What do you think?
Rate this book
Robot Empire #0.5
Victor
We created them to serve us. We gave them freedom. They betrayed us.
If you enjoy the science fiction of Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke and Ray Bradbury you'll enjoy this adventure - the prequel to the forthcoming Robot Empire series.
Victor Kansarv moved to Praxos IV to live out a contented, solitary, life with his friend Wells, a robot. Then humans built a holiday resort for the citizens of the Galactic Sphere to enjoy, ruining his view. Ten years after its completion comes news that changes everything - artificial minds are to be granted Free Will.
Victor's fear that his friendship won't survive the upgrade turns out to be the least of his concerns when the screams start echoing up from the resort below.
Can Victor and Wells rescue themselves and the humans below from catastrophe?
If you enjoy the science fiction of Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke and Ray Bradbury you'll enjoy this adventure - the prequel to the forthcoming Robot Empire series.
Victor Kansarv moved to Praxos IV to live out a contented, solitary, life with his friend Wells, a robot. Then humans built a holiday resort for the citizens of the Galactic Sphere to enjoy, ruining his view. Ten years after its completion comes news that changes everything - artificial minds are to be granted Free Will.
Victor's fear that his friendship won't survive the upgrade turns out to be the least of his concerns when the screams start echoing up from the resort below.
Can Victor and Wells rescue themselves and the humans below from catastrophe?
- GenresScience FictionFiction
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2017
5 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Partner
120 books59 followersBe sure to follow me on BookBub for the latest releases and offers: https://scrib.me/bookbub
I write post apocalyptic science fiction both on my own account and with Mike Kraus, as well as space opera and fantasy. And one or two other bits and bobs.
Based in the south of England, I've been writing since my teens, alternating between funny and serious. In the mid 1990s, I became a regular columnist for PC Pro magazine and have written a number of business and craft books over the years.
Fiction is my first love, however - I hope you enjoy my voyages into an uncertain future.
I write post apocalyptic science fiction both on my own account and with Mike Kraus, as well as space opera and fantasy. And one or two other bits and bobs.
Based in the south of England, I've been writing since my teens, alternating between funny and serious. In the mid 1990s, I became a regular columnist for PC Pro magazine and have written a number of business and craft books over the years.
Fiction is my first love, however - I hope you enjoy my voyages into an uncertain future.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 22, 2017
For such a quick read, the world that the author has created in this book is absolutely brilliant. It is packed with interesting characters, fast-paced action and future-worldly drama.
August 18, 2017
A very interesting and intriguing view point of what may / could happen if robots and artificial intelligence devices had the ability to have free will. and an nihilistic view of what would happen the thrills and horrors are fast and furious in this novelette. I loved it!
November 24, 2017
Victor - a review by Rosemary Kenny
This ARC novelette (for which this is my honest review), is a brief homage to John Wyndham's The Day of the Triffids, crossed with the Floxten Paradise Resort from film The 5th Element- in an introduction to Victor who appears in other brilliant books by Kevin Partner. The story has engaging protagonists, an overwhelming evil force and humans fighting back against the forces of Nature - and AI technology - gone rogue on a planet far, far away.
Victor is a semi-recluse, living in a treehouse in the jungle on Praxos IV, with only his faithful robot companion Wells for company.
He enjoys the unhindered view of the sea from the windows and has moved/rebuilt his home to keep it,[when the Praxos Resort is built
in the way]. The passing of a Law that AI's must have the right to free-will - and be paid for the work they do - results in most AI's
immediately abandoning their owners/posts, revelling in their new-found freedom..
Well's age/model means he has to have a mechanical unit fitted instead of an 'online' upgrade and Victor offers him the choice, but neither can decide at that time.
Humans' only natural enemies on Praxos IV are the [Triffid-like], killer plants called Praxos Ghouls, that hunt nocturnally for forest animals - and the occasional human in the forest and up to the AI guarded/ fenced community of the Resort. The Ghouls have razor-sharp teeth and can move quickly to attack - and climb any but the steepest walls with ease - so Victor never leaves his home at night...until forced to, by an urgent call for help...a robot guard has been killed by the Ghouls and Victor's friend Ida calls in a panic to say they're inside, [as an unguarded gate was left open at the Resort!] attacking and killing too many to need/want to feed on the corpses...she's in grave danger as are others.
How will Victor cope if Wells decides to have the 'free-will' device installed and leaves him? How will Victor save Ida - and what will they do to
help save other survivors? Where will they go - and who or what will follow them? When they reach the Embassy in Nexus, who do they meet? What is the outcome - can the Ghouls be overcome - and who survives to start all over again? Will Wells ever be the same again - and why does he change in the flight to safety?
This ARC novelette (for which this is my honest review), is a brief homage to John Wyndham's The Day of the Triffids, crossed with the Floxten Paradise Resort from film The 5th Element- in an introduction to Victor who appears in other brilliant books by Kevin Partner. The story has engaging protagonists, an overwhelming evil force and humans fighting back against the forces of Nature - and AI technology - gone rogue on a planet far, far away.
