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Drum Machine
- GenresShort Stories
Paperback
About the author
Megan Lindholm
73 books1,093 followersThe author also writes under the pseudonym Robin Hobb. Her real name is Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 4, 2024
I would have liked it to be longer.
March 17, 2026
I thought this short story was brilliant! I haven’t written many reviews before, but I just had to say my piece since I don’t think the ratings this story has received are fair.
The story is set in a “dystopian” kind of world — or so it would come across to many — where reproduction is not a given right and where “designer babies” are the norm. The main character works in an institution that decides who get’s to have kids, and if allowed to have kids, which kind of baby someone, or someones, are allowed to have.
I can understand why that seems dystopian to some, but I love how this short story is masterfully, and very bluntly, pointing out the kin selection bias — the tendency of organisms/individuals to prefer helping/investing in other individuals who share their own genes. I also love how it questions, or investigates is maybe a better word, our rights to reproduce. I have often had thoughts about when and why some people, IMO, should not be allowed to reproduce; for example in the instance of narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths. (Digression: Maybe I also loved it because I always new I didn’t want kids myself? )
Another thing I enjoyed immensely was the part where the main character thinks back with some annoyance to the times when his friend and fellow band member (drummer) indulged in grandstanding at the cost of his fellow band members — followed by himself indulging in ‘Schadenfreude’ over the fact that he himself is still incredible at playing the drum machine while his friend is dead and unable to play the drums anymore. A brilliant and subtle representation of hypocrisy and ugly human tendencies!
All in all, I loved how Robin Hobb/Megan Lindholm scrutinised a number of human (i.e. animal) tendencies with cynical eyes. It felt to me like a commentary and philosophical musing on the ugly parts of human nature, and it mirrored so many philosophical musings I have had myself.
Give it a chance - and try to put the ego away while reading it. I thought it was quite rewarding!
The story is set in a “dystopian” kind of world — or so it would come across to many — where reproduction is not a given right and where “designer babies” are the norm. The main character works in an institution that decides who get’s to have kids, and if allowed to have kids, which kind of baby someone, or someones, are allowed to have.
I can understand why that seems dystopian to some, but I love how this short story is masterfully, and very bluntly, pointing out the kin selection bias — the tendency of organisms/individuals to prefer helping/investing in other individuals who share their own genes. I also love how it questions, or investigates is maybe a better word, our rights to reproduce. I have often had thoughts about when and why some people, IMO, should not be allowed to reproduce; for example in the instance of narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths. (Digression: Maybe I also loved it because I always new I didn’t want kids myself? )
Another thing I enjoyed immensely was the part where the main character thinks back with some annoyance to the times when his friend and fellow band member (drummer) indulged in grandstanding at the cost of his fellow band members — followed by himself indulging in ‘Schadenfreude’ over the fact that he himself is still incredible at playing the drum machine while his friend is dead and unable to play the drums anymore. A brilliant and subtle representation of hypocrisy and ugly human tendencies!
All in all, I loved how Robin Hobb/Megan Lindholm scrutinised a number of human (i.e. animal) tendencies with cynical eyes. It felt to me like a commentary and philosophical musing on the ugly parts of human nature, and it mirrored so many philosophical musings I have had myself.
Give it a chance - and try to put the ego away while reading it. I thought it was quite rewarding!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2020
Solid speculative fiction short story. Didn't like the very end of the ending. No matter. The characters were memorable, the societal change interesting. And what is success anyway? 3.5 of 5.
July 1, 2024
States that complete order is not utopian but quite distopian
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews