster and file a complaint with the manufacturer.
The robot is a model D Sentient, produced by Brobotics. His name is Byron. And he’s cute. His inanimate carcass is rescued from the dumpster by Jared, a computer programmer (code monkey) out walking his dog, Artemis. Jared is a compulsive fixer. He is shocked by the waste of a costly piece of machinery, but also attracted by Byron’s cute button nose, hazel eyes and burly bear-cub physique.
And thus begins a saga of love, friendship, and techno-political science fiction that is by turns charming, fascinating, and philosophically rather pointed. It is surely the first book I’ve ever read that deals with issues of AI (artificial Intelligence) and explores the idea of the spark of humanity. Not being a sci-fi aficionado, my only personal interaction with AI characters has been through HAL9000 in “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) and Lieutenant Data from the 1990s Star Trek series. Somewhere in between those two is C3-P0 from Star Wars. I rather loved Data, and his increasingly humane non-humanity. He also seemed completely gay to me. HAL was just a nightmare of technology gone rogue, and the droids in Star Wars were just robots – interesting and amusing in their almost-humanity. I raise that point, because Barton brings that very thing up in “Brobots:” the Sentients are accepted by society as long as they stay in some carefully defined role that seems to suit their artificial status. They can be useful, they can be interesting or amusing. Once they branch out into human realms, expressing human needs, they begin to cut too close and people begin to fret.
The developing relationship between Jared and Byron is at the center of Barton’s substantial narrative, but it is not the point of the narrative, which is what pulls this book away from M/M and into gay lit/sci-fi. The real guts of the story is Jared’s emerging understanding of the nature of these complex, technologically miraculous machines, as well as the Sentients’ awakening to the possibilities of the intelligence they have been given. Overlaid onto this plot is an international military-industrial complex fantasy that feels too plausible to laugh off (especially in the strange political moment at which I write this, January 22, 2017).
If I have a complaint about “Brobots,” it would be that Barton piles on a great deal of new material at the end of the book – introducing new characters and new plot points that were really interesting, but felt rather crowded and rushed. There is something of a climactic moment at the end that felt just a bit off to me, because it was dropped in almost out of nowhere. If somehow Barton had insinuated hints of this earlier on, it wouldn’t have felt so jarring (at least to me).
I should also note that I was slightly bemused by the fact that Barton hasn’t made any attempt to disguise his British English. The book is supposedly set in Colorado in the US, but everyone speaks a language full of British colloquialisms. I tried to pretend that in 50 years we’ll all speak that way, but it didn’t really work. I’ve read lots of British books of late, so the language is perfectly familiar; but it sort of broke the sense of place. I’m not sure why Barton didn’t set the book in the UK, since the American location didn’t seem to matter hugely (except, perhaps, for the need for isolated places).
All that said, I loved this story and the premise behind it. There’s no mystery that the Sentients are a metaphor for any marginalized group that’s ever struggled for equal rights. At the core of what I liked best in “Brobots” is the eternal puzzle of why human beings, the most complex and miraculous of all biological machines, can become monsters.
A second book is promised, and I look forward to it with great pleasure.
March 5, 2017
7 of 10 ★
I generally pass on self-published novels unless they come recommended by someone I respect or have hundreds of positive reviews. I decided to give Brobots a try because the author impressed me during group interactions. Reading the novel has been fulfilling and I'm glad I got the book.
On the surface Brobots is about sentient, fully functional, android AIs. I found it more about being alienated from 'normal' society which interfaces well with it's Gay theme. In a prior century it could have been called "Strangers in a Strange Land". The author introduces and explores these concepts in some depth and leaves hints on what may come in further volumes.
What I liked:
What impressed me most, I think, and what stands apart from many self-pubished books I've read, is how well-crafted the novel is. The language flows easily and can be read quickly without the stuttering I've found in works written by the less experienced or in works poorly edited.
The plot is interesting and sensible without obvious flaws. The main characters could be among my few, well-chosen friends. The science is all possible, but still remains fictional today which is how I like my Sci-Fi. The conflict is reasonable and not forced. It seems based on experience. The author's apparent point of view comes though but is not forced either. One feels it from the action of the characters and from some author asides. It was a good read and I will continue the series, especially if I am informed about releases.
What could be improved IMO:
All books have typos. There seemed to be too many in this edition. Spelling was not a problem, but word choice seemed to be here and there. It caused me to have to stop and consider sometimes. Perhaps some of this was British construction I am unfamiliar with, but not all. This was not a big problem for me.
At various points the author inserts a didactic aside separate from the action. The entire timbre of the text changes. If on purpose, it works, though I had to stop and try to figure out what the author was saying or trying to say and decide if I agreed. Would it not be better to include these concepts and ideas into the plot, characterization, action etc of the novel?
Finally there’s a detail about the structure of the universe I’d like explained. Why would the Brobots be made to have fully functional ‘reproductive’ systems, fully sensitized, if they were created to be construction androids? I think there may be some hints that we will find out more about this in subsequent novels. It may be that the Brobots were made to be as human seeming as possible (a la Noonien Soong). But, this does not seem like something a business or corporation would do if profit their main motive.
If this is your kind of novel, do read it and review it. The success of the self-publishing industry depends on word of mouth.
I generally pass on self-published novels unless they come recommended by someone I respect or have hundreds of positive reviews. I decided to give Brobots a try because the author impressed me during group interactions. Reading the novel has been fulfilling and I'm glad I got the book.
On the surface Brobots is about sentient, fully functional, android AIs. I found it more about being alienated from 'normal' society which interfaces well with it's Gay theme. In a prior century it could have been called "Strangers in a Strange Land". The author introduces and explores these concepts in some depth and leaves hints on what may come in further volumes.
What I liked:
What impressed me most, I think, and what stands apart from many self-pubished books I've read, is how well-crafted the novel is. The language flows easily and can be read quickly without the stuttering I've found in works written by the less experienced or in works poorly edited.
The plot is interesting and sensible without obvious flaws. The main characters could be among my few, well-chosen friends. The science is all possible, but still remains fictional today which is how I like my Sci-Fi. The conflict is reasonable and not forced. It seems based on experience. The author's apparent point of view comes though but is not forced either. One feels it from the action of the characters and from some author asides. It was a good read and I will continue the series, especially if I am informed about releases.
What could be improved IMO:
All books have typos. There seemed to be too many in this edition. Spelling was not a problem, but word choice seemed to be here and there. It caused me to have to stop and consider sometimes. Perhaps some of this was British construction I am unfamiliar with, but not all. This was not a big problem for me.
At various points the author inserts a didactic aside separate from the action. The entire timbre of the text changes. If on purpose, it works, though I had to stop and try to figure out what the author was saying or trying to say and decide if I agreed. Would it not be better to include these concepts and ideas into the plot, characterization, action etc of the novel?
Finally there’s a detail about the structure of the universe I’d like explained. Why would the Brobots be made to have fully functional ‘reproductive’ systems, fully sensitized, if they were created to be construction androids? I think there may be some hints that we will find out more about this in subsequent novels. It may be that the Brobots were made to be as human seeming as possible (a la Noonien Soong). But, this does not seem like something a business or corporation would do if profit their main motive.
If this is your kind of novel, do read it and review it. The success of the self-publishing industry depends on word of mouth.
Want to read
March 1, 2017Price drop to $0.99 at Amazon Us right now, 3/1/17 :)
November 22, 2017
Genre - Science Fiction/Glbt
Publication - Published Independently December 9, 2016
Format - Kindle
Pages - 352
Stars - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I totally and completely enjoyed “Brobots (Brobots, Book One)” by Trevor Barton. Original and relatable. This read had a little bit of everything...a bit of humor, a love story, coming of age, family/community, turmoil, forgiveness, betrayal, friendship, jealousy and some treachery and double dealing to name a few. While geographically the story takes place on U.S. soil it has many British nuances, especially in dialogue…which I found charming and very much in line with how our society is put together in the real world. You will no doubt find yourself comparing your actual friends and extended family to some of the characters in this book (I sure was...and having a wonderful time doing it and remembering some of my past adventures). All in all, for a debut and the first book in a series this was a win, win on all counts. I am so looking forward to the next books in the “Brobots” series. I recommend this to anyone...gay, straight, robot or human. It’s just a lot of fun and great entertainment.
Synopsis (from back cover): Rod burners. Scaff dawgs. Laggers. Bucket dumpers. Lerps. Duct monkeys. Tin knockers. Lumbergs. Artificial men. Product of a troubled firm. Brobots. Cheap manual labor. Invisible.
Easy, then, to trash.
A spark, an ultimatum, and a journey. Three books. One epic tale. One year in the making.
Not being human, it’s easy to dehumanize them. Are they even alive?
We’re getting the future we deserve. Did you think AI ethics was about how we program them?
Jared takes home a cute man he finds in a dumpster and then gets drawn into a world of robots, parenting and conspiracy.
Artificial intelligence can’t be programmed. It has to be grown. Some machines are learning who they are, and humans could do with a bit of that, too.
Publication - Published Independently December 9, 2016
Format - Kindle
Pages - 352
Stars - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I totally and completely enjoyed “Brobots (Brobots, Book One)” by Trevor Barton. Original and relatable. This read had a little bit of everything...a bit of humor, a love story, coming of age, family/community, turmoil, forgiveness, betrayal, friendship, jealousy and some treachery and double dealing to name a few. While geographically the story takes place on U.S. soil it has many British nuances, especially in dialogue…which I found charming and very much in line with how our society is put together in the real world. You will no doubt find yourself comparing your actual friends and extended family to some of the characters in this book (I sure was...and having a wonderful time doing it and remembering some of my past adventures). All in all, for a debut and the first book in a series this was a win, win on all counts. I am so looking forward to the next books in the “Brobots” series. I recommend this to anyone...gay, straight, robot or human. It’s just a lot of fun and great entertainment.
Synopsis (from back cover): Rod burners. Scaff dawgs. Laggers. Bucket dumpers. Lerps. Duct monkeys. Tin knockers. Lumbergs. Artificial men. Product of a troubled firm. Brobots. Cheap manual labor. Invisible.
Easy, then, to trash.
A spark, an ultimatum, and a journey. Three books. One epic tale. One year in the making.
Not being human, it’s easy to dehumanize them. Are they even alive?
We’re getting the future we deserve. Did you think AI ethics was about how we program them?
Jared takes home a cute man he finds in a dumpster and then gets drawn into a world of robots, parenting and conspiracy.
Artificial intelligence can’t be programmed. It has to be grown. Some machines are learning who they are, and humans could do with a bit of that, too.
Read
January 29, 2017My kinda jam.
March 3, 2017
(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews. Rated 4.5 out of 5.0 Love Bytes)
This book came to me through a recommendation from a friend on Goodreads. This is the second book he has sent me and again I loved his recommendation. I hope he continues to make recommendations like this one!
Brobots is a first book from a new author, but it really didn’t read like one. The premise, characters and storyline were all fantastic. There were a few minor issues with British versus American English that should maybe have been caught, for example, lounge. We don’t have ‘lounges’ in homes in the US. Minor stuff, but things to watch in the sequel, which I’m excited to say the end of the book clearly shows will be coming down the road. I hope soon!
The story is set in the 2060’s in the United States. I think the author did a good job describing life 45 years from now, although it looked much like life in 2017 in the US. There were nefarious military deals going on without political authority, there were disenfranchised young white men, angry at the world and it was a time of great change. The angry mobs are looking for a scapegoat. Sound familiar?
When Jared Thomas is out walking his dog one night, he goes further than he normally does and walks past a large construction site. The site had been all over the news because they are using only robotic labor and the robots look nearly 100% human. While walking by, Jared can’t help but notice a leg hanging out of a dumpster. What’s a guy to do? He investigates, of course. When he finds a dysfunctional robotic man, who is totally hot, the gay computer programmer loads him in a robotic taxi and takes him home.
There begins the tale of Jared, Byron, and an ever-increasing group of characters. I really liked almost all of them. The book was a fast and enjoyable read once I got into it. The book makes you wonder what will happen when machines get too smart. Happily, this story went on a non-Terminator path. Hopefully, the next book will as well!
I’m going to be a little bit honest about the beginning of the book. The first chapter of this book had a long name that didn’t work on my Kindle, making me think it was some sort of file conversion error. I had no frame of reference yet, and I didn’t really understand what I was reading, it was a little confusing and had me scratching my head. I honestly almost put the book down. But… I persevered and starting reading the second chapter ‘Byron’ and was hooked. The rest of the book I read in one sitting. I did that one sitting with a horrendous head and chest cold, coughing and hacking and sneezing, but still reading.
As I hinted above, I really, really, really liked the premise, characters and storyline in this book. I’m going to go out on a limb and give it a 4.5 Love Bytes rating. A little more polish would have been good, but it worked. I liked it, and I highly recommend it to science fiction readers.
This book came to me through a recommendation from a friend on Goodreads. This is the second book he has sent me and again I loved his recommendation. I hope he continues to make recommendations like this one!
Brobots is a first book from a new author, but it really didn’t read like one. The premise, characters and storyline were all fantastic. There were a few minor issues with British versus American English that should maybe have been caught, for example, lounge. We don’t have ‘lounges’ in homes in the US. Minor stuff, but things to watch in the sequel, which I’m excited to say the end of the book clearly shows will be coming down the road. I hope soon!
The story is set in the 2060’s in the United States. I think the author did a good job describing life 45 years from now, although it looked much like life in 2017 in the US. There were nefarious military deals going on without political authority, there were disenfranchised young white men, angry at the world and it was a time of great change. The angry mobs are looking for a scapegoat. Sound familiar?
When Jared Thomas is out walking his dog one night, he goes further than he normally does and walks past a large construction site. The site had been all over the news because they are using only robotic labor and the robots look nearly 100% human. While walking by, Jared can’t help but notice a leg hanging out of a dumpster. What’s a guy to do? He investigates, of course. When he finds a dysfunctional robotic man, who is totally hot, the gay computer programmer loads him in a robotic taxi and takes him home.
There begins the tale of Jared, Byron, and an ever-increasing group of characters. I really liked almost all of them. The book was a fast and enjoyable read once I got into it. The book makes you wonder what will happen when machines get too smart. Happily, this story went on a non-Terminator path. Hopefully, the next book will as well!
I’m going to be a little bit honest about the beginning of the book. The first chapter of this book had a long name that didn’t work on my Kindle, making me think it was some sort of file conversion error. I had no frame of reference yet, and I didn’t really understand what I was reading, it was a little confusing and had me scratching my head. I honestly almost put the book down. But… I persevered and starting reading the second chapter ‘Byron’ and was hooked. The rest of the book I read in one sitting. I did that one sitting with a horrendous head and chest cold, coughing and hacking and sneezing, but still reading.
As I hinted above, I really, really, really liked the premise, characters and storyline in this book. I’m going to go out on a limb and give it a 4.5 Love Bytes rating. A little more polish would have been good, but it worked. I liked it, and I highly recommend it to science fiction readers.
February 4, 2017
Read as part of a group read. Very interesting concept for the plot. Set in near future. Some of the advancements of this time are very plausible, some don't seem far enough, but maybe that's because I grew up in the 1960's and expected to have my personal jet pack by now and live like the Jetsons. I think near term future is the hardest thing to get right because there are so many current things that might advance super fast and some that don't. What is right about this book is human nature doesn't change and that is thru and thru this book.
This is the author's first published work. He is English and writing a story set in USA. The slang is sometimes UK based, but the intent is understandable.
The main thrust of the book is human robot love. Can it happen? Is it good? I must say I haven't read any gay robot books ever and this was cool just for that aspect. I am constantly told that porn drives innovation in movies and sex toys and virtual reality, so why not robotics? Ex Machina is the most recent movie that I have seen where sentient beings are indistinguishable from humans. Quite a disturbing movie to me actually. It makes me recal Issac Asimov's Three Rules of Robotics.
Also what was constantly going thru my mind was the political situation in US where Trump has banned people from certain countries from entering US. All the hatred he has stirred up. All the conspiracy theories. The love story that is also a part of this book has its quirks and fumbles, but is very sweet. There is not a huge amount of sex on page. What was very interesting to me was the sentient beings coming out of their initial head space of work, recharch, work, recharge and figuring out who they were as individuals. Then add that some are attracted to males and you have a double whammy of how to fit into society. The author does this nicely but maybe a little fast. In fact there seems to be a rush to get thru the plot pretty fast. I think the novel could have been longer to explore more of the human/sentient relationships.
There are many secondary characters in the book with varying degrees of fleshing out.
A very enjoyable read.
There is a sequel in process.
This is the author's first published work. He is English and writing a story set in USA. The slang is sometimes UK based, but the intent is understandable.
The main thrust of the book is human robot love. Can it happen? Is it good? I must say I haven't read any gay robot books ever and this was cool just for that aspect. I am constantly told that porn drives innovation in movies and sex toys and virtual reality, so why not robotics? Ex Machina is the most recent movie that I have seen where sentient beings are indistinguishable from humans. Quite a disturbing movie to me actually. It makes me recal Issac Asimov's Three Rules of Robotics.
Also what was constantly going thru my mind was the political situation in US where Trump has banned people from certain countries from entering US. All the hatred he has stirred up. All the conspiracy theories. The love story that is also a part of this book has its quirks and fumbles, but is very sweet. There is not a huge amount of sex on page. What was very interesting to me was the sentient beings coming out of their initial head space of work, recharch, work, recharge and figuring out who they were as individuals. Then add that some are attracted to males and you have a double whammy of how to fit into society. The author does this nicely but maybe a little fast. In fact there seems to be a rush to get thru the plot pretty fast. I think the novel could have been longer to explore more of the human/sentient relationships.
There are many secondary characters in the book with varying degrees of fleshing out.
A very enjoyable read.
There is a sequel in process.
February 5, 2017
Conspiracy! Robots! Romance! Humor! Code monkeys!
This book had all my favorite things. It was quite the surprise from what I expected. It was a lot of fun, and at the same time, digs into the big philosophical issues surrounding AI and consciousness.
This book had all my favorite things. It was quite the surprise from what I expected. It was a lot of fun, and at the same time, digs into the big philosophical issues surrounding AI and consciousness.
August 12, 2017
Definitely not the kind of book I'd normally read. I'm not big on sci-fi, but I enjoyed it. The story is engaging and the characters were likable. I'll check out the sequel for sure.
January 30, 2018
This is my review of Brobots, from my M/M Romance Books Blog, OJ He Say. Click the link below to see the whole review and more.
Brobots
I guess some things are just meant to be, eh? No, I am not Canadian and this book was truly serendipitous for me. I had been searching aimlessly on Amazon for some science fiction with gay characters when I came upon Brobots. What is this, thought I. It actually looked like good, quality science fiction with gay MCs. Something I could sink my teeth into just for my own enjoyment, so I one-clicked. Damn you Amazon and your one-click!
A few days later I received a message via my blog from Mr. Barton wondering if I was interested in reviewing his trilogy. I was so surprised I just sat there for a minute staring at the monitor and quickly answered him back.
Hey Bros, I’m so glad I got to know Mr. Barton!
THE CHARACTERS
Byron:
Jared was immensely curious, a little (okay, a lot) geeky, loved to code, and to put it plainly
just couldn’t leave this stunningly handsome broken machine behind in an oversized trashcan. Wiener and geekery were winning out over sanity…
He was adorable. He had a polished-looking button nose and big dark eyes peeking out from a chubby face. It would be puppy fat, but he somehow looked older than ‘twenties.’ Kind of Jared’s age: mid- to late thirties. He had something of a gentle look about him too. The craftsmanship was amazing.
Jared:
Jared was indeed, by all measures, cute. He had looks. Blue eyes. Fair, short hair. He was tall, and built. Coding hadn’t done that, but dog walks and gym trips had done their work. He’d never considered himself to be a looker; always judging himself by what he wasn’t: not a model, not a bodybuilder, more of an otter than a bear, no longer young enough to be a twink. His penchant for scruffy clothes probably didn’t help. De rigueur though his outfits were for code monkeys, they might not be right for his age any more. A man couldn’t get away with tees, cargo pants and trainers much beyond 35.
THE STORY
I can’t tell you just how good this story is. It’s really, really good. Like hardcore science fiction good, enough to start me to get my geek on with the first book in the trilogy and a whole new, to me, trope.It’s set just far enough into the future to have it be real.
Do you have an Alexa? Perhaps one of those Google home things? I have an Alexa. I have two Alexas so I’m not far from her, ever. She controls our AC, which I’ve named Hal 9000. She controls our ‘smart’ air purifiers, which I’ve named Chucky 1 and Chucky 2. She starts my car from our apartment and sets the temperature on it so it’s warm/cool when I get to it (it’s a Florida thing). She controls all our lighting in the apartment through a hub, which I’ve named The Borg. Go ahead and ask Alexa if she’s Intelligent. Oh, go ahead. Really. And while you’re at it, ask her her IQ. I dare you.
So, what I was getting to is that in the next ten years, maybe even sooner, we’ll be seeing an exponential increase in AI and robotics. Are we ready? I think not, and that’s exactly what this book is all about. We are going to undergo seismic shifts in our lives and culture unlike any before, not even the industrial revolution. Hold on, sweetie, this is gonna be a hell of ride.
This story is about that shift and one potential outcome. It’s timely, well set in the time continuum, and has excellent nods to a group that ‘may’ have just gained legality but will struggle with acceptance and pushbacks for years to come. LGBTQ, anyone? I even has the development of new, non-conventional family structures. Color me surprised.
The ending is phenomenal. Took me by surprise, that’s how deep I let myself fall into the story. Well done, Mr. Barton.
Please think of Book 1 in the trilogy as the appetizer and soup in a multi-course dinner. There’s a deeper story yet to develop and I, for one, can’t wait!
Oh, one last thing about the story: have you ever wondered what it feels like for an android to have sex? Well, what are you waiting for? Come and find out.
THE WRITING
Mr. Barton’s writing was crisp, well-crafted, and to the point. It’s not florid and it doesn’t go into a lot of needless detail. Yeah, it’s a tad geeky and that’s part of what makes the book so enjoyable.
The characters are well developed for a science fiction book. This isn’t a romance book, boys and girls, it’s science fiction. Good, solid science fiction and yes, some darn hot sex! Yes, there are relationships that are well crafted in the book, but we don’t need to get deep into why Jared does what he does. Suffice it to say that it’s adequately covered in the book and let’s get on to the shenanigans at hand, and those there are aplenty!
THE DISCLAIMER
Hey ma, look! There’s no disclaimer. I bought the whole darned series just before Mr. Barton reached out to me. So there, Claire!
Brobots
I guess some things are just meant to be, eh? No, I am not Canadian and this book was truly serendipitous for me. I had been searching aimlessly on Amazon for some science fiction with gay characters when I came upon Brobots. What is this, thought I. It actually looked like good, quality science fiction with gay MCs. Something I could sink my teeth into just for my own enjoyment, so I one-clicked. Damn you Amazon and your one-click!
A few days later I received a message via my blog from Mr. Barton wondering if I was interested in reviewing his trilogy. I was so surprised I just sat there for a minute staring at the monitor and quickly answered him back.
Hey Bros, I’m so glad I got to know Mr. Barton!
THE CHARACTERS
Byron:
Jared was immensely curious, a little (okay, a lot) geeky, loved to code, and to put it plainly
just couldn’t leave this stunningly handsome broken machine behind in an oversized trashcan. Wiener and geekery were winning out over sanity…
He was adorable. He had a polished-looking button nose and big dark eyes peeking out from a chubby face. It would be puppy fat, but he somehow looked older than ‘twenties.’ Kind of Jared’s age: mid- to late thirties. He had something of a gentle look about him too. The craftsmanship was amazing.
Jared:
Jared was indeed, by all measures, cute. He had looks. Blue eyes. Fair, short hair. He was tall, and built. Coding hadn’t done that, but dog walks and gym trips had done their work. He’d never considered himself to be a looker; always judging himself by what he wasn’t: not a model, not a bodybuilder, more of an otter than a bear, no longer young enough to be a twink. His penchant for scruffy clothes probably didn’t help. De rigueur though his outfits were for code monkeys, they might not be right for his age any more. A man couldn’t get away with tees, cargo pants and trainers much beyond 35.
THE STORY
I can’t tell you just how good this story is. It’s really, really good. Like hardcore science fiction good, enough to start me to get my geek on with the first book in the trilogy and a whole new, to me, trope.It’s set just far enough into the future to have it be real.
Do you have an Alexa? Perhaps one of those Google home things? I have an Alexa. I have two Alexas so I’m not far from her, ever. She controls our AC, which I’ve named Hal 9000. She controls our ‘smart’ air purifiers, which I’ve named Chucky 1 and Chucky 2. She starts my car from our apartment and sets the temperature on it so it’s warm/cool when I get to it (it’s a Florida thing). She controls all our lighting in the apartment through a hub, which I’ve named The Borg. Go ahead and ask Alexa if she’s Intelligent. Oh, go ahead. Really. And while you’re at it, ask her her IQ. I dare you.
So, what I was getting to is that in the next ten years, maybe even sooner, we’ll be seeing an exponential increase in AI and robotics. Are we ready? I think not, and that’s exactly what this book is all about. We are going to undergo seismic shifts in our lives and culture unlike any before, not even the industrial revolution. Hold on, sweetie, this is gonna be a hell of ride.
This story is about that shift and one potential outcome. It’s timely, well set in the time continuum, and has excellent nods to a group that ‘may’ have just gained legality but will struggle with acceptance and pushbacks for years to come. LGBTQ, anyone? I even has the development of new, non-conventional family structures. Color me surprised.
The ending is phenomenal. Took me by surprise, that’s how deep I let myself fall into the story. Well done, Mr. Barton.
Please think of Book 1 in the trilogy as the appetizer and soup in a multi-course dinner. There’s a deeper story yet to develop and I, for one, can’t wait!
Oh, one last thing about the story: have you ever wondered what it feels like for an android to have sex? Well, what are you waiting for? Come and find out.
THE WRITING
Mr. Barton’s writing was crisp, well-crafted, and to the point. It’s not florid and it doesn’t go into a lot of needless detail. Yeah, it’s a tad geeky and that’s part of what makes the book so enjoyable.
The characters are well developed for a science fiction book. This isn’t a romance book, boys and girls, it’s science fiction. Good, solid science fiction and yes, some darn hot sex! Yes, there are relationships that are well crafted in the book, but we don’t need to get deep into why Jared does what he does. Suffice it to say that it’s adequately covered in the book and let’s get on to the shenanigans at hand, and those there are aplenty!
THE DISCLAIMER
Hey ma, look! There’s no disclaimer. I bought the whole darned series just before Mr. Barton reached out to me. So there, Claire!
December 28, 2017
This is an extremely likeable book, with two engaging leads and a host of affectionately-written, secondary characters. At first, Jared seems a little nondescript, but soon grows in strength after he finds Byron in a dumpster and begins the quest to find a replacement battery to switch him back on.
The book was fairly slow to get going, but there is a lot of corporate intrigue to set up first, plus the familiarisation with Brobots (the company’s) AI technology.
The book gained in purpose as it went along, developing into an interesting story about how the humanoid robots fair when they are unleashed from human bondage to set out on their own. Their first stop is to a “farm” set up by the mysterious Susan, where they begin to learn about what it is to be human. In doing so, the humans teaching them learn more about themselves as well.