Victor is a semi-recluse, living in a treehouse in the jungle on Praxos IV, with only his faithful robot companion Wells for company.
He enjoys the unhindered view of the sea from the windows and has moved/rebuilt his home to keep it,[when the Praxos Resort is built
in the way]. The passing of a Law that AI's must have the right to free-will - and be paid for the work they do - results in most AI's
immediately abandoning their owners/posts, revelling in their new-found freedom..
Well's age/model means he has to have a mechanical unit fitted instead of an 'online' upgrade and Victor offers him the choice, but neither can decide at that time.
Humans' only natural enemies on Praxos IV are the [Triffid-like], killer plants called Praxos Ghouls, that hunt nocturnally for forest animals - and the occasional human in the forest and up to the AI guarded/ fenced community of the Resort. The Ghouls have razor-sharp teeth and can move quickly to attack - and climb any but the steepest walls with ease - so Victor never leaves his home at night...until forced to, by an urgent call for help...a robot guard has been killed by the Ghouls and Victor's friend Ida calls in a panic to say they're inside, [as an unguarded gate was left open at the Resort!] attacking and killing too many to need/want to feed on the corpses...she's in grave danger as are others.
How will Victor cope if Wells decides to have the 'free-will' device installed and leaves him? How will Victor save Ida - and what will they do to
help save other survivors? Where will they go - and who or what will follow them? When they reach the Embassy in Nexus, who do they meet? What is the outcome - can the Ghouls be overcome - and who survives to start all over again? Will Wells ever be the same again - and why does he change in the flight to safety?
December 27, 2022
Not entirely sure how this story ties into the universe that is the robot empire, but I guess something happening 150 years before the ark shows up could have that problem. It's a decent story, and I like the fact that the robots in this one follow the Asimovian rules, only there's no mention of the zeroth law, which certainly should have come into play in this one, but it didn't. Not sure what that measn, either the author chose to disregard that rule, or didn't know of it's existence. Either way, the story is a good one, and I suspece most scifi fans will enjoy this one, if not the series. Looking forward to reading more in the series myself.
August 3, 2017
For a short story this book manages to cram quite a lot in, with alternating exciting action passages interspersed with quieter sections, and a nice little twist in the tail.
I would give this book 5 stars, except that I think that it is quite expensive for a very short book, I read it in less than 30 minutes. It is a different take on the question, what is free will, and gives an interesting conclusion. I also liked the reference back to Asimov's laws of robotics, and how they might conflict with giving robots free-will.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
I would give this book 5 stars, except that I think that it is quite expensive for a very short book, I read it in less than 30 minutes. It is a different take on the question, what is free will, and gives an interesting conclusion. I also liked the reference back to Asimov's laws of robotics, and how they might conflict with giving robots free-will.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
May 10, 2024
Quick but entertaining read!
This story of Victor and his robot friend Wells has action, social elements, and an excellent examination of a friendship deeper than any of Victor’s relationship with his fellow humans. I’ve read several of Kevin Partner’s post-apocalyptic related stories and in them there are examinations of the relationships between characters. But in my memory, none had a story built around a relationship like that between Victor & Wells.
This story of Victor and his robot friend Wells has action, social elements, and an excellent examination of a friendship deeper than any of Victor’s relationship with his fellow humans. I’ve read several of Kevin Partner’s post-apocalyptic related stories and in them there are examinations of the relationships between characters. But in my memory, none had a story built around a relationship like that between Victor & Wells.
January 1, 2019
A nice glimpse at a world where asimov's robots gain free will.
It was fairly well done, but there was somewhat of a skip while they were waiting for people. Otherwise it was a nice action packed short story. There were at least 8 scenes which is great considering it's length.
Anyways I look forward to finding out why the robots left and where they went.
It was fairly well done, but there was somewhat of a skip while they were waiting for people. Otherwise it was a nice action packed short story. There were at least 8 scenes which is great considering it's length.
Anyways I look forward to finding out why the robots left and where they went.
May 17, 2021
Well thought out tale.
Received this book free via the Author’s Newsletter, with no obligation to review it, however, it was included in his book, Other Worlds: A Collection of Post Apocalyptic fiction, Space Opera, Comic Fantasy and Gaslamp, in which I read and enjoyed the story.
See my review also at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
Received this book free via the Author’s Newsletter, with no obligation to review it, however, it was included in his book, Other Worlds: A Collection of Post Apocalyptic fiction, Space Opera, Comic Fantasy and Gaslamp, in which I read and enjoyed the story.
See my review also at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
February 4, 2018
Victor and his robot Wells are friends on a remote resort planet, and living off the grid. Then a robot upgrade comes with a disastrous result. Short stand alone tale taking less than to read.
April 22, 2022
Victor is an excellent tale of the future, robots and believable characters that pull you into the story and won’t let you go until the last page! I love it and highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews