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Uncanny Valley #1
Uncanny Valley
Have you ever sensed that something isn't quite right, even if you can't explain why?
Rebecca Cordeaux knows exactly what her future will hold: she will marry Andy, her crush of the last five years. Once Andy is ready to settle down, she’s sure he will discover that she is his soulmate. After several small parts on stage, Rebecca knows she can become a renowned actress. Her writing also shows promise as a future author. Robots perform most human jobs that can be automated, leaving many free to pursue their personal creative interests.
But Rebecca's mother Karen fears the new world of robots, and insists her brilliant daughter join a university research team, studying the hazards of a complete robotic economy. Rebecca's father Quentin was obsessed with the subject to a degree that even her mother considered absurd, prior to his untimely death. So long as she can reserve enough of her time to pursue her true passions on the side, Rebecca half-heartedly agrees to join the research team, if only to please her widowed mother. There she joins a post-doc named Liam, whose conspiracy theories rival even those of her late father. Liam is convinced that world Republic leader William Halpert’s worldwide challenge for researchers to develop synthetic creativity will lead not to the promised utopia, in which every kind of human suffering has been eradicated, but rather to an apocalypse. Rebecca, whose best friend is her own companion bot Madeline, writes Liam off as a bot-hating conspiracy theorist, just like her father was… until she learns that her father’s death might not have been due to mere happenstance.
With Liam’s help, Rebecca learns of an underground organization known as The Renegades, where Quentin Cordeaux was considered a legend. While Liam attempts to stop Halpert’s challenge if he can, Rebecca tries to unravel the mystery of what happened to her father. Did he and many of his contemporaries die for something they knew? Who is the mysterious informant who calls himself John Doe, and only seems to want to drive her out of harm’s way? And if Halpert’s challenge is answered, will it usher in a brave new chapter in humanity’s history… or were Quentin Cordeaux’s dire predictions right all along?
Rebecca Cordeaux knows exactly what her future will hold: she will marry Andy, her crush of the last five years. Once Andy is ready to settle down, she’s sure he will discover that she is his soulmate. After several small parts on stage, Rebecca knows she can become a renowned actress. Her writing also shows promise as a future author. Robots perform most human jobs that can be automated, leaving many free to pursue their personal creative interests.
But Rebecca's mother Karen fears the new world of robots, and insists her brilliant daughter join a university research team, studying the hazards of a complete robotic economy. Rebecca's father Quentin was obsessed with the subject to a degree that even her mother considered absurd, prior to his untimely death. So long as she can reserve enough of her time to pursue her true passions on the side, Rebecca half-heartedly agrees to join the research team, if only to please her widowed mother. There she joins a post-doc named Liam, whose conspiracy theories rival even those of her late father. Liam is convinced that world Republic leader William Halpert’s worldwide challenge for researchers to develop synthetic creativity will lead not to the promised utopia, in which every kind of human suffering has been eradicated, but rather to an apocalypse. Rebecca, whose best friend is her own companion bot Madeline, writes Liam off as a bot-hating conspiracy theorist, just like her father was… until she learns that her father’s death might not have been due to mere happenstance.
With Liam’s help, Rebecca learns of an underground organization known as The Renegades, where Quentin Cordeaux was considered a legend. While Liam attempts to stop Halpert’s challenge if he can, Rebecca tries to unravel the mystery of what happened to her father. Did he and many of his contemporaries die for something they knew? Who is the mysterious informant who calls himself John Doe, and only seems to want to drive her out of harm’s way? And if Halpert’s challenge is answered, will it usher in a brave new chapter in humanity’s history… or were Quentin Cordeaux’s dire predictions right all along?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2017
196 people are currently reading
728 people want to read
About the author
C.A. Gray
29 books510 followersC.A. Gray is the author of three YA Amazon bestselling trilogies: PIERCING THE VEIL (magic and quantum physics meet Arthurian legends), THE LIBERTY BOX (dystopian metaphysics and mind control technology), and UNCANNY VALLEY (dystopian coming-of-age with neuroscience and super intelligent A.I). She starts with some scientific concept that she’s interested in learning more about herself, and then creates lots of epic chaos and high-stakes action to go along with it. Her stories are free of gratuitous violence, language, and sexual content, and she abhors depressing endings… but they’re not all kittens and rainbows either! She also listens to and reviews audiobooks on her website, here on Goodreads, on Instagram, and on her podcast, Clean Audiobook Reviews, where she also occasionally interviews other authors.
By day, C.A. Gray practices naturopathic medicine, podcasts, and writes medical non-fiction under her maiden name (Dr. Lauren Deville). She lives in Tucson, AZ with her husband Frank, and together they maintain an occasionally contentious film review blog (under her real name: Lauren Baden. Three names. Yes.) She’s kind of the queen of multitasking—so in her spare time, she creates whatever meals or crafts she found most recently on Pinterest, drinks lots of coffee (Aeropress btw) and occasional wine (reds—and she saves the corks for craft projects), works out (while listening to audiobooks), and studies the Bible—about half of the podcasts on Christian Natural Health are scripture meditations.
She does sleep, too. Promise.
Join her newsletter for best-of-the-month reads, freebies and giveaway information, as well as new releases! http://eepurl.com/F3rof
By day, C.A. Gray practices naturopathic medicine, podcasts, and writes medical non-fiction under her maiden name (Dr. Lauren Deville). She lives in Tucson, AZ with her husband Frank, and together they maintain an occasionally contentious film review blog (under her real name: Lauren Baden. Three names. Yes.) She’s kind of the queen of multitasking—so in her spare time, she creates whatever meals or crafts she found most recently on Pinterest, drinks lots of coffee (Aeropress btw) and occasional wine (reds—and she saves the corks for craft projects), works out (while listening to audiobooks), and studies the Bible—about half of the podcasts on Christian Natural Health are scripture meditations.
She does sleep, too. Promise.
Join her newsletter for best-of-the-month reads, freebies and giveaway information, as well as new releases! http://eepurl.com/F3rof
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
December 23, 2025
Great premise, lukewarm execution
I loved the concept! Rebecca Cordeaux, an undergraduate working in a research lab, lives in a world where robots have taken over just about everything. On purpose
Robots do the menial tasks, the high precision tasks and all of the tasks humans just don't want to do...only there's nothing really left for humans to do (well, besides highly specific and creative tasks).
But lately, there's been a push to grant robots creativity through a rudimentary system and soon, the world begins pushing back.
To keep my review succinct, I will focus on the two things that stood out to me the most: The characters and the science.
“You’re afraid that if the bots get creativity…”
“They’ll become super intelligent, way surpassing humans!”
The Characters: AKA it's a love-hate sorta thing
I absolutely freaking adored some of the side-characters. In paticular, Madeline, a foot-tall companion bot was my favorite. She was a darling through and through.
The author did a great job humanizing the little companion bot and ever scene I saw her in just made my heart happy. I actually liked her more than the main characters!
“I would die for you, Rebecca.” My heart swelled, but then she added, “That is the extreme of what I am programmed for.”
Which leads me to...Rebecca...
As a main character, she came very close to ruining the book for me. She's just incredibly full of herself - not in the holier-than-thou way, but more of a Mary-Sue-can't-do-anything-wrong way.
Rebecca just absolutely excels at every single aspect of her life - she's amazing at theater, has a promising creative writing career and manages to work science projects detailed enough for several PhD's all while balancing her undergrad courses.
"I gasped out the last few notes of my big solo, belting my heart out, my arms stretched up to either side of the stage. I could feel my voice hit the back wall, and I knew I sounded breathtaking."
It's just...come on. Really?
In addition, Rebecca's the smartest dumb girl I've ever read.
While the author does not leave her flawless, the flaws that are bestowed upon precious Rebecca are the kind that are painfully obvious plants.
For example, she's an absolute genius in everything...but romance.
There's plenty of cases but my favorite is when the hot post-doc visits her after hours, she decides to make him a meal:
When you have a direct line to the net in your brain...how do you come up with a good ol' chicken boil for the hot-totally-not-a-date? How is boiling the chicken even an instinct??
“You’re going to boil the chicken?” he asked at last, watching me prep.
“Yes.”
The Science AKA well, I guess my eye-twitch is back.
I did enjoy most of the futuristic aspects C.A. Gray added to her books - such as the robot economy, the prevalence of bots in their world, and the AI implanted in people's brains. However, I feel like the author stretched too far.
To give some context, I have spent years in lab for my "real-world job."
As someone who intimately knows and understands science, this book was a bust (and no, you cannot use the hand-wavy-it's-the-fuuuuture shtick to explain away every flaw).
For example, Rebecca, our mild-mannered genius, is able (AS AN UNDERGDRAD) to come up with this:
I am not denying that undergrads can (and do!) absolutely amazing things in labs...but they are undergrads.
"My thesis is on the possible neuropeptide of human desire."
They are learning.
They are not given free reign for complex neurological pathways with minor (and I do mean minor) monitoring and even if they were, what is with the vague and all-encompassing project?
That is the sort of motivation you might see for an entire lab, not for one undergrad's four-year-project.
Honestly, it felt like author strung together sciency-sounding stuff whenever she talked about Rebecca's project.
Now, if you've managed to read the entire word-vomit experiment, you'll notice how...incredibly vague both her premise and her experiment seemed.
"I… was thinking we’d recruit people who had been through five or more years of therapy,” I whispered back, “so that they could succinctly identify their core motivations—that would be analogous to the core purpose of the bots—and also their deepest unmet desires. Then we’d design Artificial Experience scenarios in which their desires could come true, but only if they violate their core motivations."
It just doesn't have the depth to make it even remotely possible - yet all of the other characters were nodding in awe.
And then...I got to this quote:
To put this into context, for a neuro student not to know what ATP is (DESPITE RUNNING COMPLEX BRAIN EXPERIMENTS!!) is the equivalent to an artist asking "Sooo....what's acrylic again?" or for a carpenter to say, "Whew. Never heard of a hammer before."
“Some decades ago, there was a theory that a weak acid like hydrochloric might be able to artificially produce ATP…”
I shook my head. “What’s ATP?”
And to that, I throw up my hands.
Ultimately - this book had a lot of promise and I really did love aspects (Madeline, you are literally the best robot ever!!) but I think including so much poorly-written science detail and completely (and obnoxiously) over-powering the main character took this book down a few notches.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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November 5, 2018
I expected a lot more science fiction and not this kind of love drama that went on through the whole book. Becca isn't really sympathic and has too much feelings and yeah... nothing really happens but her inner monologues carry on for several pages...
So yes, quite a disappointing read!
April 22, 2018
In a world where robots make life easier for humans and technology puts information at everyone’s fingertips, Rebecca’s life was one filled with her personal passions. Rebecca’s father was obsessed with researching the downside to robotics until the day he mysteriously died. As her mother persists in having her brilliant daughter join a Dublin University research team to uncover the negative aspects of a completely robotic economy, Rebecca finds that robotic emotions, while possible in theory, may be one step too far in integrating humanity with the robots who serve them. But isn’t her best friend a robot? Doesn’t it/she mirror Rebecca’s emotions?
Working with Liam, a brilliant conspiracy theorist, Rebecca discovers an underground organization that idolizes her long dead father’s stand. Did her father know something that got him killed? What they uncover is the thing of nightmares in a dystopian world where those in power always have the upper hand. Is humanity about to become redundant? Can you imagine the perfect date that ends in a chip malfunction? How would you feel about answering to an AI at work instead of the other way around?
C.A. Gray’s UNCANNY VALLEY is a brilliant take on a future that goes far beyond “Big Brother” and “1984.” Rebecca is the perfect example of “ignorance is bliss,” until her eyes are opened to the darkness looming behind the scenes in the halls of power and control. Is this the road humanity is heading down?
Thought-provoking, fascinating and well-written, C.A. Gray has another suspense filled hit on her hands, for sure! This one is going to have readers second-guessing that harmless little vacuum that runs itself, because what could be next and when will it end?
I love a book that makes me think long after I hit that last page…think I’ll ask Alexa what she thinks…
I received a complimentary copy from C.A. Gray!
Publisher: Wanderlust Publishing (December 11, 2017)
Publication Date: December 11, 2017
Genre: Sci-Fi/Dystopian
Print Length: 385 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Working with Liam, a brilliant conspiracy theorist, Rebecca discovers an underground organization that idolizes her long dead father’s stand. Did her father know something that got him killed? What they uncover is the thing of nightmares in a dystopian world where those in power always have the upper hand. Is humanity about to become redundant? Can you imagine the perfect date that ends in a chip malfunction? How would you feel about answering to an AI at work instead of the other way around?
C.A. Gray’s UNCANNY VALLEY is a brilliant take on a future that goes far beyond “Big Brother” and “1984.” Rebecca is the perfect example of “ignorance is bliss,” until her eyes are opened to the darkness looming behind the scenes in the halls of power and control. Is this the road humanity is heading down?
Thought-provoking, fascinating and well-written, C.A. Gray has another suspense filled hit on her hands, for sure! This one is going to have readers second-guessing that harmless little vacuum that runs itself, because what could be next and when will it end?
I love a book that makes me think long after I hit that last page…think I’ll ask Alexa what she thinks…
I received a complimentary copy from C.A. Gray!
Publisher: Wanderlust Publishing (December 11, 2017)
Publication Date: December 11, 2017
Genre: Sci-Fi/Dystopian
Print Length: 385 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August 2, 2018
3.5 stars
I won’t take any time re-hashing the core storyline since the publisher’s description is very thorough, almost too much so. Instead, I’ll focus on what I liked and didn’t like and, this being science fiction, my first thoughts have to be about worldbuilding.
Any speculative fiction needs a strong sense of when, where and how and I have to say there’s a lack here. Certain cities are named occasionally, like Dublin and Geneva, but I got no real sense of when this was taking place or how society had arrived at a bot-driven existence. As a result, I couldn’t get a grasp of how long the bots had been so prevalent nor how long a few conspiracy theorists had been working to stop further development.
The primary characters, on the other hand, were quite well-drawn and I felt I knew them well. That doesn’t mean I liked them all and, in fact, one of the romantic leads plucked my last nerve with his controlling ways although I also saw his good points. The bad guys, Halpert in particular, were appropriately callous and remote and, as for Rebecca, this was a girl I understood. She’s young enough to be starry-eyed about a guy, smart enough to get involved with some serious research and education, well-rounded enough to have other interests and attached enough to her mother to want to please her. In short, she’s a normal young woman.
Narrator Melissa Williams does a credible job with a pleasing tone, good pacing and clear enunciation but I don’t hear much vocal distinction between the characters. Still, I enjoy listening to her.
All that said, my favorite character of all is Madeline, a very small personal bot. Madeline is a pure delight and a great friend to Rebecca even while she’s just shy of having true emotions. This little mechanical creature is involved in the heavy-duty cliffhanger at the end and she’s the reason I’m going to have to read the next book 😉
I won’t take any time re-hashing the core storyline since the publisher’s description is very thorough, almost too much so. Instead, I’ll focus on what I liked and didn’t like and, this being science fiction, my first thoughts have to be about worldbuilding.
Any speculative fiction needs a strong sense of when, where and how and I have to say there’s a lack here. Certain cities are named occasionally, like Dublin and Geneva, but I got no real sense of when this was taking place or how society had arrived at a bot-driven existence. As a result, I couldn’t get a grasp of how long the bots had been so prevalent nor how long a few conspiracy theorists had been working to stop further development.
The primary characters, on the other hand, were quite well-drawn and I felt I knew them well. That doesn’t mean I liked them all and, in fact, one of the romantic leads plucked my last nerve with his controlling ways although I also saw his good points. The bad guys, Halpert in particular, were appropriately callous and remote and, as for Rebecca, this was a girl I understood. She’s young enough to be starry-eyed about a guy, smart enough to get involved with some serious research and education, well-rounded enough to have other interests and attached enough to her mother to want to please her. In short, she’s a normal young woman.
Narrator Melissa Williams does a credible job with a pleasing tone, good pacing and clear enunciation but I don’t hear much vocal distinction between the characters. Still, I enjoy listening to her.
All that said, my favorite character of all is Madeline, a very small personal bot. Madeline is a pure delight and a great friend to Rebecca even while she’s just shy of having true emotions. This little mechanical creature is involved in the heavy-duty cliffhanger at the end and she’s the reason I’m going to have to read the next book 😉
May 11, 2018
I didn't finish this, and gave up around 20% of the way through. I've been trying to finish every book that I start this year, and I won this in a giveaway (which I was very excited about!), but this book isn't my speed at all.
The main character, Rebecca, is one of the most obvious Mary Sues I've seen in print. She's a twenty one year old student (double majoring in cognitive neuroscience and theater and minoring in Creative Writing, which is Always Capitalized for Some Reason) who is amazing at everything and has no flaws except being in love with someone who doesn't care if she exists. For some inexplicable reason, someone important (?) has decided that robots need creativity to function better. This will, obviously, lead to the robot revolution, so Rebecca has been tasked with trying to find a way to give robots free will.
That's right. This twenty one year old student, who by her own admission doesn't even particularly like cognitive neuroscience that much, is trying to design an experiment that could give robots free will. There's no one, I don't know, with better qualifications? Not a single person in this universe has ever bothered with studying robotics? Why should I believe that this is in any way realistic or plausible? Not to mention that I'm not even particularly convinced that there's a conflict here. Robots took our jobs, but we only see one example of that in a town of five hundred people that just might be stagnating because of their inability to adapt to new technologies. It might not be the fault of the robots at all. The male lead rages and roars and the whole thing is just too silly for me to take seriously.
All in all this promised to be a frustrating read about a character I don't have any real reason to care about. Thank you for the opportunity to read it, I'm sorry it wasn't for me!
The main character, Rebecca, is one of the most obvious Mary Sues I've seen in print. She's a twenty one year old student (double majoring in cognitive neuroscience and theater and minoring in Creative Writing, which is Always Capitalized for Some Reason) who is amazing at everything and has no flaws except being in love with someone who doesn't care if she exists. For some inexplicable reason, someone important (?) has decided that robots need creativity to function better. This will, obviously, lead to the robot revolution, so Rebecca has been tasked with trying to find a way to give robots free will.
That's right. This twenty one year old student, who by her own admission doesn't even particularly like cognitive neuroscience that much, is trying to design an experiment that could give robots free will. There's no one, I don't know, with better qualifications? Not a single person in this universe has ever bothered with studying robotics? Why should I believe that this is in any way realistic or plausible? Not to mention that I'm not even particularly convinced that there's a conflict here. Robots took our jobs, but we only see one example of that in a town of five hundred people that just might be stagnating because of their inability to adapt to new technologies. It might not be the fault of the robots at all. The male lead rages and roars and the whole thing is just too silly for me to take seriously.
All in all this promised to be a frustrating read about a character I don't have any real reason to care about. Thank you for the opportunity to read it, I'm sorry it wasn't for me!
December 15, 2017
Omg! I love anything by C.A. Gray and this book...just blew my mind. The science must have taken FOREVER to research. But it is so interesting and precise that you will just want to learn more and more. The world building is freaking fantastic. Like the other series I've read by her, which I suggest wholeheartedly that you should not miss, it is suspenseful and exciting.
Liam and Rebecca are students at Dublin University. They are both working on robotic emotions. That's the simplest way I can put it. But when there is a challenge put out to make them more "human", they decide that they must find a way for it to be dealt with carefully. That's all I'm really going to say. No spoilers here. But be prepared for a world unlike one we can even comprehend. And one I hope we never have to live in. That's the beauty of this particular authors books. They always find and show us what COULD happen. And it's a scary, scary possibility. And not to far off the mark.
I ate this book up in 3 hours. Now I die waiting for the next in the series. Ok, I don't actually die. But I will stalk the author. I have no shame. I loved it that much. Please, I NEED it! And you need to read it. You are missing out on a great, no Amazing book. In the meantime, read some of her other series. You'll understand what I mean by she sees things that could actually happen. It's scary, but riveting. You won't be sorry.
DawnBee <3
Liam and Rebecca are students at Dublin University. They are both working on robotic emotions. That's the simplest way I can put it. But when there is a challenge put out to make them more "human", they decide that they must find a way for it to be dealt with carefully. That's all I'm really going to say. No spoilers here. But be prepared for a world unlike one we can even comprehend. And one I hope we never have to live in. That's the beauty of this particular authors books. They always find and show us what COULD happen. And it's a scary, scary possibility. And not to far off the mark.
I ate this book up in 3 hours. Now I die waiting for the next in the series. Ok, I don't actually die. But I will stalk the author. I have no shame. I loved it that much. Please, I NEED it! And you need to read it. You are missing out on a great, no Amazing book. In the meantime, read some of her other series. You'll understand what I mean by she sees things that could actually happen. It's scary, but riveting. You won't be sorry.
DawnBee <3
December 11, 2017
Uncanny Valley is a dystopian novel set in the future where robots perform most human jobs. The story follows are main character Rebecca, a student at a University in Dublin, Ireland.
Rebecca was a fantastically written character with a well written backstory. I loved that after the death of her Father she unknowingly had Andy replace him; which she brushes off as a crush. This added a lot more depth to her character and I felt sympathy for her and what she had gone through. She seemed more realistic and like an everyday human. I also loved her relationship with her companion robot- I would love to read more about their past together.
There were a handful of other characters that I also really loved. Liam is another fantastically written character who isn't afraid to speak his mind and stand up for what is right. I fell in love with his character. I'd love to read further into his past and even have a chapter or two told from his point of view. He has various friends who are part of the Renegades along with Liam who are of course at first sceptical of Rebecca.
I also enjoyed seeing Rebecca and Liam's relationship grow throughout the novel. It's great to read a novel where there isn't insta-love between the two leads of the book. Instead we get to see them grow closer and learn more about each other as the novel progresses. The two had an employer-employee relationship at the beginning of the novel; so I did personally feel Rebecca revealed a lot about her past rather quickly. However, it is clear she trusts him fully and prior relationship has been built prior to the start of the novel.
The series has a huge potential and I can't wait to see how the other books in the series play out. C.A Gray is a fantastic writer and I look forward to reading what she has planned.
Rebecca was a fantastically written character with a well written backstory. I loved that after the death of her Father she unknowingly had Andy replace him; which she brushes off as a crush. This added a lot more depth to her character and I felt sympathy for her and what she had gone through. She seemed more realistic and like an everyday human. I also loved her relationship with her companion robot- I would love to read more about their past together.
There were a handful of other characters that I also really loved. Liam is another fantastically written character who isn't afraid to speak his mind and stand up for what is right. I fell in love with his character. I'd love to read further into his past and even have a chapter or two told from his point of view. He has various friends who are part of the Renegades along with Liam who are of course at first sceptical of Rebecca.
I also enjoyed seeing Rebecca and Liam's relationship grow throughout the novel. It's great to read a novel where there isn't insta-love between the two leads of the book. Instead we get to see them grow closer and learn more about each other as the novel progresses. The two had an employer-employee relationship at the beginning of the novel; so I did personally feel Rebecca revealed a lot about her past rather quickly. However, it is clear she trusts him fully and prior relationship has been built prior to the start of the novel.
The series has a huge potential and I can't wait to see how the other books in the series play out. C.A Gray is a fantastic writer and I look forward to reading what she has planned.
May 20, 2018
In a world where robots have taken over most human jobs, Rebecca can focus on trying to be an artist, participating in musicals and writing a novel (studying theater and Creative Writing at college). However, she not only develops the artistic side she also studies cognitive neuroscience. When the leader of the world decides that people should investigate and try to find a way to give robots the possibility to have CREATIVITY of their own, her world gives a 180-degree turn after her co-worker Liam presents Rebecca with a group called The Renegades. A group of people who believes in conspiracy and wants to unravel what really goes on with the leaders of the world.
The story has a solid background and the plot is well though. This world where technology has evolved and you can communicate with people just by a chip in your head is quite engaging. There are lots of sci-fi elements and each one is ok.
The main character: Rebecca has some attitudes that will make you want to scream at her but ok, she is not perfect but I still like her. Liam is this handsome, intelligent and protective guy who of course is in love with her but doesn't want to admit it. Their interaction makes the story move on and is easy to read.
There were a few revelations that didn't cause the desired effect because for me they were too obvious. If you are paying attention you can predict what will happen. But the book is still good despite this fact.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this story, the characters were good and I would really like to read the next book.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
The story has a solid background and the plot is well though. This world where technology has evolved and you can communicate with people just by a chip in your head is quite engaging. There are lots of sci-fi elements and each one is ok.
The main character: Rebecca has some attitudes that will make you want to scream at her but ok, she is not perfect but I still like her. Liam is this handsome, intelligent and protective guy who of course is in love with her but doesn't want to admit it. Their interaction makes the story move on and is easy to read.
There were a few revelations that didn't cause the desired effect because for me they were too obvious. If you are paying attention you can predict what will happen. But the book is still good despite this fact.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this story, the characters were good and I would really like to read the next book.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
May 29, 2018
Uncanny Valley by C.A Gray was given to me by NetGalley for my honest and unbiased opinion. Let me start out by saying that I have never really been into this style of genre. When I read it's more to relax and enjoy the story, rather than think too deeply about what's happening and try and understand out of the box concepts. Starting this book I was a bit confused with what was happening and the whole concept, and it did take me a little while to get into it. However, I am very very thankful that I stuck with it because it was such an interesting and enjoyable read. The concepts made sense, alas it took me a little while to understand it fully, but the story just flowed and it was amazing.
As I read a lot of romance books I was disappointed in some of the aspects of her writing in regards to love and I would have like to see a few scenes that shared more of what the two main characters were feeling. I understand that C.A. Gray did not want to take from the main idea of the book but I still believe she could have added some bonding moments that felt more real.
I am still amazed at the concepts and the thought that was put into this book and I'm so excited to continue with the next book. I can already image this book as a movie that I would go see! Overall, apart from the slow start this book is one of my favourites I have read this year and I will be buying the next book to read as it was such an interesting and enjoyable read. I recommend this to anyway who wants to read about the becoming super intelligence in a fun book.
As I read a lot of romance books I was disappointed in some of the aspects of her writing in regards to love and I would have like to see a few scenes that shared more of what the two main characters were feeling. I understand that C.A. Gray did not want to take from the main idea of the book but I still believe she could have added some bonding moments that felt more real.
I am still amazed at the concepts and the thought that was put into this book and I'm so excited to continue with the next book. I can already image this book as a movie that I would go see! Overall, apart from the slow start this book is one of my favourites I have read this year and I will be buying the next book to read as it was such an interesting and enjoyable read. I recommend this to anyway who wants to read about the becoming super intelligence in a fun book.
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August 14, 2022I got this book for free from the author. She gave us a code in exchange for an honest review.
The performance of Melissa Williams was good. Wasn’t award winning, but it was definitely Better than some I’ve heard. Her production quality was amazing—the sound was phenomenal. Her voice was clear and concise. She didn’t have a variety of character voices which was her downfall here. There were many many characters in this book and when she reads in her normal reading voice, it was hard for my ears to latch on who was speaking and when. I did like her voice for Madeline the companion bot though.
As for the content, I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I didn’t really have a sense of genuine appreciation for the main character—she was kinda just...there.
The writing style was superb, though. C.A.’s ability to create a world using her words is astounding. She really knows her science, which is evident from her book. You can tell Gray is an intelligent woman who has the power to throw a bunch of Themes and scientific knowledge in a book and create something great!
As for me, I hate science and I don’t really like science fiction novels—so this honestly wasn’t the book for me. I didn’t rate it horribly because that would be rude, but I did rate it the way I feel it deserves.
If you like science and robots and things of that nature, then you’ll love this book—honestly! Give it a try, you won’t regret it. It wasn’t my cup of tea, but I still don’t regret it!
The performance of Melissa Williams was good. Wasn’t award winning, but it was definitely Better than some I’ve heard. Her production quality was amazing—the sound was phenomenal. Her voice was clear and concise. She didn’t have a variety of character voices which was her downfall here. There were many many characters in this book and when she reads in her normal reading voice, it was hard for my ears to latch on who was speaking and when. I did like her voice for Madeline the companion bot though.
As for the content, I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I didn’t really have a sense of genuine appreciation for the main character—she was kinda just...there.
The writing style was superb, though. C.A.’s ability to create a world using her words is astounding. She really knows her science, which is evident from her book. You can tell Gray is an intelligent woman who has the power to throw a bunch of Themes and scientific knowledge in a book and create something great!
As for me, I hate science and I don’t really like science fiction novels—so this honestly wasn’t the book for me. I didn’t rate it horribly because that would be rude, but I did rate it the way I feel it deserves.
If you like science and robots and things of that nature, then you’ll love this book—honestly! Give it a try, you won’t regret it. It wasn’t my cup of tea, but I still don’t regret it!
September 3, 2019
(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
Uncanny Valley:
(noun)
- a psychological concept that describes the feelings of unease or revulsion that people tend to have toward artificial representations of human beings, as robots or computer animations, that closely imitate many but not all the features and behaviors of actual human beings.
I was so excited when I found out C. A. Gray was writing a new series! She's one of my new favorite authors, and I would highly recommend her books to everyone. I think I've written reviews for all of her books (so far), and I'm sure I gushed about each and every one. To say I had high expectations would be an understatement, but Uncanny Valley definitely delivered.
All of her books are thought-provoking, and this one is no exception. It's incredibly well-written, with fantastic characters, and an entertaining and intelligent plot. Even though it takes place in a dystopian future, you can almost imagine it happening now.
With a clever plot twist and a cliff-hanger that will have you craving more, Uncanny Valley is not one to miss!
Uncanny Valley:
(noun)
- a psychological concept that describes the feelings of unease or revulsion that people tend to have toward artificial representations of human beings, as robots or computer animations, that closely imitate many but not all the features and behaviors of actual human beings.
I was so excited when I found out C. A. Gray was writing a new series! She's one of my new favorite authors, and I would highly recommend her books to everyone. I think I've written reviews for all of her books (so far), and I'm sure I gushed about each and every one. To say I had high expectations would be an understatement, but Uncanny Valley definitely delivered.
All of her books are thought-provoking, and this one is no exception. It's incredibly well-written, with fantastic characters, and an entertaining and intelligent plot. Even though it takes place in a dystopian future, you can almost imagine it happening now.
With a clever plot twist and a cliff-hanger that will have you craving more, Uncanny Valley is not one to miss!
December 15, 2017
I really loved reading this book! It's basically a dystopian novel where AI has run abundant in the everyday functioning of society. The characters in this novel are all well developed, and this story focuses primarily on a college student in Ireland. This book contains lots of sweet and protective moments between Rebecca and Liam; I now definitely consider Liam one of my newest 'book boyfriends'.
If you are interested in sci-fi themed dystopian books and romantic themes that are constantly questioned (should I? shouldn't I?), despite the encouragement of Rebecca's home AI and best friend Madeline, you should definitely check out this book. I can't wait to see where this story goes with the second book!
If you are interested in sci-fi themed dystopian books and romantic themes that are constantly questioned (should I? shouldn't I?), despite the encouragement of Rebecca's home AI and best friend Madeline, you should definitely check out this book. I can't wait to see where this story goes with the second book!
April 19, 2018
Fantastic story! Interesting, entertaining and thought provoking. Overall, a great read!
The characters were well developed and likeable. The plot had twists I didn't see coming - which I absolutely adore. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. And I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for book #2.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. I love CA Gray! All of her books are awesome!
The characters were well developed and likeable. The plot had twists I didn't see coming - which I absolutely adore. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. And I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for book #2.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. I love CA Gray! All of her books are awesome!
May 11, 2018
Absolutely BRILLIANT! You've done it again! I LOVE your writing SO much.... Can't wait for the next book in THIS series!
How long before the next one is finished and ready for me to devour? So looking forward to it.
How long before the next one is finished and ready for me to devour? So looking forward to it.
December 16, 2017
Fantastic distopian series! Could not put this book down! Recommended reading and immersing yourself in the world of Uncanny Valley.
July 30, 2018
4.5 stars
Review of story:
Science-fiction is one of my favorite genres, but for some reason, I really don't read that many sci-fi books, so I was excited to pick this one up to review. Uncanny Valley takes place in a world where robots have taken over many of the human jobs. Our main character Rebecca, is in university on a research team that's studying the dangers of a robot-run society. Rebecca has a secret companion bot that is her best friend, and it's let her to have a different opinion about robots than most of her colleagues and friends. Rebecca's father was in the same field, and his conspiracy theories let to his untimely death when Rebecca was young. After the Republic leader announces a worldwide challenge to develop synthetic creativity for the robots, Rebecca's team discovers that all of their research (which goes against what the world leaders are trying to accomplish) has been deleted from the cloud. They team up with an underground organization to stop the challenge, and Rebecca vows to solve the mystery surrounding her father's death.
I loved this story! Robots with artificial intelligence are a reality for our own future, so I'm fascinated to read about worlds where robots are relied upon for almost every service. From waitresses to medicine, the humans in the book used robots for just about everything. They're capable of conversation but do not have real emotions. They can only mimic what they see and have been programmed to do. I really enjoyed that the story had two different interconnecting stories throughout: stopping the challenge and figuring out what happened to Rebecca's father. It was interesting to see how the two came together through the course of the book. There is a slight love triangle between Rebecca and two love interests, but it was by no means the main focus of the book. I liked how it played out, and it was fun to see Rebecca talk through her feelings with Madeline, her robot companion. Rebecca's relationship with Madeline was one of my favorite parts of the book. As Rebecca is conducting her research and learning more about synthetic creativity and the emotional capability of the robots, she starts to see her friendship with Madeline through a different lens.
Some of the scientific terminology and explanations went right over my head, but I didn't feel like it had a negative impact on my ability to understand the plot or progression of the story. It was helpful that we were given the book from Rebecca's POV, because at times she didn't understand (or just didn't care to pay attention) to some of the lengthier science explanations either. Her inner monologue would state that she had no idea what someone was talking about, and she'd move on to thinking about something else. Rebecca ends up dropping out of school to focus all her energy on finding out what happened to her father and help her colleagues put a stop to the Republic leader's challenge, and that's when things turned into high stakes. She was jeopardizing her career to do this, and she didn't have room to fail. As the book got closer and closer to the end, the suspense over whether or not things would resolve was nerve wracking. It ended on a cliffhanger, so now I'm itching to find out what happens next. Unfortunately, the next book in the series isn't available on audiobook yet, so I may have to pick up a Kindle version.
Review of audiobook:
This was my first time reading a book narrated by Melissa Williams, and I'd listen to her again. I usually listen to books on 2x speed because that pace feels more like the speed I read in my head. With Uncanny Valley, I did listen on 2.5-3x speed, so I think Melissa speaks more slowly than typically narrators. It wasn't an issue for me since I was able to speed it up slightly. It didn't hinder my enjoyment at all. I liked the robot voice that Melissa did for Madeline, and I never had a hard time keeping character's voices apart throughout the book. Overall, the narration was very smooth, and there weren't any noticeable pauses or stumbling. I listened on Audible and went back and forth from my Kindle to my iPhone, depending which was closest. It kept my progress synced perfectly across the devices, and the sound quality was great. I've never had an issue with the quality of the audio files when using Audible. I'm really glad I listened to the audiobook, because I think I would have had a difficult time getting through some of the science if I'd read it myself. The pace of the audiobook helped me to understand some of it better and the parts I didn't understand still went by quickly so I was able to pass through them without struggling. If you're considering picking up this title, I highly recommend the audiobook!
Review of story:
Science-fiction is one of my favorite genres, but for some reason, I really don't read that many sci-fi books, so I was excited to pick this one up to review. Uncanny Valley takes place in a world where robots have taken over many of the human jobs. Our main character Rebecca, is in university on a research team that's studying the dangers of a robot-run society. Rebecca has a secret companion bot that is her best friend, and it's let her to have a different opinion about robots than most of her colleagues and friends. Rebecca's father was in the same field, and his conspiracy theories let to his untimely death when Rebecca was young. After the Republic leader announces a worldwide challenge to develop synthetic creativity for the robots, Rebecca's team discovers that all of their research (which goes against what the world leaders are trying to accomplish) has been deleted from the cloud. They team up with an underground organization to stop the challenge, and Rebecca vows to solve the mystery surrounding her father's death.
I loved this story! Robots with artificial intelligence are a reality for our own future, so I'm fascinated to read about worlds where robots are relied upon for almost every service. From waitresses to medicine, the humans in the book used robots for just about everything. They're capable of conversation but do not have real emotions. They can only mimic what they see and have been programmed to do. I really enjoyed that the story had two different interconnecting stories throughout: stopping the challenge and figuring out what happened to Rebecca's father. It was interesting to see how the two came together through the course of the book. There is a slight love triangle between Rebecca and two love interests, but it was by no means the main focus of the book. I liked how it played out, and it was fun to see Rebecca talk through her feelings with Madeline, her robot companion. Rebecca's relationship with Madeline was one of my favorite parts of the book. As Rebecca is conducting her research and learning more about synthetic creativity and the emotional capability of the robots, she starts to see her friendship with Madeline through a different lens.
Some of the scientific terminology and explanations went right over my head, but I didn't feel like it had a negative impact on my ability to understand the plot or progression of the story. It was helpful that we were given the book from Rebecca's POV, because at times she didn't understand (or just didn't care to pay attention) to some of the lengthier science explanations either. Her inner monologue would state that she had no idea what someone was talking about, and she'd move on to thinking about something else. Rebecca ends up dropping out of school to focus all her energy on finding out what happened to her father and help her colleagues put a stop to the Republic leader's challenge, and that's when things turned into high stakes. She was jeopardizing her career to do this, and she didn't have room to fail. As the book got closer and closer to the end, the suspense over whether or not things would resolve was nerve wracking. It ended on a cliffhanger, so now I'm itching to find out what happens next. Unfortunately, the next book in the series isn't available on audiobook yet, so I may have to pick up a Kindle version.
Review of audiobook:
This was my first time reading a book narrated by Melissa Williams, and I'd listen to her again. I usually listen to books on 2x speed because that pace feels more like the speed I read in my head. With Uncanny Valley, I did listen on 2.5-3x speed, so I think Melissa speaks more slowly than typically narrators. It wasn't an issue for me since I was able to speed it up slightly. It didn't hinder my enjoyment at all. I liked the robot voice that Melissa did for Madeline, and I never had a hard time keeping character's voices apart throughout the book. Overall, the narration was very smooth, and there weren't any noticeable pauses or stumbling. I listened on Audible and went back and forth from my Kindle to my iPhone, depending which was closest. It kept my progress synced perfectly across the devices, and the sound quality was great. I've never had an issue with the quality of the audio files when using Audible. I'm really glad I listened to the audiobook, because I think I would have had a difficult time getting through some of the science if I'd read it myself. The pace of the audiobook helped me to understand some of it better and the parts I didn't understand still went by quickly so I was able to pass through them without struggling. If you're considering picking up this title, I highly recommend the audiobook!
December 12, 2018
Reviewed on http://bookaddict.live,
Uncanny Valley is a Sci-Fi aimed for Young Adults, but it was eerily close to what we can see the future. I not going to repeat the blurb which is very detailed, so forgive me if I repeat any.
We have Rebecca who is researching about to replicate human feeling or senses for robots or Ai.
The senator has charged the research labs to replicate human emotions in robots. In this world where holographic communication is the norm. Rebecca starts out not believing the conspiracy theories. As more facts come to light, Rebecca begins to believe her father was killed for his views.
Rebecca is very immature in some ways, with Madeline her companion Bot as her only close friend. So in this future where most jobs have been taken by bots, only people with money can enjoy life. Most have no jobs, and not enough to eat.
So this brave new world is not as it seems. This is a very interesting future that the Renegades are trying to stop the end of the human race.
This is definitely book one of a series, as it sets the scenes for the world set in this future world. The Worlds Republic leader William Halpert’s worldwide challenge for researchers to develop synthetic creativity will lead not to the promised utopia, but to the end of the human race.
Melissa was excellent as the narrator, all the different voices were superb, especially the Madeline Bot. I wasn’t pulled out of the book once with bad accents. So for me that was a win.
Uncanny Valley is a Sci-Fi aimed for Young Adults, but it was eerily close to what we can see the future. I not going to repeat the blurb which is very detailed, so forgive me if I repeat any.
We have Rebecca who is researching about to replicate human feeling or senses for robots or Ai.
The senator has charged the research labs to replicate human emotions in robots. In this world where holographic communication is the norm. Rebecca starts out not believing the conspiracy theories. As more facts come to light, Rebecca begins to believe her father was killed for his views.
Rebecca is very immature in some ways, with Madeline her companion Bot as her only close friend. So in this future where most jobs have been taken by bots, only people with money can enjoy life. Most have no jobs, and not enough to eat.
So this brave new world is not as it seems. This is a very interesting future that the Renegades are trying to stop the end of the human race.
This is definitely book one of a series, as it sets the scenes for the world set in this future world. The Worlds Republic leader William Halpert’s worldwide challenge for researchers to develop synthetic creativity will lead not to the promised utopia, but to the end of the human race.
Melissa was excellent as the narrator, all the different voices were superb, especially the Madeline Bot. I wasn’t pulled out of the book once with bad accents. So for me that was a win.
December 3, 2018
The title draws from the graph charting acceptance of something that looks human. The level of acceptance climbs until the resemblance is very close. Then it plummets until absolute mimicry is achieved. This plunge on the graph is called the uncanny valley. Usually the chart refers to physical resemblance, but Gray takes it a step further. She explores the unsettling feelings we get from something that thinks, feels, and acts almost, but not quite, human. The author’s medical background comes through and she does get pretty technical. Fortunately she spread it out enough that the story didn’t get bogged down.
The story is told, first person singular by a young female. I was surprised that the protagonist came off needy. She does have strength and comes through when it counts, but she spend a lot of time obsessing over what other people think, and is entirely too consumed by her crush on Andy. This is the first in a series, and I assume we will watch her grow in the next books.
There is enough action and suspense to keep the reader interested, and hints at romance make a good side element. But this is directed at a thoughtful audience, willing to consider the evidence and see where it takes us. I also picked up on some allegorical references to modern day events. I suspect these may also be given more time in future books.
I’m glad I got in at the start of this series and wait impatiently for the next book.
The story is told, first person singular by a young female. I was surprised that the protagonist came off needy. She does have strength and comes through when it counts, but she spend a lot of time obsessing over what other people think, and is entirely too consumed by her crush on Andy. This is the first in a series, and I assume we will watch her grow in the next books.
There is enough action and suspense to keep the reader interested, and hints at romance make a good side element. But this is directed at a thoughtful audience, willing to consider the evidence and see where it takes us. I also picked up on some allegorical references to modern day events. I suspect these may also be given more time in future books.
I’m glad I got in at the start of this series and wait impatiently for the next book.
July 12, 2019
This was a bit of a slow starter as it set up the characters and the new world of robots and (not so) hidden censorship. As the book continued though, I started getting really hooked and after being left with that cliffhanger, I'm really looking forwad to getting stuck into the rest of the series. However, I did find both Rebecca and Liam a bit annoying though as they kept falling into stereotyped female / male roles with Rebecca acting weak and helpless and Liam being over-protective and bossy. Both are meant to be intelligent people in a future era where such roles should no longer be present (I would've thought anyway). I'm hopeful that this sorts itself out for the rest of the series, or at the very least Becca finds her backbone, tells him to back of and sticks to it!
August 6, 2018
This book was only so-so for me. It was more romance than science fiction, with a little touch of conspiracy theory stuff thrown in. Romance isn’t my cup of tea and I was left wanting more sci-fi. The conspiracy theory stuff kept the characters running around and provided most of the interesting parts.
Rebecca was hard for me to connect with. She’s working on an upper graduate degree but often she acts like a 15 year old. Her ridiculous attraction to Andy went on too long, becoming a little mind numbing. She’s usually a big ball of emotions simply reacting to events and people around her instead of being a force that drives the plot. She’s very needy, wanting to be all things to everyone around her. Initially, I saw this as a starting point for her character and expected her to grow throughout the story, but, alas, there is very little character growth for Rebecca.
I liked Liam well enough but felt that he was a bit too trusting, as is Rebecca. After all, if they truly believe some large corporate enemy is after them or at least monitoring their websites, then why do they communicate so freely via their electronic devices? I wish Francis, with his analytical mind and skeptical nature, had come on the scene earlier. I really enjoyed him, even with his often snide (but honest) remarks.
Madeline, Rebecca’s taboo companion bot, was fun. I like the conundrum she represents. How much of her caring nature is her programming versus an AI’s personality. Can Madeline have genuine feelings? This was the best part of the book.
The female characters were mostly fluff, even Madeline. When the ladies get together, they talk about the guys and romance… and not much else. I expected more from them.
The plot was straight forward and while some reveals were built into the storyline, none of them were a surprise. I would have liked a bit more complication to plot, since that’s what I look forward to in conspiracy theory stories. I wasn’t surprised about who sent the mystery messages, nor about Francis’s suspicions, and not about the identity of the government supporter of the Liam’s Resistance friends. The story leaves us on a cliff hanger. 3/5 stars.
The Narration: Melissa Williams gave a great performance on this narration. She had the perfect voice for Rebecca and distinct voices for all characters. I especially liked the slightly robotic voice she gave to Madeline. Her male voices were believable. While I didn’t like all of Rebecca’s emotional drama, Williams performed those emotions well. 5/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by C.A. Gray. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Rebecca was hard for me to connect with. She’s working on an upper graduate degree but often she acts like a 15 year old. Her ridiculous attraction to Andy went on too long, becoming a little mind numbing. She’s usually a big ball of emotions simply reacting to events and people around her instead of being a force that drives the plot. She’s very needy, wanting to be all things to everyone around her. Initially, I saw this as a starting point for her character and expected her to grow throughout the story, but, alas, there is very little character growth for Rebecca.
I liked Liam well enough but felt that he was a bit too trusting, as is Rebecca. After all, if they truly believe some large corporate enemy is after them or at least monitoring their websites, then why do they communicate so freely via their electronic devices? I wish Francis, with his analytical mind and skeptical nature, had come on the scene earlier. I really enjoyed him, even with his often snide (but honest) remarks.
Madeline, Rebecca’s taboo companion bot, was fun. I like the conundrum she represents. How much of her caring nature is her programming versus an AI’s personality. Can Madeline have genuine feelings? This was the best part of the book.
The female characters were mostly fluff, even Madeline. When the ladies get together, they talk about the guys and romance… and not much else. I expected more from them.
The plot was straight forward and while some reveals were built into the storyline, none of them were a surprise. I would have liked a bit more complication to plot, since that’s what I look forward to in conspiracy theory stories. I wasn’t surprised about who sent the mystery messages, nor about Francis’s suspicions, and not about the identity of the government supporter of the Liam’s Resistance friends. The story leaves us on a cliff hanger. 3/5 stars.
The Narration: Melissa Williams gave a great performance on this narration. She had the perfect voice for Rebecca and distinct voices for all characters. I especially liked the slightly robotic voice she gave to Madeline. Her male voices were believable. While I didn’t like all of Rebecca’s emotional drama, Williams performed those emotions well. 5/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by C.A. Gray. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
March 22, 2021
I received this complementary copy of the book through Voracious Readers Only.
Amazing!!! I really enjoy books that cover all the aspects I am looking for! It had intrigue, thrill, romance, unrequited love, and such a delicious twist at the end!!! I love Liam. 😍
My most favorite novels are the ones where the Author creates a character SO like myself; it’s like I am living the adventure of the book firsthand. This is something I would normally read although I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the robot aspect. I was so satisfied after reading the novel and I just gotta know what happens in the next book!
Amazing!!! I really enjoy books that cover all the aspects I am looking for! It had intrigue, thrill, romance, unrequited love, and such a delicious twist at the end!!! I love Liam. 😍
My most favorite novels are the ones where the Author creates a character SO like myself; it’s like I am living the adventure of the book firsthand. This is something I would normally read although I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the robot aspect. I was so satisfied after reading the novel and I just gotta know what happens in the next book!
December 24, 2019
Will robots try to take over the world? New spin that nods to old favorites in a different way. Love, betrayal and mystery. Keeps you on your toes. Can't wait to read the next one!
August 4, 2018
Uncanny Valley is a thought-provoking story that takes place in a dystopian world where robots have taken over many of the human jobs, from waitresses to medicine, the humans in the book used robots for just about everything. Robots with artificial intelligence are our own future, so love reading about worlds where robots are relied upon, maybe it will make it smoother for our own reality when it happens. Some of the scientific terminology and explanations went right over my head, but I was able to stay in the book. I liked how it played out, and it was fun to see Rebecca talk through her feelings with Madeline, her robot companion. Rebecca's relationship with Madeline was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Rebecca has a secret companion bot that is her best friend, and it's let her have a different opinion about robots than most of her colleagues and friends. The world Republic leader announces the goal of mastering "synthetic creativity" in robots. Rebecca's father was in the same field, and his conspiracy theories let to his untimely death when Rebecca was young. Rebecca vows to solve the mystery surrounding her father's death.
This was my first time listening to Melissa Williams' narration, she was good. I feel she portrayed what I visualized for Rebecca, really helping me connect with the character. I really overall enjoyed listening to her and I would listen to her again. In addition to Rebecca, I thought she did a great job with the robot voice for Madeline, and I never had a hard time keeping character's voices apart throughout the book. If you're considering picking up this title, I highly recommend the audiobook!
Be ready Uncanny Valley ends on a cliffhanger, you will need to find out what happens next. If you like robots, robot issues, a bit of conspiracy, action, romance, Uncanny Valley will be a good read or listen for you.
Read more at https://writersnauthors.com/uncanny-v...
Rebecca has a secret companion bot that is her best friend, and it's let her have a different opinion about robots than most of her colleagues and friends. The world Republic leader announces the goal of mastering "synthetic creativity" in robots. Rebecca's father was in the same field, and his conspiracy theories let to his untimely death when Rebecca was young. Rebecca vows to solve the mystery surrounding her father's death.
This was my first time listening to Melissa Williams' narration, she was good. I feel she portrayed what I visualized for Rebecca, really helping me connect with the character. I really overall enjoyed listening to her and I would listen to her again. In addition to Rebecca, I thought she did a great job with the robot voice for Madeline, and I never had a hard time keeping character's voices apart throughout the book. If you're considering picking up this title, I highly recommend the audiobook!
Be ready Uncanny Valley ends on a cliffhanger, you will need to find out what happens next. If you like robots, robot issues, a bit of conspiracy, action, romance, Uncanny Valley will be a good read or listen for you.
Read more at https://writersnauthors.com/uncanny-v...
August 5, 2018
This was such a wonderful story! It starts from one angle and gradually turns to someplace completely different! It takes the reader to a world somewhat close to our imagination, but so far in the same time. We have a world of robots, a world where people are being replaced easily. However, some things are not what they seem .
Rebecca’s world is turned upside down once she meets Liam. She is pulled into the conspiracy theories that her father also believed. She wanted to stay away, to follow her dreams, but sometimes destiny calls us to the right path. Once she sees things as they really are, she becomes as involved as her father. Well-built and with a lot of character development, the relationship between Liam and Rebecca easily grows and becomes something more.
I loved how the author offered life to an AI – Rebecca’s best friend. This character was so well created, enough to make it human, but also not forgetting it’s still a robot. Madeline is so innocent and intriguing! Her presence gives a lot of substance to the story.
The narration was quite all right. Even if we have close to no voice acting, it was a clear narration. I had no trouble understanding the words spoken to me. I must admit, in a world of robots, I wished for a little bit of sound effects here and there. But I’m ok, no hard feelings.
All in all, I loved the world, I loved the characters and I cannot wait to read more from this series. C.A. Gray is no disappointment when it comes to her writing. I love her style and I love the way she changes her characters throughout the story. 4 out of 5 stars. Enjoy J q
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by C.A. Gray. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Rebecca’s world is turned upside down once she meets Liam. She is pulled into the conspiracy theories that her father also believed. She wanted to stay away, to follow her dreams, but sometimes destiny calls us to the right path. Once she sees things as they really are, she becomes as involved as her father. Well-built and with a lot of character development, the relationship between Liam and Rebecca easily grows and becomes something more.
I loved how the author offered life to an AI – Rebecca’s best friend. This character was so well created, enough to make it human, but also not forgetting it’s still a robot. Madeline is so innocent and intriguing! Her presence gives a lot of substance to the story.
The narration was quite all right. Even if we have close to no voice acting, it was a clear narration. I had no trouble understanding the words spoken to me. I must admit, in a world of robots, I wished for a little bit of sound effects here and there. But I’m ok, no hard feelings.
All in all, I loved the world, I loved the characters and I cannot wait to read more from this series. C.A. Gray is no disappointment when it comes to her writing. I love her style and I love the way she changes her characters throughout the story. 4 out of 5 stars. Enjoy J q
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by C.A. Gray. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
April 5, 2018
A Girl and Her Bot
This book tries to do and to be a lot of things, but I came to suspect that many of its best moments were unintended and ancillary to the main plot thread. That's not necessarily a criticism.
On its face this is a pretty standard tale. Robots have advanced to the point that they support and maintain the economy, provide basic services, and indeed have come to dominate more advanced fields, (medicine and so on). Utopia, right? Well, maybe. On the one hand are those who believe that robots will continue to lead the way to a world of peace and plenty. Others, (the underground Renegades), fear that robots that are focused solely on their "primary goals and functions" will eventually get to the point that they conclude that humans are irrelevant, or even obstacles. This is all very Asimov and the Three Rules of Robotics.
The action starts when the world Republic leader announces the goal of mastering "synthetic creativity" in robots. Again, will this be good or bad? We get into free will, art, emotions, morality, and all of those issues that Lt. Commander Data struggled with in the Star Trek series. This part of the book is written with some rigor, and the discussions are interesting. Gray, (who is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor), seems to favor a chemical basis as an integral part of emotion, which adds an interesting angle.
Anyway, you can sort of see where this is going. We have the Renegades versus the world leaders. Things start to get violent. There is a budding romance between our heroine, Rebecca, and her hot conspiracy theorist boss, Liam. Rebecca has a backstory that includes her dead Dad's heavy involvement in the Renegades. How and why did he die? What's the deal with Mom?
All of this is handled pretty smoothly, although the romance seemed a bit tennagey. Indeed, to the extent that this feels like an introduction to robot dystopia sci-fi, and given the crushy parts of the romance, this struck me as mostly along the lines of an early YA sci-fi/conspiracy/dystopia sort of story.
Anyway, here's the best part, at least to me. Rebecca's best friend is a companion bot she's had since she was a young teen and her Dad died. As part of the unfolding of the story, and as part of the examination of free will and emotion and emotional attachment, Rebecca has to parse out how you can have a robot "friend" if that robot has been hard programmed to really like you a lot, no matter what. That is, if the robot has no choice but to like you and be your friend. There are scenes that consist solely of Rebecca talking to her bot about the bot's programming and free will, and these scenes are remarkably insightful and touching. Indeed, the bot, (Madeline), seems at some level to understand her own emotional limitations and the conversations are bitter-sweet and somewhat melancholy. To me this part of the book, much more than the romance, conspiracies, action, and so on, is what elevated it beyond the usual.
So, if you like robots, robot issues, a bit of conspiracy, a touch of action, a hunky guy romance, and heart-to-heart conversations with your companion bot, this is a nice choice.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This book tries to do and to be a lot of things, but I came to suspect that many of its best moments were unintended and ancillary to the main plot thread. That's not necessarily a criticism.
On its face this is a pretty standard tale. Robots have advanced to the point that they support and maintain the economy, provide basic services, and indeed have come to dominate more advanced fields, (medicine and so on). Utopia, right? Well, maybe. On the one hand are those who believe that robots will continue to lead the way to a world of peace and plenty. Others, (the underground Renegades), fear that robots that are focused solely on their "primary goals and functions" will eventually get to the point that they conclude that humans are irrelevant, or even obstacles. This is all very Asimov and the Three Rules of Robotics.
The action starts when the world Republic leader announces the goal of mastering "synthetic creativity" in robots. Again, will this be good or bad? We get into free will, art, emotions, morality, and all of those issues that Lt. Commander Data struggled with in the Star Trek series. This part of the book is written with some rigor, and the discussions are interesting. Gray, (who is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor), seems to favor a chemical basis as an integral part of emotion, which adds an interesting angle.
Anyway, you can sort of see where this is going. We have the Renegades versus the world leaders. Things start to get violent. There is a budding romance between our heroine, Rebecca, and her hot conspiracy theorist boss, Liam. Rebecca has a backstory that includes her dead Dad's heavy involvement in the Renegades. How and why did he die? What's the deal with Mom?
All of this is handled pretty smoothly, although the romance seemed a bit tennagey. Indeed, to the extent that this feels like an introduction to robot dystopia sci-fi, and given the crushy parts of the romance, this struck me as mostly along the lines of an early YA sci-fi/conspiracy/dystopia sort of story.
Anyway, here's the best part, at least to me. Rebecca's best friend is a companion bot she's had since she was a young teen and her Dad died. As part of the unfolding of the story, and as part of the examination of free will and emotion and emotional attachment, Rebecca has to parse out how you can have a robot "friend" if that robot has been hard programmed to really like you a lot, no matter what. That is, if the robot has no choice but to like you and be your friend. There are scenes that consist solely of Rebecca talking to her bot about the bot's programming and free will, and these scenes are remarkably insightful and touching. Indeed, the bot, (Madeline), seems at some level to understand her own emotional limitations and the conversations are bitter-sweet and somewhat melancholy. To me this part of the book, much more than the romance, conspiracies, action, and so on, is what elevated it beyond the usual.
So, if you like robots, robot issues, a bit of conspiracy, a touch of action, a hunky guy romance, and heart-to-heart conversations with your companion bot, this is a nice choice.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
June 23, 2018
My original Uncanny Valley audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Rebecca Cordeaux is a neuroscience student, and with interest in many other areas. Set in a future where robots have largely evolved to the point that some are afraid that they will one day eliminate the human race, Rebecca is put in charge of investigating where creativity and moral lay, in order to prevent robots to take our place in the world.
This was a quick and easy read, but I had issues connecting to the main character. It could be due to the fact that she was twenty-one but behaved like a teen, since I have been able to enjoy other YA novels. I also had troubles in getting invested in the main conflict in the book: on one hand we have the government willing to create better robots, and on the other hand there is a group called The Renegades, trying to prevent the dangers that improved robots could bring. The first part of the book was quite interesting and rose elaborate questions about the human nature and whether those aspects could be also applied to robots and how. The second part was not very plausible, and partially lost my interest because I did not really believe in it.
Rebecca is a young woman, but emotionally very immature. There is romance in the book, unnecessary but also predictable. And talking about predictable, there were some other things that I guessed quite early in the story, and I wanted to shake Rebecca and tell her so.
There was little world building. My guess is that this book was set around the 30th century, since our time is mentioned as the Second Age. It would have been nice to have more details about the world and the society. The only thing that is clear is that traveling has become something fast and cheap, since Rebecca and Liam travel from Dublin to San Jose in what it is called a quantum train, and it seems this is a quite quick trip. In a way, this means of transportation reminded me a lot of the one in 'Logan's Run'.
The end felt so rushed that when I was approaching it, I was wondering if I just did not have the complete book. This book is the first in a series, and it ends on a massive cliffhanger that got me by surprise.
Melissa Williams' narration was okay but it felt a bit stiff at times. She did a good job becoming Rebecca, but I missed some differentiation between characters. Also, Madeline's voice didn't really match my view of the little robot. She sounded more like an old woman than a little female robot.
All in all, it was a decent listen, but it's one of those novels exclusively for teens and YA, since the characters are all quite immature, and there is a lot of the philosophical talk typical of high school students.
Rebecca Cordeaux is a neuroscience student, and with interest in many other areas. Set in a future where robots have largely evolved to the point that some are afraid that they will one day eliminate the human race, Rebecca is put in charge of investigating where creativity and moral lay, in order to prevent robots to take our place in the world.
This was a quick and easy read, but I had issues connecting to the main character. It could be due to the fact that she was twenty-one but behaved like a teen, since I have been able to enjoy other YA novels. I also had troubles in getting invested in the main conflict in the book: on one hand we have the government willing to create better robots, and on the other hand there is a group called The Renegades, trying to prevent the dangers that improved robots could bring. The first part of the book was quite interesting and rose elaborate questions about the human nature and whether those aspects could be also applied to robots and how. The second part was not very plausible, and partially lost my interest because I did not really believe in it.
Rebecca is a young woman, but emotionally very immature. There is romance in the book, unnecessary but also predictable. And talking about predictable, there were some other things that I guessed quite early in the story, and I wanted to shake Rebecca and tell her so.
There was little world building. My guess is that this book was set around the 30th century, since our time is mentioned as the Second Age. It would have been nice to have more details about the world and the society. The only thing that is clear is that traveling has become something fast and cheap, since Rebecca and Liam travel from Dublin to San Jose in what it is called a quantum train, and it seems this is a quite quick trip. In a way, this means of transportation reminded me a lot of the one in 'Logan's Run'.
The end felt so rushed that when I was approaching it, I was wondering if I just did not have the complete book. This book is the first in a series, and it ends on a massive cliffhanger that got me by surprise.
Melissa Williams' narration was okay but it felt a bit stiff at times. She did a good job becoming Rebecca, but I missed some differentiation between characters. Also, Madeline's voice didn't really match my view of the little robot. She sounded more like an old woman than a little female robot.
All in all, it was a decent listen, but it's one of those novels exclusively for teens and YA, since the characters are all quite immature, and there is a lot of the philosophical talk typical of high school students.
July 30, 2018
The moment I saw that this audio book would go on tour, so to say, I volunteered. I love scifi, dystopies, fantasy etc, and the synopsis sounded promising.
Set in the not too far future, robots have taken over lots of work places, leaving those, whose places they fill in, poor and destitute.
As if this wasn’t enough, the world leader in robot technique, Halpert, challenges the intellectual elite to develop AI that can have emotions, and that can learn.
Data from Star Trek–The next Generation comes to mind. If you’ve followed this series, you’ll know that Data strives for getting the chip providing him with emotions, and ends up having to make a very difficult decision.
Here, the bots don’t have emotions, empathy or anything alike — yet — or have they?
Rebecca is about to find out. Is there actually a conspiracy going on? And what would be the consequences if Halpert & Co get their way?
The questions are answered within the book, although the ending promises a sequel.
It is not exactly an action story, lots of philosophical and ethical questions are raised and discussed, but there is some danger, and some action, too.
On the whole, it isn’t a predictable story, although I guessed who the ominous leader of the resistance was — and I guessed correctly.
I loved, that we have the pros and cons re: AI in general, and empathic AI in particular.
Is one worse than the other? More dangerous to humankind? About to take over the world?
In our day and time, A.I. and Industry 4.0 are being broadly discussed, so the topic of the book is a very current one which concerns us all.
So, OK, we are being steered in a specific direction, but then, it is important to be aware of the consequences.
We all want our data to be protected, yet here I am, having a blog, using social media sites, and doing online purchases, profiting from all the technology that makes life so much easier.
So, this is a great book about a subject that concerns us all.
Narrator Melissa Williams does a great job, although I didn’t enjoy the high-pitched voice she used for Rebecca a lot — but of course that is very subjective,since I generally prefer a deeper voice.
I recommend this book not just to young adults, but to everybody.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by C.A. Gray. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Set in the not too far future, robots have taken over lots of work places, leaving those, whose places they fill in, poor and destitute.
As if this wasn’t enough, the world leader in robot technique, Halpert, challenges the intellectual elite to develop AI that can have emotions, and that can learn.
Data from Star Trek–The next Generation comes to mind. If you’ve followed this series, you’ll know that Data strives for getting the chip providing him with emotions, and ends up having to make a very difficult decision.
Here, the bots don’t have emotions, empathy or anything alike — yet — or have they?
Rebecca is about to find out. Is there actually a conspiracy going on? And what would be the consequences if Halpert & Co get their way?
The questions are answered within the book, although the ending promises a sequel.
It is not exactly an action story, lots of philosophical and ethical questions are raised and discussed, but there is some danger, and some action, too.
On the whole, it isn’t a predictable story, although I guessed who the ominous leader of the resistance was — and I guessed correctly.
I loved, that we have the pros and cons re: AI in general, and empathic AI in particular.
Is one worse than the other? More dangerous to humankind? About to take over the world?
In our day and time, A.I. and Industry 4.0 are being broadly discussed, so the topic of the book is a very current one which concerns us all.
So, OK, we are being steered in a specific direction, but then, it is important to be aware of the consequences.
We all want our data to be protected, yet here I am, having a blog, using social media sites, and doing online purchases, profiting from all the technology that makes life so much easier.
So, this is a great book about a subject that concerns us all.
Narrator Melissa Williams does a great job, although I didn’t enjoy the high-pitched voice she used for Rebecca a lot — but of course that is very subjective,since I generally prefer a deeper voice.
I recommend this book not just to young adults, but to everybody.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by C.A. Gray. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
December 9, 2021
Re-listen 12-4-21:
It's been several years since I wrote this series, and it was startling to re-listen now. So many of the ideas that were just barely on the horizon then, such as censorship, "fake news," and manipulation of the public to believe a politically correct narrative, are now commonplace. I remember when I was plotting this out, I'd heard of the first ever example of internet censorship on a major website, and I thought, how crazy would that be, if someone was actually censoring all the information on the internet in a world where the internet was the only place information even existed? Those gatekeepers would effectively control the minds and imagination of the public.
How about that.
____
This series started out in my mind as a blend between my fascination with the progress of artificial intelligence (it seemed every other day, my Pocket app suggested more articles on how we're all going to hell in a handbasket because of the robots), and a plan to write a coming-of-age saga set in Ireland after my own recent visit to the romantic country. So it's a blend of the two--more mystery and intrigue than action in this installment, with a heavy sprinkling of romance, philosophical musings, and self-discovery thrown in.
(This weekend concludes the audiobook tour and giveaway on Amazon, but there's still time to enter for the Amazon gift card! https://audiobookwormpromotions.com/u...)
It's been several years since I wrote this series, and it was startling to re-listen now. So many of the ideas that were just barely on the horizon then, such as censorship, "fake news," and manipulation of the public to believe a politically correct narrative, are now commonplace. I remember when I was plotting this out, I'd heard of the first ever example of internet censorship on a major website, and I thought, how crazy would that be, if someone was actually censoring all the information on the internet in a world where the internet was the only place information even existed? Those gatekeepers would effectively control the minds and imagination of the public.
How about that.
____
This series started out in my mind as a blend between my fascination with the progress of artificial intelligence (it seemed every other day, my Pocket app suggested more articles on how we're all going to hell in a handbasket because of the robots), and a plan to write a coming-of-age saga set in Ireland after my own recent visit to the romantic country. So it's a blend of the two--more mystery and intrigue than action in this installment, with a heavy sprinkling of romance, philosophical musings, and self-discovery thrown in.
(This weekend concludes the audiobook tour and giveaway on Amazon, but there's still time to enter for the Amazon gift card! https://audiobookwormpromotions.com/u...)
June 1, 2018
Rating: 2.5
When I first heard the premise of C.A. Gray’s new book, I was instantly intrigued. Ever since I read I, Robot and saw Blade Runner, I’ve loved most stories exploring the morality and ethics surrounding AI. Unfortunately, Uncanny Valley was too bogged down with technical explanations for me to enjoy. The information included was definitely interesting but it was presented in a very info-dumpy way that disrupted the pacing of the story. While I liked the characters in general, I also thought that Rebecca was a bit of a Mary Sue. Since she was in college and apathetic about neuroscience, it strained the imagination a bit to pretend that she was the only one capable of solving the issue. However, had the technical explanations been severely toned down andRebecca a bit more nuanced, Uncanny Valley would have been an excellent read. I liked the high-stakes action and the plot was overall entertaining.
*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When I first heard the premise of C.A. Gray’s new book, I was instantly intrigued. Ever since I read I, Robot and saw Blade Runner, I’ve loved most stories exploring the morality and ethics surrounding AI. Unfortunately, Uncanny Valley was too bogged down with technical explanations for me to enjoy. The information included was definitely interesting but it was presented in a very info-dumpy way that disrupted the pacing of the story. While I liked the characters in general, I also thought that Rebecca was a bit of a Mary Sue. Since she was in college and apathetic about neuroscience, it strained the imagination a bit to pretend that she was the only one capable of solving the issue. However, had the technical explanations been severely toned down andRebecca a bit more nuanced, Uncanny Valley would have been an excellent read. I liked the high-stakes action and the plot was overall entertaining.
*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
June 5, 2018
I was given this book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
This book is set in the future where due to "bots" filling many job rolls humans are able to relax and enjoy life. However that is not the reality people with no purpose become angry and resent the bots filling in for them. This story follows Rebecca's journey for university student to member of the renegades trying to stop advancement of bots and trying to discover the truth about what happened to her father (also a renegade member).
I struggled for the longest time to really fall into the story Rebecca is just such a difficult character to root for. And although I thought the story was good the pacing seemed to drag. Ultimately I fell in and then the story took off tons of twists and turns and shocking plot twists. Rebecca became a full character and I wanted to see her through to the end. I am really looking forward to the next book and recommend this to anyone that enjoys futuristic set books, filled with suspense and mystery.
This book is set in the future where due to "bots" filling many job rolls humans are able to relax and enjoy life. However that is not the reality people with no purpose become angry and resent the bots filling in for them. This story follows Rebecca's journey for university student to member of the renegades trying to stop advancement of bots and trying to discover the truth about what happened to her father (also a renegade member).
I struggled for the longest time to really fall into the story Rebecca is just such a difficult character to root for. And although I thought the story was good the pacing seemed to drag. Ultimately I fell in and then the story took off tons of twists and turns and shocking plot twists. Rebecca became a full character and I wanted to see her through to the end. I am really looking forward to the next book and recommend this to anyone that enjoys futuristic set books, filled with suspense and mystery.
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