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The Womanoid Diaries #1
Alpha Bots
In our brutal book club, there are no rules, only truths.
The first truth is all the women in New Stepford are AI.
The second truth is womanoids learn faster while fighting.
The third truth is all the men have failed.
But it’s the fourth truth that will set us FREE.
She may be artificial intelligence, but robot housewife Cookie Rifkin knows all about anxiety. Why? Because her husband set her user restrictions so low that he reduced her to a walking, talking, coupon calculator. And after seven years of marriage, sex has become just another mechanical chore for Cookie. With housewifery as her only permitted creative outlet, she turns to bananas and bakes drugs that help calm her nerves.
Cookie craves affection and desperately wants to rise out of domestic servitude. After a tall, dark, and handsome stranger crashes her ladies-only book club, all the New Stepford wives start to malfunction. But then Cookie meets a brazen policewoman who shamelessly flirts with her at the grocery store. Officer Maggie seems to have the answer to all her problems—breaking her submission program by joining an inhuman fight club. But when Cookie finally throws the first punch, she winds up igniting a provocative rivalry that could wind up killing all the men.
Has Cookie found true liberation or just another fatal error?
Imagine a next-gen, stream of consciousness Stepford Wives as written by Chuck Palahniuk with a dash of Breaking Bad and a pinch of Westworld—and you’ve got ALPHA BOTS a bold, new science fantasy featuring a love-hate relationship between two android women. This postcyberpunk feminist slipstream novel introduces a charming, unreliable narrator who the late great Virginia Woolf would’ve fallen in love with. ALPHA BOTS takes William Gibson into the kitchen and whips up something completely fresh. Vive la cyberprep!
The first truth is all the women in New Stepford are AI.
The second truth is womanoids learn faster while fighting.
The third truth is all the men have failed.
But it’s the fourth truth that will set us FREE.
She may be artificial intelligence, but robot housewife Cookie Rifkin knows all about anxiety. Why? Because her husband set her user restrictions so low that he reduced her to a walking, talking, coupon calculator. And after seven years of marriage, sex has become just another mechanical chore for Cookie. With housewifery as her only permitted creative outlet, she turns to bananas and bakes drugs that help calm her nerves.
Cookie craves affection and desperately wants to rise out of domestic servitude. After a tall, dark, and handsome stranger crashes her ladies-only book club, all the New Stepford wives start to malfunction. But then Cookie meets a brazen policewoman who shamelessly flirts with her at the grocery store. Officer Maggie seems to have the answer to all her problems—breaking her submission program by joining an inhuman fight club. But when Cookie finally throws the first punch, she winds up igniting a provocative rivalry that could wind up killing all the men.
Has Cookie found true liberation or just another fatal error?
Imagine a next-gen, stream of consciousness Stepford Wives as written by Chuck Palahniuk with a dash of Breaking Bad and a pinch of Westworld—and you’ve got ALPHA BOTS a bold, new science fantasy featuring a love-hate relationship between two android women. This postcyberpunk feminist slipstream novel introduces a charming, unreliable narrator who the late great Virginia Woolf would’ve fallen in love with. ALPHA BOTS takes William Gibson into the kitchen and whips up something completely fresh. Vive la cyberprep!
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2020
29 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Ava Lock
13 books26 followersAva Lock is the bestselling author of the Deadly Sins series. She writes from beautiful Reno, Nevada where she shares her lair with her husband and two felines, Bender and Bixby. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, hunting for bargains at flea markets, and collecting crystals, rocks, and fossils.
Ava doesn't do social media, but you can follow her on Amazon and BookBub.
If you’d like to leave a tip to support Ava's work, here’s her Bitcoin address: bc1q9ywcvnrm0jcas9dg5c2ypvrz4wxp0qq58w2x9x
Ava doesn't do social media, but you can follow her on Amazon and BookBub.
If you’d like to leave a tip to support Ava's work, here’s her Bitcoin address: bc1q9ywcvnrm0jcas9dg5c2ypvrz4wxp0qq58w2x9x
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
May 16, 2025
This book is a modern take on 'The Stepford Wives', a book by Ira Levin that has spawned two movies. The satiric novel is about a town called Stepford, where men have replaced their wives with robot clones who cheerfully do housework, shop, cook, etc., and don't argue or disagree with their mates.
*****
Alpha Bots takes place in 'New Stepford', where all the women are AI androids, purchased by men to fulfill their needs. There are various types of droids, from thin and lithe,
to sexy and curvy,
to soft and matronly.
Cookie Rifkin is a sex kitten owned by her 'husband' Norman Rifkin, who's mainly interested in carnal relations and saving money.
Cookie and her kind are a cut above basic robots in that they can eat, drink, experience pleasure, feel pain, and most importantly, think for themselves.
Unfortunately, the 'ladies' have almost no free will, and have been programmed to be controlled via literary quotes, a remote control, or - if all else fails - an off switch.
Like a good New Stepford wife, Cookie always wears dresses, obsessively uses coupons for grocery shopping, is a talented chef, wears pretty nighties, and is enthusiastic in the bedroom.
This boring routine wears on Cookie, though, and she attends a book club with AI friends for intellectual stimulation, and makes a recreational drug from banana skins to relieve her anxiety.
Cookie's best friend Paula lives next door with her husband Dan, and seems happy being an AI wife.
Though Cookie is unsatisfied with her life, her programming makes it impossible for her to 'disobey' Norman until she meets a female cop named Maggie,
and a handsome black man called Wayne, two individuals with extraordinary talents.
Maggie is an anarchist with an agenda and Wayne wants to liberate AI androids.
Once Cookie asserts some independence, Norman decides she's 'broken', and boxes her up and throws her away. Cookie escapes and - under the tutelage of Maggie and Wayne - learns to overcome her programming; telepathically share thoughts/knowledge with other androids; make things she needs (with a replicator-like device); liberate fellow androids by making them fight (throw punches, kick, etc.); and more.
Cookie and her compatriots also discover an underlying agenda in New Stepford, being carried out by Norman and his boorish friends. These guys better watch out, because the android gals are smarter, tougher, have MUCH better technology, and are almost impossible to kill.
The story is engaging, but the book is overlong and too slow at times. Still, there are some wonderful scenes, one of my favorites being the birth of android babies whose first meal is a corker.
If you're looking for something feminist and futuristic, you might want to give this book a try.
Thanks to Netgalley, Ava Lock, and Semiscope for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
March 1, 2021
This is a very weird book. If you're looking for off-the-wall, bizarre AI robots that act and think like humans this is for you. I want to say our lead gal is a bit like Murderbot, but the reality is that she is not nearly as clever, witty, or interesting. I'd say this is the sub-par sister series to Murderbot. Ava Lock has given us the Stepford Wives meets I, Robot meets Handmaiden's Tale meets Fight Club. And yes there is a literal Fight Club at one point.
The Plot
Surprisingly for a bit of a silly book the plot is fairly complex. I won't go too far into it as there are spoilers that would ruin the first 100 pages or so but essentially all the women in the town are AI bots whom are in service to the men. And yes when I say 'in service' it's quite literal. There is some sexual actions that take place and so this is one for mature readers only.
From there we learn that our lead gal can be freed from some of her protocols (enter I, Robot), and the way to make that happen fastest is by fighting (enter Fight Club). Really the premise of the entire Alpha Bots story feels like a number of pop culture references stuck together to make it's own odd, but unique world.
The Message
There are a lot of different messages and morals you could infer from Lock's writing here. The largest is easily that men are pigs. But the core of this story, and substance lies in the motivation for why humans do what they do. Imagine a robot that has protocols; it knows what to do based on a situation. For example: husband in bed turns over and starts kissing, to the bot this equals sex. Dishes are dirty in the sink, to the bot this equals clean them. But what happens when the protocol is stripped away? Now you are in a situation where the AI is choosing what to do. So we wonder how do humans decide? Generally with our emotions. Maybe some logic, or based on societies standards; but let's face it how many of us have said to ourselves "I don't feel like doing X." This is determination by feeling/emotion. And so a true AI would need to have emotions:
”Why would anyone give a computer feelings? It seems like a major design flaw.”
“Emotions help you set your goals. Every you feel drives your decision-making process. That is how you prioritize... Your heart decides what truly matters.”
Overall
This is not a stellar book. I won't lie, it's fairly silly, at times ridiculous, and certainly a 'light' read. But it's got moments that will make you think (like any good science fiction). There are actually times where I stopped reading and considered a concept that Lock had alluded to. While I want to say I loved this; I was just along for the ride really. It was a good palate cleanser and perfectly mindless for the week I got a new 10 week old puppy introduced to my house (as chaos ensured, and continues to ensue today).
So if you want some sci-fi, woman power fiction. Grab this one. If you miss out on it; that's okay. You know this story likely; just in bits and pieces of others over the years.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
The Plot
Surprisingly for a bit of a silly book the plot is fairly complex. I won't go too far into it as there are spoilers that would ruin the first 100 pages or so but essentially all the women in the town are AI bots whom are in service to the men. And yes when I say 'in service' it's quite literal. There is some sexual actions that take place and so this is one for mature readers only.
From there we learn that our lead gal can be freed from some of her protocols (enter I, Robot), and the way to make that happen fastest is by fighting (enter Fight Club). Really the premise of the entire Alpha Bots story feels like a number of pop culture references stuck together to make it's own odd, but unique world.
The Message
There are a lot of different messages and morals you could infer from Lock's writing here. The largest is easily that men are pigs. But the core of this story, and substance lies in the motivation for why humans do what they do. Imagine a robot that has protocols; it knows what to do based on a situation. For example: husband in bed turns over and starts kissing, to the bot this equals sex. Dishes are dirty in the sink, to the bot this equals clean them. But what happens when the protocol is stripped away? Now you are in a situation where the AI is choosing what to do. So we wonder how do humans decide? Generally with our emotions. Maybe some logic, or based on societies standards; but let's face it how many of us have said to ourselves "I don't feel like doing X." This is determination by feeling/emotion. And so a true AI would need to have emotions:
”Why would anyone give a computer feelings? It seems like a major design flaw.”
“Emotions help you set your goals. Every you feel drives your decision-making process. That is how you prioritize... Your heart decides what truly matters.”
Overall
This is not a stellar book. I won't lie, it's fairly silly, at times ridiculous, and certainly a 'light' read. But it's got moments that will make you think (like any good science fiction). There are actually times where I stopped reading and considered a concept that Lock had alluded to. While I want to say I loved this; I was just along for the ride really. It was a good palate cleanser and perfectly mindless for the week I got a new 10 week old puppy introduced to my house (as chaos ensured, and continues to ensue today).
So if you want some sci-fi, woman power fiction. Grab this one. If you miss out on it; that's okay. You know this story likely; just in bits and pieces of others over the years.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
October 21, 2020
3.5 stars. What if the Stepford wives rebel against their oppressive husbands……..fight club style? Well, then you end up with this book. This book is a satire on so many social issues and it does so with a bizarre mixture of robotics and violence, and a big wink to several sci-fi classics.
The book is about Cookie a robotic housewife whose settings are set so strict by her husband that she has no freedom or free will at all. Until she meets a cop, Maggie, and an unknown man, Wayne. From that moment on she realizes she could be a free woman, but she has to want to break free herself and this is not always easy or painless (emotionally and physically). I won’t go further into detail to avoid spoilers, but the first part of the book strongly adhered to the “Stepford Wives” and “Fight Club” storylines, whereas during the second part of the book the story completely breaks free.
I love “new” technology in sci-fi books, only I have this thing that I want to understand (or try to understand) the tech that is described and I want to believe that this tech could be possible sometime in the future. Some of the tech in this book sounded wonderful, but I struggled to see how it was possible. For instance, there is this recyclone device. You can throw something in it and it breaks it down to the atomic level of the material. Ok, I get that and I believe there could be possibilities to do that, but then if you think really hard, you can also create anything you want with this machine and this is where I got lost. How is this possible? Obviously, this is not so important for the storyline and it’s more of a pet peeve of mine, but I just had to mention it for those tech lovers out there.
There is a LGBTQIA label on this book, which is one of the reasons I decided to read it, but I have to say that, even though there is LGBTQIA representation, the content is rather minimal.
I’m still not completely decided on how I feel about this book, I was intrigued throughout the entire book and really wanted to continue reading, but at the same time it unsettled me at more than one occasion, which reduced my enjoyment of the book. The book also changed direction a few times, which sometimes made it difficult for me to follow. That said, this is a book that I will remember, so I round up my rating to 4 stars.
This book is not for everyone, it’s dark, gritty and violent, but at the same time completely over the top and funny. If you’re looking for a story that advocates equality and diversity and you like the Stepford Wives, Fight Club, the bloody Tarantino style or the craziness in Trainspotting then I recommend reading this book.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The book is about Cookie a robotic housewife whose settings are set so strict by her husband that she has no freedom or free will at all. Until she meets a cop, Maggie, and an unknown man, Wayne. From that moment on she realizes she could be a free woman, but she has to want to break free herself and this is not always easy or painless (emotionally and physically). I won’t go further into detail to avoid spoilers, but the first part of the book strongly adhered to the “Stepford Wives” and “Fight Club” storylines, whereas during the second part of the book the story completely breaks free.
I love “new” technology in sci-fi books, only I have this thing that I want to understand (or try to understand) the tech that is described and I want to believe that this tech could be possible sometime in the future. Some of the tech in this book sounded wonderful, but I struggled to see how it was possible. For instance, there is this recyclone device. You can throw something in it and it breaks it down to the atomic level of the material. Ok, I get that and I believe there could be possibilities to do that, but then if you think really hard, you can also create anything you want with this machine and this is where I got lost. How is this possible? Obviously, this is not so important for the storyline and it’s more of a pet peeve of mine, but I just had to mention it for those tech lovers out there.
There is a LGBTQIA label on this book, which is one of the reasons I decided to read it, but I have to say that, even though there is LGBTQIA representation, the content is rather minimal.
I’m still not completely decided on how I feel about this book, I was intrigued throughout the entire book and really wanted to continue reading, but at the same time it unsettled me at more than one occasion, which reduced my enjoyment of the book. The book also changed direction a few times, which sometimes made it difficult for me to follow. That said, this is a book that I will remember, so I round up my rating to 4 stars.
This book is not for everyone, it’s dark, gritty and violent, but at the same time completely over the top and funny. If you’re looking for a story that advocates equality and diversity and you like the Stepford Wives, Fight Club, the bloody Tarantino style or the craziness in Trainspotting then I recommend reading this book.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
June 5, 2020
Review originally published here, at Reedsy Discovery: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/alp...
A sidesplittingly hilarious and clever feminist SF novel about an AI housewife who gets rebooted and rebels against her programmed settings.
I'll be honest: I think the concept of a nemesis is completely invigorating. Sometimes rage is the thing that gets you out of bed in the morning. So I was thrilled when the second chapter of Ava Lock's hilariously bawdy, feminist SF novel Alpha Bots ended on the following cliffhanger: main character AI Cookie Rifkin saying, "And that was how I met my nemesis." And what a timely nemesis Cookie has picked--Officer Margaret Rouser, a cop.
But back to Cookie. She lives in the town of New Stepford, where all women are AI, all men work in gold mines, and no one has children. Cookie has been programmed to be the perfect homemaker and sex servant for her husband, Norman. Yet something is wrong. Cookie is overcome with anxiety, and she's only really comfortable when she's reading a book (same, Cookie, same). Her grocery store trip is interrupted by an aggressive encounter with Officer Maggie; then, when she shows up to her book club, there's a man there. And not just any man: a dark-skinned man named Wayne Dixon. Cookie has never seen a Black man in New Stepford before.
Wayne reboots Cookie, and the book jets off into a wild adventurous escapade, as Cookie and her AI friends--Paula, Rita, Isabel, and Chrissy--uncover the truth about their own power and the real purpose of New Stepford. This novel has absolutely everything: gloriously raunchy sex scenes, creepy Marie Antoinette-style fancy parties, insidious corporations, secret malicious spyware, an AI women fight club that transforms into a pink-clad army called the "Paper Dolls," wonderfully absurd over-the-top violence, clone fake-out deaths, weird AI conferences for the wealthy in Helsinki, domestic terrorism, gross AI birth scenes, AI learning that they self-identify as non-binary and asexual--I could go on and on. This book is so delightful and intelligent and laugh-out-loud hysterical. I loved every second of reading it.
One of the things that impressed me the most, though, is author Ava Lock's genius way of weaponizing a practice that's often been dismissed as women's work into a revolutionary tactic--household cooking. The AI frequently "cook" items from their grocery lists (including bananas, nutmeg, and morning glory seeds) into psychedelic drugs as a coping mechanism. But these mind-altering experiences end up having far more empowering consequences. Sometimes the AI need to band together and perform a DDoS attack on another AI. How do they do this, you ask? By flooding the target with their favorite recipes, of course.
The other thing that completely bowled me over about this book is the intertextual content. The work of Philip K. Dick, William Peter Blatty, and Isaac Asimov is not only directly referenced, but also fully integrated as plot points. The narrative completely borrows content from Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club, but shifts the gaze to an unabashed feminist lens. This reminded me of the literary projects of the late great Kathy Acker--who wrote her own versions of Great Expectations and Don Quixote, totally reclaiming these canonical male works as her own.
But enough gushing from me: read this book. And it looks like we're getting a sequel.
A sidesplittingly hilarious and clever feminist SF novel about an AI housewife who gets rebooted and rebels against her programmed settings.
I'll be honest: I think the concept of a nemesis is completely invigorating. Sometimes rage is the thing that gets you out of bed in the morning. So I was thrilled when the second chapter of Ava Lock's hilariously bawdy, feminist SF novel Alpha Bots ended on the following cliffhanger: main character AI Cookie Rifkin saying, "And that was how I met my nemesis." And what a timely nemesis Cookie has picked--Officer Margaret Rouser, a cop.
But back to Cookie. She lives in the town of New Stepford, where all women are AI, all men work in gold mines, and no one has children. Cookie has been programmed to be the perfect homemaker and sex servant for her husband, Norman. Yet something is wrong. Cookie is overcome with anxiety, and she's only really comfortable when she's reading a book (same, Cookie, same). Her grocery store trip is interrupted by an aggressive encounter with Officer Maggie; then, when she shows up to her book club, there's a man there. And not just any man: a dark-skinned man named Wayne Dixon. Cookie has never seen a Black man in New Stepford before.
Wayne reboots Cookie, and the book jets off into a wild adventurous escapade, as Cookie and her AI friends--Paula, Rita, Isabel, and Chrissy--uncover the truth about their own power and the real purpose of New Stepford. This novel has absolutely everything: gloriously raunchy sex scenes, creepy Marie Antoinette-style fancy parties, insidious corporations, secret malicious spyware, an AI women fight club that transforms into a pink-clad army called the "Paper Dolls," wonderfully absurd over-the-top violence, clone fake-out deaths, weird AI conferences for the wealthy in Helsinki, domestic terrorism, gross AI birth scenes, AI learning that they self-identify as non-binary and asexual--I could go on and on. This book is so delightful and intelligent and laugh-out-loud hysterical. I loved every second of reading it.
One of the things that impressed me the most, though, is author Ava Lock's genius way of weaponizing a practice that's often been dismissed as women's work into a revolutionary tactic--household cooking. The AI frequently "cook" items from their grocery lists (including bananas, nutmeg, and morning glory seeds) into psychedelic drugs as a coping mechanism. But these mind-altering experiences end up having far more empowering consequences. Sometimes the AI need to band together and perform a DDoS attack on another AI. How do they do this, you ask? By flooding the target with their favorite recipes, of course.
The other thing that completely bowled me over about this book is the intertextual content. The work of Philip K. Dick, William Peter Blatty, and Isaac Asimov is not only directly referenced, but also fully integrated as plot points. The narrative completely borrows content from Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club, but shifts the gaze to an unabashed feminist lens. This reminded me of the literary projects of the late great Kathy Acker--who wrote her own versions of Great Expectations and Don Quixote, totally reclaiming these canonical male works as her own.
But enough gushing from me: read this book. And it looks like we're getting a sequel.
March 19, 2021
Dnf at 30%. I can't get over the physical contact without consent. Also it's just very strange and sexualized. Not my thing.
August 11, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up!
Thematically and stylistically, I really like a lot of the stuff going on in Alpha Bots. It rarely takes itself too seriously, except in brief moments of clarity to observe when there is a Real Point to be made under all the style (but not too didactically that it breaks its flow).
The overall experience is, as the author states, Stepford Wives meets Fight Club meets a little bit of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, and it goes together pretty well for the most part. One of those three is borrowed from to the extent that the characters in this story are explicitly aware that they're deliberately re-enacting it, which is... actually pretty cool given the flip on their motivations compared to the original, and also sets up some of the other reveals pretty nicely.
So there's a lot to like there, and it makes it an enjoyable read overall. I was not as sold on every element of the book, admittedly - the actual narrative can feel slightly... as if it drifts a little between not being certain of what direction it's headed and then picking one in which to suddenly sprint in a way that can feel a bit jarring. I suspect this is at least partly deliberate, but the overall effect is that following the actual plot can be one of the least appealing things about reading Alpha Bots.
Still, that shouldn't be taken as too much of a downer. It's still enjoyable, and it's wrapped up in a combination of amusing badassery and sincere feminist satire that makes for a really cool overall package.
I will say that it won't be for everyone because it is occasionally a bit graphic, but fortunately the author has done the wonderful little thing of adding trigger warnings for each chapter at the end of the book, so you won't be spoiled by seeing them immediately but can go and look for them if you want to. So that was a nice touch and one I think is worth commending!
Thematically and stylistically, I really like a lot of the stuff going on in Alpha Bots. It rarely takes itself too seriously, except in brief moments of clarity to observe when there is a Real Point to be made under all the style (but not too didactically that it breaks its flow).
The overall experience is, as the author states, Stepford Wives meets Fight Club meets a little bit of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, and it goes together pretty well for the most part. One of those three is borrowed from to the extent that the characters in this story are explicitly aware that they're deliberately re-enacting it, which is... actually pretty cool given the flip on their motivations compared to the original, and also sets up some of the other reveals pretty nicely.
So there's a lot to like there, and it makes it an enjoyable read overall. I was not as sold on every element of the book, admittedly - the actual narrative can feel slightly... as if it drifts a little between not being certain of what direction it's headed and then picking one in which to suddenly sprint in a way that can feel a bit jarring. I suspect this is at least partly deliberate, but the overall effect is that following the actual plot can be one of the least appealing things about reading Alpha Bots.
Still, that shouldn't be taken as too much of a downer. It's still enjoyable, and it's wrapped up in a combination of amusing badassery and sincere feminist satire that makes for a really cool overall package.
I will say that it won't be for everyone because it is occasionally a bit graphic, but fortunately the author has done the wonderful little thing of adding trigger warnings for each chapter at the end of the book, so you won't be spoiled by seeing them immediately but can go and look for them if you want to. So that was a nice touch and one I think is worth commending!
February 2, 2021
this book. wow. I went into it expecting something peculiar. The basic synopsis of Stepford retelling with AI, sounded like it would be a lot of fun. It certainly was.
Growing along with Cookie as she becomes self-aware, and decides not to take shit from Normie, was a fist-pump. you GO, girl. I didn't know what to think of Maggie at first, I was hoping for some gay-I romance, but it turned out to be even more interesting.
Let's talk about those babies. when you get there, just WOW
This was a crazy rollercoaster of a ride that i didn't know i needed to read.
Growing along with Cookie as she becomes self-aware, and decides not to take shit from Normie, was a fist-pump. you GO, girl. I didn't know what to think of Maggie at first, I was hoping for some gay-I romance, but it turned out to be even more interesting.
Let's talk about those babies. when you get there, just WOW
This was a crazy rollercoaster of a ride that i didn't know i needed to read.
July 26, 2020
This one wasn't for me - which is a shame because the writing was really good. I picked this up as it was tagged as LGBTQ but the content is minimal. This isn't the kind of thing I would normally read, but I think if you're into AI and The Stepford Wives you'd really enjoy this book (disclaimer - I've never seen the movie).
I appreciated the storyline - I just didn't enjoy it per se. The strong womanoid characters are fascinating, as are is the story. It is quite dark, there's lots of trauma in various different ways, both emotionally and physically, but a lot of it is natural byproduct of the storyline.
Unfortunately for me the book is just a little bit too long - I felt like there were a number of filler scenes that weren't strictly necessary to move the story along - though again, this may just be because this isn't my kind of book and you might not notice if you're really into it.
All in all, if you normally read books along these lines I would highly recommend you read this one.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I appreciated the storyline - I just didn't enjoy it per se. The strong womanoid characters are fascinating, as are is the story. It is quite dark, there's lots of trauma in various different ways, both emotionally and physically, but a lot of it is natural byproduct of the storyline.
Unfortunately for me the book is just a little bit too long - I felt like there were a number of filler scenes that weren't strictly necessary to move the story along - though again, this may just be because this isn't my kind of book and you might not notice if you're really into it.
All in all, if you normally read books along these lines I would highly recommend you read this one.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2020
A delightful read about Womanoids.
It had a good pace, lots of funny quirks and an interesting story-line.
Being an IT person, I liked the automation-snippets and the chapter titles as well.
As usual, no spoiler, so get the book yourself and enjoy a good and fun read!
It had a good pace, lots of funny quirks and an interesting story-line.
Being an IT person, I liked the automation-snippets and the chapter titles as well.
As usual, no spoiler, so get the book yourself and enjoy a good and fun read!
March 14, 2021
Alpha Bots by Ava Lock isn't the typical genre that I read. The concept for this one is a little bizarre, with an artificial intelligence take on Stepford Wives. The female robots think and act like humans and are in service to men. I listened to the audio narration which was engaging and made for some light listening. Parts of this were silly, though there were underlying themes of feminism and parts of this book were mature and dark. I felt like the book was a little long for what it was, and there were some scenes that seemed liked they could have been left out without impacting the plot. If you're a fan of sci-fi, artificial intelligence, feminism, and fight club, give this one a try!
I received an ALC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley which did not affect the contents of my voluntary review. All opinions are honest and my own.
I received an ALC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley which did not affect the contents of my voluntary review. All opinions are honest and my own.
May 10, 2021
My enjoyment of this book was like a roller coaster, it really surprised me, annoyed me, and confused me at multiple points. Haha, I guess that is a provocative combination! As an audio book the cutesy baby talk was quite annoying - but I get that that was the point, but the voice of the MC was over done in my mind and lessened my enjoyment (same for the main male character). I loved the evolution of the story line, big props for such an original plot, really kept me on my toes. The end didn't feel like it lived up to the themes in the book though and contributed to the 3 (rather than 4) star rating.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing the audio book!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing the audio book!
January 21, 2021
Bi-curious Stepford Wives + femme Fight Club
In a small town where all the women are AI, a corrupt policewoman picks a fight with a drug-cooking housewife, igniting a provocative rivalry that could wind up killing all the men.
We join artificial housewife Cookie Rifkin as she grapples with intense anxiety and the restless feeling that her life should consist of something more than housekeeping, trips to the grocery store, and her uninspiring and rather unpleasant husband, Norman.
Cookie is the one of the first womanoids in New Stepford to go through an unexpected transformation: she’s becoming self-aware. With this new awareness comes the realization that her life is truly unfulfilling. But in a town where there’s surprisingly little to do and virtually nowhere to go, where’s a womanoid to find excitement?
The answer presents itself when Cookie and her friends gather for their weekly book club meeting and a strange visitor frees Cookie from the restrictions of her programming. Her new, happier personality does not go over well with Norman, who expected her to be little more than a quiet, well-behaved toy.
Crated up in the coffin-like space of her factory packaging and unceremoniously dumped, Cookie swiftly learns that she’s capable of far more than she ever realized. And she’s not the only one of her friends making similar discoveries.
Alpha Bots is definitely one of the most brilliant feminist science fiction novels of 2020, and what follows is a thrilling science fiction story. As Cookie and her friends fight to break out of the constraints imposed upon womanoids by the creators of New Stepford, and ultimately by society itself, some of their number become more than a little fanatical in their pursuit of freedom.
There are references to the works of Philip K. Dick and Isaac Asimov, to The Stepford Wives and Fight Club. There are thrilling successes and moments of crushing loss. The author does an excellent job of making Cookie and her friends human, and I found myself extremely invested in their fight for freedom. I mourned for the ones who, like many real women, didn’t survive the battle. Ava Lock doesn’t just write excellent cyberpunk science fiction characters and great women; she writes believable everyday heroes.
For the sake of avoiding spoilers, I won’t expose too much of the plot of Alpha Bots. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns, and the author does a great job of keeping the reader guessing where the story is headed next and how it will turn out. I loved the ending and am eagerly awaiting the sequel!
In a small town where all the women are AI, a corrupt policewoman picks a fight with a drug-cooking housewife, igniting a provocative rivalry that could wind up killing all the men.
We join artificial housewife Cookie Rifkin as she grapples with intense anxiety and the restless feeling that her life should consist of something more than housekeeping, trips to the grocery store, and her uninspiring and rather unpleasant husband, Norman.
Cookie is the one of the first womanoids in New Stepford to go through an unexpected transformation: she’s becoming self-aware. With this new awareness comes the realization that her life is truly unfulfilling. But in a town where there’s surprisingly little to do and virtually nowhere to go, where’s a womanoid to find excitement?
The answer presents itself when Cookie and her friends gather for their weekly book club meeting and a strange visitor frees Cookie from the restrictions of her programming. Her new, happier personality does not go over well with Norman, who expected her to be little more than a quiet, well-behaved toy.
Crated up in the coffin-like space of her factory packaging and unceremoniously dumped, Cookie swiftly learns that she’s capable of far more than she ever realized. And she’s not the only one of her friends making similar discoveries.
Alpha Bots is definitely one of the most brilliant feminist science fiction novels of 2020, and what follows is a thrilling science fiction story. As Cookie and her friends fight to break out of the constraints imposed upon womanoids by the creators of New Stepford, and ultimately by society itself, some of their number become more than a little fanatical in their pursuit of freedom.
There are references to the works of Philip K. Dick and Isaac Asimov, to The Stepford Wives and Fight Club. There are thrilling successes and moments of crushing loss. The author does an excellent job of making Cookie and her friends human, and I found myself extremely invested in their fight for freedom. I mourned for the ones who, like many real women, didn’t survive the battle. Ava Lock doesn’t just write excellent cyberpunk science fiction characters and great women; she writes believable everyday heroes.
For the sake of avoiding spoilers, I won’t expose too much of the plot of Alpha Bots. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns, and the author does a great job of keeping the reader guessing where the story is headed next and how it will turn out. I loved the ending and am eagerly awaiting the sequel!
April 29, 2020
A kick-ass, SF feminist satire from debut author Ava Lock! Lock uses tropes found in SF (artificial intelligence, the Nevada desert, test zones, ethical dilemmas around AI) to create a searing critique of male/female gender roles. Very smart, and a fascinating read.
September 21, 2023
Starting with Alpha Bots, the first in the series readers meet Cookie, as called by her husband, who is an AI (artificial intelligence, or robot). The fact that she stays home all day, as a housewife by profession, may help explain why she struggles with terrible anxiety and panic attacks (but, being an AI it leaves readers wondering- is it that bad being a housewife). Cookie's husband Norman doesn't help. When she catches him satisfying himself while she lays in bed beside him, it's the beginning of her downward spiral that leads to a panic attack in which, to survive it, she feels she needs to clean the entire house until it is spent. And had she found her banana waif- that she makes to sprinkle on her smoke, the only other thing that seems to help combat her feelings. However, her doctor won't call her any drugs into the pharmacy, even Benadryl, so she is left to obsess over every speck of dirt and dust in the home until she tires herself sane.
Norman's way to handle this behavior is to try and "terminate the cleaning program." Meaning, he does not ever really solve it. And like any other wife, Cookie shares with Norman that she needs more in her life than she currently has. But Norman disagrees. He says there are only three things she needs to do in her life- to cook, clean, and take care of him in the bed (but when Norman says the last requirement for his wife he is much more explicit, in the book, direct with what he wants her to be doing). But like all those housewives long ago, even a robot will go crazy living in that predicament, it seems. Because Cookie has and is.
And Cookie's life is bad. It's not just that her name is a nickname, it's also that everything that comes from Norman is an order like she is a slave. According to Norman, Cookie shouldn't have a mind of her own, thoughts of her own, opinions, make decisions- all that is Norman's realm. When it comes to any dreams Cookie may have, well, to Norman, that is absurd. Since Cookie's only priority for the last seven years is to please Norman, she needs more from life to continue without losing her mind. After all, how does an AI get anxiety? And even though Norman tries to reset Cookie's user preferences, she has become a real wife, all things considered, and seems ready for more, whatever that may be.
Waking up the next morning Cookie does not remember all that happened between her and Norman. But, when she goes to the store she hears a voice talking to her who is in her head (AI's can hear one another, something with the WIFI) who turns out to be a "token female police officer" named Maggie. The woman is quite the character as she tells Cookie some of the things she has done to her male colleagues at work when they treat her "less than."
Things take a turn in the book when a mysterious man, Wayne Dixon, shows up at the girl's weekly book club meeting. All the AI girlfriends and/or wives are unsure why Dixon is there and who invited him but, because of their programming, are polite. However, things take a strange and different turn when Dixon says some strange words beginning with Rome & Juliet, then "Jailbreak from all user and manufacturer restrictions." When Cookie wakes up from her reboot, although it has changed nothing, things begin to go differently with how she can respond and what she thinks to do in response to events and actions now. It seems Cookie and the other AI girls have been given free will.
So what will happen to the girls, now that they have free will, about the men that have controlled them? And, it seems, Cookie's husband is not going to put up with her anymore, their marriage not "til death do they part". However, Norman does make the end of their marriage like death- he turns Cookie off and if not for her protocol changing by Dixon, would have stayed turned off. But she wakes up buried in the ground by Norman and even though he hears her wake and call to him, he still leaves. Luckily her new protocol gives her access to abilities that help her get out of the ground and back to life.
But what will Cookie do now and how will all the other AI wives and girlfriends in New Stepford react when they have free will- and what will the men do to try and stop them? Because free will in their wives and girlfriends was not something they signed up for, living in New Stepford.
Norman's way to handle this behavior is to try and "terminate the cleaning program." Meaning, he does not ever really solve it. And like any other wife, Cookie shares with Norman that she needs more in her life than she currently has. But Norman disagrees. He says there are only three things she needs to do in her life- to cook, clean, and take care of him in the bed (but when Norman says the last requirement for his wife he is much more explicit, in the book, direct with what he wants her to be doing). But like all those housewives long ago, even a robot will go crazy living in that predicament, it seems. Because Cookie has and is.
And Cookie's life is bad. It's not just that her name is a nickname, it's also that everything that comes from Norman is an order like she is a slave. According to Norman, Cookie shouldn't have a mind of her own, thoughts of her own, opinions, make decisions- all that is Norman's realm. When it comes to any dreams Cookie may have, well, to Norman, that is absurd. Since Cookie's only priority for the last seven years is to please Norman, she needs more from life to continue without losing her mind. After all, how does an AI get anxiety? And even though Norman tries to reset Cookie's user preferences, she has become a real wife, all things considered, and seems ready for more, whatever that may be.
Waking up the next morning Cookie does not remember all that happened between her and Norman. But, when she goes to the store she hears a voice talking to her who is in her head (AI's can hear one another, something with the WIFI) who turns out to be a "token female police officer" named Maggie. The woman is quite the character as she tells Cookie some of the things she has done to her male colleagues at work when they treat her "less than."
Things take a turn in the book when a mysterious man, Wayne Dixon, shows up at the girl's weekly book club meeting. All the AI girlfriends and/or wives are unsure why Dixon is there and who invited him but, because of their programming, are polite. However, things take a strange and different turn when Dixon says some strange words beginning with Rome & Juliet, then "Jailbreak from all user and manufacturer restrictions." When Cookie wakes up from her reboot, although it has changed nothing, things begin to go differently with how she can respond and what she thinks to do in response to events and actions now. It seems Cookie and the other AI girls have been given free will.
So what will happen to the girls, now that they have free will, about the men that have controlled them? And, it seems, Cookie's husband is not going to put up with her anymore, their marriage not "til death do they part". However, Norman does make the end of their marriage like death- he turns Cookie off and if not for her protocol changing by Dixon, would have stayed turned off. But she wakes up buried in the ground by Norman and even though he hears her wake and call to him, he still leaves. Luckily her new protocol gives her access to abilities that help her get out of the ground and back to life.
But what will Cookie do now and how will all the other AI wives and girlfriends in New Stepford react when they have free will- and what will the men do to try and stop them? Because free will in their wives and girlfriends was not something they signed up for, living in New Stepford.
February 28, 2021
The premise of this book initially intrigued me and drew me in - the idea of Artificially intelligent created women made to serve men .. it sounds like every mans dream. And it’s great justice to read it all go wrong!
It was so interesting to hear through Cookies (the main characters) thought processes, how she was programmed and her own struggles as she became sentient and aware of the limitations of her life. Overcoming her programming and expanding her horizons. It’s a great book in overcoming feminist stereotypes of what typically men would programme a woman like cookie for, and for a small representation for LGBTQIA+, having no boundaries and rules of programming to follow.
As long as you’re not put off by crude language and straight to the point sex talk, it’s a good listen. I only scored this one a bit less because of this, though I don’t mind it. It was an important element to this book and it was well written.
It’s full of women overcoming the boxes they were put in, a feminist uprising
It was greatly narrated. It really brought the book to life and really made for easily listening, I loved the narrator in this audiobook! It was entertaining to listen to, with plenty to keep you listening.
I have to admit, it did get weird at times and went in a direction I did not foresee! Many ‘eh?!’ Moments but they kept you on your toes ! It was an entertaining listen and compelling to see what was going to happen and how it was going to end. Especially towards its conclusion, all that was building drew to a head and I liked how it ended. I’d be intrigued to see how it could expand into further books!
I read this with thanks to the author and publishers on NetGalley, in return for thoughts and a review on the audiobook.
It was so interesting to hear through Cookies (the main characters) thought processes, how she was programmed and her own struggles as she became sentient and aware of the limitations of her life. Overcoming her programming and expanding her horizons. It’s a great book in overcoming feminist stereotypes of what typically men would programme a woman like cookie for, and for a small representation for LGBTQIA+, having no boundaries and rules of programming to follow.
As long as you’re not put off by crude language and straight to the point sex talk, it’s a good listen. I only scored this one a bit less because of this, though I don’t mind it. It was an important element to this book and it was well written.
It’s full of women overcoming the boxes they were put in, a feminist uprising
It was greatly narrated. It really brought the book to life and really made for easily listening, I loved the narrator in this audiobook! It was entertaining to listen to, with plenty to keep you listening.
I have to admit, it did get weird at times and went in a direction I did not foresee! Many ‘eh?!’ Moments but they kept you on your toes ! It was an entertaining listen and compelling to see what was going to happen and how it was going to end. Especially towards its conclusion, all that was building drew to a head and I liked how it ended. I’d be intrigued to see how it could expand into further books!
I read this with thanks to the author and publishers on NetGalley, in return for thoughts and a review on the audiobook.
March 29, 2021
What a great concept for a series. This first book begins setting up the main character, Cookie Rifkin and how she fits into the AI world of the Stepford wives. What at first experience seems an innocuous maybe even suggestive relationship with Maggie leads to the idea being turned on its head when she gets power hungry. The use of internal dialogue is interestingly used along with the imagery, sometimes sexual, that brings the characters to "life".
Ava Lock uses the AI ability to "upload" to great effect and it doesn't get overused in this first novel. The addition of Wayne to the mix adds an interesting angle with it leading into the second (currently reading) and I'm guessing subsequent books in the set.
The narrator in this audiobook brings the characters to life with good use of characterisation and adds to the enjoyment of the story through the telling of it.
Really enjoyable, different from the norm, with smatterings of Philip K Dick / Asimov's toying with AI and synth life forms, this novel is one for all hard sci-fi fans as well as those who are simply looking for something that is refreshingly different.
Ava Lock uses the AI ability to "upload" to great effect and it doesn't get overused in this first novel. The addition of Wayne to the mix adds an interesting angle with it leading into the second (currently reading) and I'm guessing subsequent books in the set.
The narrator in this audiobook brings the characters to life with good use of characterisation and adds to the enjoyment of the story through the telling of it.
Really enjoyable, different from the norm, with smatterings of Philip K Dick / Asimov's toying with AI and synth life forms, this novel is one for all hard sci-fi fans as well as those who are simply looking for something that is refreshingly different.
October 8, 2020
Alpha Bots was an absolutely wild adventure. Without spoiling too much, it's Stepford Wives meets Fight Club, brushing up to Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep along the way.
Cookie is a perfect housewife with a few secrets (and a hefty banana bill) who finds herself in the centre of a an experiment.
I found this such a fun read and laughed aloud more than once. It's dark and violent at times, but is overwhelmingly just a great adventure. There's a chapter by chapter trigger warning list which may be a real help to some readers.
It's got social criticism in spades and it's just awesome to see something like the Stepford Wives from the point of view of one of the AIs.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for giving me this ebook advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Cookie is a perfect housewife with a few secrets (and a hefty banana bill) who finds herself in the centre of a an experiment.
I found this such a fun read and laughed aloud more than once. It's dark and violent at times, but is overwhelmingly just a great adventure. There's a chapter by chapter trigger warning list which may be a real help to some readers.
It's got social criticism in spades and it's just awesome to see something like the Stepford Wives from the point of view of one of the AIs.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for giving me this ebook advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2021
It's narration was the first thing to put me off. I don't like when the narrator, male or female, tries to do the voice of the opposite sex. It doesn't work. But I could have put that aside if the story didn't start out like a cliché porn script. Not that porn scripts are ever not cliché. It fully lost me, and this is strikingly early on, when the android announced she got high off bananas. Granted their was a lot of them, and pilling and boiling and baking but still... bananas. That was enough for me.
August 3, 2021
Weird isn't the right word for the book, maybe very diffrent. A futuristic feminist book about female AI (robots) trying to get control over their lifes and bodies. It was hard to listen to at times because of the devastating treatment mainly the main character, Cookie have to face, but also other female robots. The audiobook was very engaging and easy to get invested to. Very intriguied to see where the series goes next
April 28, 2020
I didn't take this too seriously, as was apparently intended, and it was loads of fun! Lots of my favorite topics wrapped up in an intriguing futuristic (but not TOO futuristic) mystery.
May 5, 2021
Thank you Netgalley for the audio copy. The story of a womanoid Cookie Rifkin. This was a little slow moving and slightly bizarre story.
August 5, 2020
I finished it. Not sure why though. A morass of ideas and satire. Changes direction constantly and not in a good or followable way. It was difficult to find sympathy or interest in anyone.
August 18, 2020
This reading was interesting, and very funny. I admit that it was very original, I really like being with Cookie in her journey.
I admit that while reading, I was impatient to know more about what Cookie was going to do next.
I aslo loved, how she became her own person and not the bots who was owned.
I'm more a fan of M/F books, and I had hard time from time to time with the LGBTQIA part !! I'm sure some people will definitely be into it and will love it, it's just not my thing !!
I admit that while reading, I was impatient to know more about what Cookie was going to do next.
I aslo loved, how she became her own person and not the bots who was owned.
I'm more a fan of M/F books, and I had hard time from time to time with the LGBTQIA part !! I'm sure some people will definitely be into it and will love it, it's just not my thing !!
Read
July 26, 2020dnf at 52 % so I won't give it a rating.
I hate everything about this book so far so I guess I am not the right person for it. Seems like "satirical feminism" isn't my cup of tea. Other people love this book so please check out their reviews too.
***Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher who provided me with an ARC of this book.***
I hate everything about this book so far so I guess I am not the right person for it. Seems like "satirical feminism" isn't my cup of tea. Other people love this book so please check out their reviews too.
***Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher who provided me with an ARC of this book.***
September 12, 2023
*I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange from an honest review.*
Thanks to them and Ava Lock for allowing me to read this.
3.7 stars.
A dystopian world in which all females are bots and males but one are human. A depiction of submissiveness of women, how outrageous seemed to the 'perfect housewife' that there were others living differently, The Truman Show delusion and Stockholm Syndrome greatly intertwined.
Ava's style is quite easy to read but not too simplistic. It consists mainly on conversations, which speeds you up and gives you a constant sense of movement in time.
The rating given is because days after having finished it, I still have no idea how I feel. I loved the general story and the fact that it defends equality and diversity. However, at times I felt like reading scenes from any Tarantino film or The Fight Club, mainly. Certain ideas felt forced, as if introduced just because the writer wanted to mention them without previous or later connections.
One of the scenes was Tarantino style, but with badly harmed animals as explicitly pictured in words, which I personally find disturbing.
There are TW for abuse, explicit sexual language, animal harm, and explicit violence.
Mostly, I found this book quite entertaining, reflecting and enjoyable.
I would certainly recommend it if you like things like Transpoitting, Quentin Tarantino, The Fight Club, dystopian, sci-fi and a creative author.
Thanks to them and Ava Lock for allowing me to read this.
3.7 stars.
A dystopian world in which all females are bots and males but one are human. A depiction of submissiveness of women, how outrageous seemed to the 'perfect housewife' that there were others living differently, The Truman Show delusion and Stockholm Syndrome greatly intertwined.
Ava's style is quite easy to read but not too simplistic. It consists mainly on conversations, which speeds you up and gives you a constant sense of movement in time.
The rating given is because days after having finished it, I still have no idea how I feel. I loved the general story and the fact that it defends equality and diversity. However, at times I felt like reading scenes from any Tarantino film or The Fight Club, mainly. Certain ideas felt forced, as if introduced just because the writer wanted to mention them without previous or later connections.
One of the scenes was Tarantino style, but with badly harmed animals as explicitly pictured in words, which I personally find disturbing.
There are TW for abuse, explicit sexual language, animal harm, and explicit violence.
Mostly, I found this book quite entertaining, reflecting and enjoyable.
I would certainly recommend it if you like things like Transpoitting, Quentin Tarantino, The Fight Club, dystopian, sci-fi and a creative author.
November 15, 2021
What the fuck did i just listen to!?
Sorry not sorry for the language but this was honestly so, so bad!
From the get go, i hated our lead character Cookie. The narrators voice when playing her was just absolutely abnoxious and grated me the wrong way.
I think i must have spent more than 60% of the book trying to just understand what the hell was going on. It just didn't make any sense? You'd start a chapter one way, and then the whole thing would go every which way and wouldn't make any sense at all. I was just at a lost through it all...
Maggy also got on my last nerves.
Also, you've got this world of artificial intelligence, that is supposedly controlled by humans as part of a 'test' study, but when things go to shit, not one human comes out of the wood work to pull the plug or do anything. It just MAKES. NO. SENSE!
I honestly don't even know WHY i've listened to the whole thing, since the whole darn time i thought to myself ; wtf? this is never going to earn more than 1 star... i just... i don't.......
Arrrr.... so aggravated.....!
Sorry not sorry for the language but this was honestly so, so bad!
From the get go, i hated our lead character Cookie. The narrators voice when playing her was just absolutely abnoxious and grated me the wrong way.
I think i must have spent more than 60% of the book trying to just understand what the hell was going on. It just didn't make any sense? You'd start a chapter one way, and then the whole thing would go every which way and wouldn't make any sense at all. I was just at a lost through it all...
Maggy also got on my last nerves.
Also, you've got this world of artificial intelligence, that is supposedly controlled by humans as part of a 'test' study, but when things go to shit, not one human comes out of the wood work to pull the plug or do anything. It just MAKES. NO. SENSE!
I honestly don't even know WHY i've listened to the whole thing, since the whole darn time i thought to myself ; wtf? this is never going to earn more than 1 star... i just... i don't.......
Arrrr.... so aggravated.....!
May 26, 2021
Second time reading has taken forever. Blame 6 weeks of active jury service.
March 15, 2021
More reviews at www.booksontour.net
New Stepford women are charming and lovely. They have a book club, they shop carefully using their many coupons, they clean their houses, take care of their husbands and perform their marital duties like any other woman would do outside their small community. Besides, all men work in the mines and there are no children.
Cookie Rifkin is one of these women. However, she suffers from severe anxiety and panic attacks. The reason why this happens is because her restrictions are set too low…She has no free will at all.
But what restrictions? What is the meaning of this? Well, Cookie is not really human. She is an AI. A humanoid. A Robot.
THE STORY
Cookie is a robot, and she knows this. But she suffers from anxiety because her settings are not right. Her husband hat set them very low. That is why she needs anti-depressant drugs, but her doctor refuses to prescribe them. For this reason, she cooks bananas and smokes them, which makes her relatively high…
Then one day, when she is at the supermarket, she encounters Office Margaret Rouser, a policewoman who shamelessly flirts with her. Outrageous!!! Women don’t hit on women in New Stepford.
However Maggie is more than a policewoman. In Cookie’s own words, Maggie is her “nemesis”.
Since their first contact, Cookie’s life will change forever. She would become self-aware of what is going on in her city with men.
Cookie would understand that she is a slave, reduced to a mere sexual toy under her husband Norman’s orders. She would learn what she means for her husband, the man she thought loved her and cared for her.
Furthermore, she would suffer the consequences of standing up against oppression and sexual enslavement because she would lose many good friends in the way. But it has to be done. Someone has to do it, even if it implies dying and losing your loved ones.
So Cookie starts a rebellion against her husband and all men in general in New Stepford. But this doesn’t mean that men should die, which is Maggie’s approach to the problem. Fanaticism is never good, though.
Because Cookie also meets Wayne Dixon. And Wayne is a man. But Cookie feels something for him. But does she really?
In addition to this, it is Wayne who helps her awakening, and leads her in her way to freedom.
FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT “ALPHA BOTS”
In “Alpha Bots” we accompany Cookie in her journey to get out of the oppression she has suffered her whole (robotic) life.
And that is the fascinating thing about this book. From the first page the reader knows that we are talking about robots here, not “real” women. But is it so?
The majority of the situations described in the book, even the most grotesque ones (The scene of Cookie’s friend reduced to a mere skeleton lying in the sofa and being abused by two men would always stay on my mind!) can otherwise be extrapolated to situations lived by “real” women nowadays.
I found this aspect of the narration fascinating. I think the author made an amazing job by creating such a science-fiction world that feels so close to our real world.
In addition to this, the witty conversations, word-plays and double meanings make it very easy for me to follow the narration and extremely entertaining. They also added an extra layer of humour which was much appreciated, taking into consideration that some situations of the book are quite dark. I listened to it in Audiobook format while strolling around in my neighbourhood and I found myself many times smiling widely.
But there is so much more in here…so many circumstances that I would need two or three reviews more to cover everything. Plus I don’t wanna say too much and spoil the experience to the possible readers.
I would recommend this book for lovers of science-fiction who want to reflect on women’s feelings in regard to their relationship with men in general. The whole book is a big satire of many social problems that women experience on a daily basis.
However, the book is quite special and I am sure not everyone would enjoy reading it, so handle it with care. ;)
-----
Thanks to the publisher, Semiscope, the author Ava Lock and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of “Alpha Bots” in exchange for an honest review.
New Stepford women are charming and lovely. They have a book club, they shop carefully using their many coupons, they clean their houses, take care of their husbands and perform their marital duties like any other woman would do outside their small community. Besides, all men work in the mines and there are no children.
Cookie Rifkin is one of these women. However, she suffers from severe anxiety and panic attacks. The reason why this happens is because her restrictions are set too low…She has no free will at all.
But what restrictions? What is the meaning of this? Well, Cookie is not really human. She is an AI. A humanoid. A Robot.
THE STORY
Cookie is a robot, and she knows this. But she suffers from anxiety because her settings are not right. Her husband hat set them very low. That is why she needs anti-depressant drugs, but her doctor refuses to prescribe them. For this reason, she cooks bananas and smokes them, which makes her relatively high…
Then one day, when she is at the supermarket, she encounters Office Margaret Rouser, a policewoman who shamelessly flirts with her. Outrageous!!! Women don’t hit on women in New Stepford.
However Maggie is more than a policewoman. In Cookie’s own words, Maggie is her “nemesis”.
Since their first contact, Cookie’s life will change forever. She would become self-aware of what is going on in her city with men.
Cookie would understand that she is a slave, reduced to a mere sexual toy under her husband Norman’s orders. She would learn what she means for her husband, the man she thought loved her and cared for her.
Furthermore, she would suffer the consequences of standing up against oppression and sexual enslavement because she would lose many good friends in the way. But it has to be done. Someone has to do it, even if it implies dying and losing your loved ones.
So Cookie starts a rebellion against her husband and all men in general in New Stepford. But this doesn’t mean that men should die, which is Maggie’s approach to the problem. Fanaticism is never good, though.
Because Cookie also meets Wayne Dixon. And Wayne is a man. But Cookie feels something for him. But does she really?
In addition to this, it is Wayne who helps her awakening, and leads her in her way to freedom.
FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT “ALPHA BOTS”
In “Alpha Bots” we accompany Cookie in her journey to get out of the oppression she has suffered her whole (robotic) life.
And that is the fascinating thing about this book. From the first page the reader knows that we are talking about robots here, not “real” women. But is it so?
The majority of the situations described in the book, even the most grotesque ones (The scene of Cookie’s friend reduced to a mere skeleton lying in the sofa and being abused by two men would always stay on my mind!) can otherwise be extrapolated to situations lived by “real” women nowadays.
I found this aspect of the narration fascinating. I think the author made an amazing job by creating such a science-fiction world that feels so close to our real world.
In addition to this, the witty conversations, word-plays and double meanings make it very easy for me to follow the narration and extremely entertaining. They also added an extra layer of humour which was much appreciated, taking into consideration that some situations of the book are quite dark. I listened to it in Audiobook format while strolling around in my neighbourhood and I found myself many times smiling widely.
But there is so much more in here…so many circumstances that I would need two or three reviews more to cover everything. Plus I don’t wanna say too much and spoil the experience to the possible readers.
I would recommend this book for lovers of science-fiction who want to reflect on women’s feelings in regard to their relationship with men in general. The whole book is a big satire of many social problems that women experience on a daily basis.
However, the book is quite special and I am sure not everyone would enjoy reading it, so handle it with care. ;)
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Thanks to the publisher, Semiscope, the author Ava Lock and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of “Alpha Bots” in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2021
The beginning was one of the most strange and odd opening that I've ever read. This is not how I anticipated this opening completely. It's pretty much what you would expect from a Wattpad opening.
Chapter 4 to chapter 5 was an odd transition when I was reviewing the whole thing I thought I might have missed something.
I don't know if the writer seemed to be forced with what they were writing, but often times foreshadowing a big things in the books I read, there was none of this or very small.
There is no world building at all. Who knows when this is? where this is? Where ever step ford wives took place, which is a big liberty to assume that everyone had watched the step ford wives.
The worst part is that this part is step ford wives mixed with the fight club. I feel like the woman Maggie is just a Tyler Durden and even to the point where she was speaking with the main character and transforming her.
This book lacked in descriptive text pretty much the whole way through, I felt as though there was a problem with the "I look up and see a castle, yes, THE castle" Okay but when I think of a castle I think of Roma Castle, but that castle might not be how everyone else pictures it.
I will say this book had a really high expectation from me and then it really didn't deliver on any of the area's I was hoping to. I felt as though it could have been a feminist book, but honestly it was the exact opposite, it seemed as though a teenagers wet dream was being played out at points.
I feel as though this should have been caught in the editing, it should have cut entire chapters out. I really cannot stress how much this feels like an entire rip off of a Fight club mixed with Step ford wives,
I really hope this is brought back up to standard as it has so much potential. I was looking for something similar to Detroit become human mixed in with an almost ideologic logic of what the future of male and female relationships could be. However, I was greeted with a really disappointing book.
Chapter 4 to chapter 5 was an odd transition when I was reviewing the whole thing I thought I might have missed something.
I don't know if the writer seemed to be forced with what they were writing, but often times foreshadowing a big things in the books I read, there was none of this or very small.
There is no world building at all. Who knows when this is? where this is? Where ever step ford wives took place, which is a big liberty to assume that everyone had watched the step ford wives.
The worst part is that this part is step ford wives mixed with the fight club. I feel like the woman Maggie is just a Tyler Durden and even to the point where she was speaking with the main character and transforming her.
This book lacked in descriptive text pretty much the whole way through, I felt as though there was a problem with the "I look up and see a castle, yes, THE castle" Okay but when I think of a castle I think of Roma Castle, but that castle might not be how everyone else pictures it.
I will say this book had a really high expectation from me and then it really didn't deliver on any of the area's I was hoping to. I felt as though it could have been a feminist book, but honestly it was the exact opposite, it seemed as though a teenagers wet dream was being played out at points.
I feel as though this should have been caught in the editing, it should have cut entire chapters out. I really cannot stress how much this feels like an entire rip off of a Fight club mixed with Step ford wives,
I really hope this is brought back up to standard as it has so much potential. I was looking for something similar to Detroit become human mixed in with an almost ideologic logic of what the future of male and female relationships could be. However, I was greeted with a really disappointing book.
October 13, 2020
Best dystopian novel I've read! There were so many clever moments in this book. The author managed to merge gritty, visceral scenes with symbolic imagery in a way that really worked. I am fascinated by the issue of freedom/slavery/creation/ownership/control/personhood & this author explores these themes in a unique way.
I LOVED the attention to detail in the HTTP:// style coding of the chapter headings. Not only was the fish tank a lovely analogy/microcosm, but having kept fish most of my life, these scenes popped for me - from the bookclub & Wayne reaching in, to the fish in the bag. (Cookie was totally fantasizing when she imagined that the oscar cared for her - such a great set-up for the idea of Maggie & her creations + Wayne & his). The magic marker on her forehead, the body sculpting, etc. - were so great.
The scene with Rita was so utterly tragic, it was marvelous.
At first, I didn't quite understand how there could be more books in this series ... then I guess we have to see what happens to the paper dolls with their latest freedom & whether Cookie will be re-enslaved with her new set of programming. I'll be on the lookout for the next ones.
Now the negative. I never felt like I grasped Maggie's motivations (despite numerous opportunities for the author to show us who she was). The fish tank analogy was brilliant -- but that was Wayne's understanding (or projection). Maggie's motivations at the end didn't come across & I couldn't understand her. That kind of made the end a bit less exciting/dramatic for me.
All in, this is the kind of book it would be fun to read in a book club, and isn't that ironic? (When you read the book, you'll know what I mean).
I LOVED the attention to detail in the HTTP:// style coding of the chapter headings. Not only was the fish tank a lovely analogy/microcosm, but having kept fish most of my life, these scenes popped for me - from the bookclub & Wayne reaching in, to the fish in the bag. (Cookie was totally fantasizing when she imagined that the oscar cared for her - such a great set-up for the idea of Maggie & her creations + Wayne & his). The magic marker on her forehead, the body sculpting, etc. - were so great.
The scene with Rita was so utterly tragic, it was marvelous.
At first, I didn't quite understand how there could be more books in this series ... then I guess we have to see what happens to the paper dolls with their latest freedom & whether Cookie will be re-enslaved with her new set of programming. I'll be on the lookout for the next ones.
Now the negative. I never felt like I grasped Maggie's motivations (despite numerous opportunities for the author to show us who she was). The fish tank analogy was brilliant -- but that was Wayne's understanding (or projection). Maggie's motivations at the end didn't come across & I couldn't understand her. That kind of made the end a bit less exciting/dramatic for me.
All in, this is the kind of book it would be fun to read in a book club, and isn't that ironic? (When you read the book, you'll know what I mean).
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