It was a clever plot, and one that I can see easily developing over the next two stories. It mainly deals with Jared and Byron, their burgeoning love, and the problems that an AI/human relationship come up against. In the background, Byron’s AI friends are also adjusting to life as free sentient beings, making mistakes along the way.
I guess at first I was slightly uncomfortable at the way the sentients seemed almost too human. It seemed a bit of a cop-out, but the author was at pains to describe the feelings they experienced though the medium of technology and science, and it was well done without being too technical. Also, the author has a style of writing that I haven’t seen since the 80’s, that of varying points of view within the same chapter, sometimes even the same paragraph.
Done badly, this can be catastrophic, but done well, it can really immerse the reader into the minds of the characters, all of which are experiencing new sensations. On the whole, it worked, and after the initial shock, I got over it and wasn’t jolted out of the story.
The love scenes between Byron and Jared were also convincing, although some poetic licence had been taken, especially with regard to … er … dousing electrical components with liquid, for example. Their love was sweet, Byron being a big lunk still learning the niceties (or otherwise) of human behaviour. There was some humour and some tension and not too much sentiment. The romance element was pitched just right, and didn’t get in the way of the other aspects of the plot. The author answered all my questions as they came up, and didn’t leave anything dangling. This is a carefully thought-out book, with a highly creative plot and characters to root for.
Without spoilers, I can say the ending was interesting, satisfying, and led neatly into the next book. If it’s as good as this one, readers will be in for a treat.
The book was fairly slow to get going, but there is a lot of corporate intrigue to set up first, plus the familiarisation with Brobots (the company’s) AI technology.
The book gained in purpose as it went along, developing into an interesting story about how the humanoid robots fair when they are unleashed from human bondage to set out on their own. Their first stop is to a “farm” set up by the mysterious Susan, where they begin to learn about what it is to be human. In doing so, the humans teaching them learn more about themselves as well.
It was a clever plot, and one that I can see easily developing over the next two stories. It mainly deals with Jared and Byron, their burgeoning love, and the problems that an AI/human relationship come up against. In the background, Byron’s AI friends are also adjusting to life as free sentient beings, making mistakes along the way.
I guess at first I was slightly uncomfortable at the way the sentients seemed almost too human. It seemed a bit of a cop-out, but the author was at pains to describe the feelings they experienced though the medium of technology and science, and it was well done without being too technical. Also, the author has a style of writing that I haven’t seen since the 80’s, that of varying points of view within the same chapter, sometimes even the same paragraph.
Done badly, this can be catastrophic, but done well, it can really immerse the reader into the minds of the characters, all of which are experiencing new sensations. On the whole, it worked, and after the initial shock, I got over it and wasn’t jolted out of the story.
The love scenes between Byron and Jared were also convincing, although some poetic licence had been taken, especially with regard to … er … dousing electrical components with liquid, for example. Their love was sweet, Byron being a big lunk still learning the niceties (or otherwise) of human behaviour. There was some humour and some tension and not too much sentiment. The romance element was pitched just right, and didn’t get in the way of the other aspects of the plot. The author answered all my questions as they came up, and didn’t leave anything dangling. This is a carefully thought-out book, with a highly creative plot and characters to root for.
Without spoilers, I can say the ending was interesting, satisfying, and led neatly into the next book. If it’s as good as this one, readers will be in for a treat.
December 29, 2017
Wow... This book is so far off what I would normally read... BUT well worth it.
First up, please let me declare that the author gave me a copy to read for review. For this I'm grateful and wish to make clear that the below information is how I genuinely feel. It contains no spoilers and is written in my usual style (messy!!!).
Initially I put this book on my wish list (HUGE ASS TBR pile), I was thinking it was going to be a light and fluffy sci-fi romance and I would wait for the mood to strike me... I can categorically say that this is not how this book runs. Don't get me wrong, there is definitely some light and fluffy moments, but the way the subject matter is handled and the characters created is quite a cerebral process. There were points where I felt that I was going to be overwhelmed with thoughts and concepts, which a really good book should do, that I had to put it down for a week or two just to absorb the context of it all.
The story is very well written. There was some moment's of confusion in there for me, but they were cleared up relatively quickly and only added to the story. (Sometimes I'm not the brightest spark in the block!)
I really loved the characters. I can heartily recommend this book based on that alone. I did find it hard to read because of the name of one of the characters has the same name as me, which made a conflict in my head. I don't often encounter my own name, but it was a little disconcerting I guess, but then I guess everybody else in the world who has a character in a book with the same name, you get used to it.
I would encourage you to read this regardless if you want light and fluffy or an intellectual change of material. The story has little in the way of plot holes and I suspect with the ending that there is going to be a very great sequel.
Thank you to Trevor for the book.
First up, please let me declare that the author gave me a copy to read for review. For this I'm grateful and wish to make clear that the below information is how I genuinely feel. It contains no spoilers and is written in my usual style (messy!!!).
Initially I put this book on my wish list (HUGE ASS TBR pile), I was thinking it was going to be a light and fluffy sci-fi romance and I would wait for the mood to strike me... I can categorically say that this is not how this book runs. Don't get me wrong, there is definitely some light and fluffy moments, but the way the subject matter is handled and the characters created is quite a cerebral process. There were points where I felt that I was going to be overwhelmed with thoughts and concepts, which a really good book should do, that I had to put it down for a week or two just to absorb the context of it all.
The story is very well written. There was some moment's of confusion in there for me, but they were cleared up relatively quickly and only added to the story. (Sometimes I'm not the brightest spark in the block!)
I really loved the characters. I can heartily recommend this book based on that alone. I did find it hard to read because of the name of one of the characters has the same name as me, which made a conflict in my head. I don't often encounter my own name, but it was a little disconcerting I guess, but then I guess everybody else in the world who has a character in a book with the same name, you get used to it.
I would encourage you to read this regardless if you want light and fluffy or an intellectual change of material. The story has little in the way of plot holes and I suspect with the ending that there is going to be a very great sequel.
Thank you to Trevor for the book.
May 31, 2017
Interesting plot. I did not like the ending; it seemed like the author didn't know how to end it, so he just kept writing. There were countless spelling mistakes throughout the entire book, which was a big turn off. The writing was also overly-descriptive and painfully cliche at times.
I'd also prefer to keep my sci-fi and my awkward sex scenes in separate books, but I'm sure that wouldn't bother some people.
I'd also prefer to keep my sci-fi and my awkward sex scenes in separate books, but I'm sure that wouldn't bother some people.
November 28, 2017
Brobots
I happened to meet the Author of this series on social media. After hearing the basic storyline, i was ready to give it a go. I loved the multiple plot lines starting separate, then intersecting. I found the whole idea very interesting.
I would recommend this series to any nerd who likes a little "bromance" with their sci-fi!
I happened to meet the Author of this series on social media. After hearing the basic storyline, i was ready to give it a go. I loved the multiple plot lines starting separate, then intersecting. I found the whole idea very interesting.
I would recommend this series to any nerd who likes a little "bromance" with their sci-fi!
July 15, 2018
Structurally, this book is _very_ hard to read. If you've ever read a Korean web manga, it's a lot like that. Pages and pages of stuff with no real relation to the plot.
More specifically, there is a lot of irrelevant dialogue, even for characterization, and the author followed guidance about "be precise" a bit too much.
For instance, a scene covered in the synopsis: The protagonist needs to get the robot he found home. The author tells us how this happens very precisely in a great many words; however, the author gave us no information other than: "It took some time, and a lot of work, but protag finally managed to get the robot home."
So the added precision so lauded by creative writing teachers from kindergarten up, wound up detracting from the story.
When the writing is good though, it's very good, the author has some excellent and engaging dialog, it's just I feel like he was trying to hard to make more pages.
On an unrelated note, while the story is set in the near future, it _feels_ more like it's set in the recent past. There are too many allusions to current events at the time of writing, and i-watches and self driving cars already exist. Though not to the extent referenced in the story.
More specifically, there is a lot of irrelevant dialogue, even for characterization, and the author followed guidance about "be precise" a bit too much.
For instance, a scene covered in the synopsis: The protagonist needs to get the robot he found home. The author tells us how this happens very precisely in a great many words; however, the author gave us no information other than: "It took some time, and a lot of work, but protag finally managed to get the robot home."
So the added precision so lauded by creative writing teachers from kindergarten up, wound up detracting from the story.
When the writing is good though, it's very good, the author has some excellent and engaging dialog, it's just I feel like he was trying to hard to make more pages.
On an unrelated note, while the story is set in the near future, it _feels_ more like it's set in the recent past. There are too many allusions to current events at the time of writing, and i-watches and self driving cars already exist. Though not to the extent referenced in the story.
October 25, 2017
I liked this story very much until about 3/4 of the way in, when it became kind of muddled . the concept of sentient beings and questions of their rights to be citizens... okay. but the relationships were kind of juvenile, the conversations stilted and the book dissolved into a romance novel. I liked the science fiction parts much better. and I wish it had ended earlier, than trying to settle everyone into a happy little family.
also, am I the only reviewer who thinks the romance between a robot and a human is kind of weird?
I received this book for free from goodreads.
also, am I the only reviewer who thinks the romance between a robot and a human is kind of weird?
I received this book for free from goodreads.
March 10, 2017
You can read my review of “Brobots” at my web site.
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