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The Companion Chronicles #1
Some Animals
Jacob Kind is your friend. He is your helper. Jacob is a synthetic Companion, created specifically to be whatever his Primary, his owner, wishes him to be. He isn't allowed to harm humans and, in fact, is devoted to humanity and art.
Right up until Jacob interrupts a masked man murdering his adoring owner Sylvia in their home and is blamed for the vicious crime. The police believe he's the culprit, Companion company executives want him returned for reprogramming to prevent a PR nightmare, but Jacob only wishes to bring Sylvia's killer to justice. Which he is going to have to do on his own.
So now Jacob is on the run.
After her killer, and toward justice, with but one guiding light that his mother left him.
Serve and protect humanity, at all costs.
Without losing his own.
Right up until Jacob interrupts a masked man murdering his adoring owner Sylvia in their home and is blamed for the vicious crime. The police believe he's the culprit, Companion company executives want him returned for reprogramming to prevent a PR nightmare, but Jacob only wishes to bring Sylvia's killer to justice. Which he is going to have to do on his own.
So now Jacob is on the run.
After her killer, and toward justice, with but one guiding light that his mother left him.
Serve and protect humanity, at all costs.
Without losing his own.
- GenresScience FictionAmazon
184 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2021
33 people are currently reading
4409 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Todd James
25 books174 followersJOSHUA TODD JAMES is the author of THE COMPANION CHRONICLES, detailing the adventures of synthetic person Jacob Kind in the novellas SOME ANIMALS, MINORITY OF ONE, FREEDOM RUN, MAN IN THE BOX, RENEGADE, and DOMO ARIGATO, MISTER ROBOTO.
An active member of the WGAE, he’s written the feature films Pound Of Flesh, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Take Cover, starring Scott Adkins and Alive Eve, among others.
His plays (under the name Joshua James) are also published on Amazon and elsewhere.
Sign up for updates at: https://joshuatoddjames.substack.com/
An active member of the WGAE, he’s written the feature films Pound Of Flesh, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Take Cover, starring Scott Adkins and Alive Eve, among others.
His plays (under the name Joshua James) are also published on Amazon and elsewhere.
Sign up for updates at: https://joshuatoddjames.substack.com/
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 30, 2022
REALLY different
I read every day n this is the most unusual book I've ever read ! I enjoyed every chapter n page
I read every day n this is the most unusual book I've ever read ! I enjoyed every chapter n page
November 1, 2021
This is a smart thriller, set in the near future, with deeper philosophical questions at its heart. It's essentially a chase story in the vein of MINORITY REPORT or THE FUGITIVE, with a likable Every Man up against impossible odds. The fun twist on this premise is that our hero, Jacob, is a special kind of human, bred to be a service companion, android-like in his lack of emotion. Over the course of the story, Jacob has to discover his humanity, and his struggle asks us to ponder things like consciousness and free will. If you like the ideas Ishiguro explores in KLARA AND THE SUN, but found it a little uneventful for your taste, give this page-turner a try. It's a great read, and will leave you eager for book two.
October 30, 2021
Yes, it is The Fugitive and I, Robot (the movie) and some Blade Runner into it. It has moments of action, moments of tenderness and some humour. Jacob is a synthetic hero worth rooting for and this is a series worth following.
July 18, 2022
Rating: A
An exciting, and well-written atypical story about a society integrated with "companion" robots, which are those that service and support their owners, in the ways you would expect. Jacob is a Companion who supports artist Sylvia, a woman who encourages her Companion to have his own life and think about what emotions are like and whether he has the capacity to feel.
When Sylvia is brutally murdered and Jacob brought in as the main suspect, he realises something more is going on and escapes the police to solve Sylvia's murder on his own. This is one of the best and most interesting reader-review books I've read. I loved the artworks in the book, they were so gritty and detailed, so well-drawn and included in the story as a facet of the protagonist.
This book genuinely drove me to read the rest and so I will start picking them up to see where the story goes like I have with Dane Vale's novellas. I really like Jacob as a protagonist; his thoughts are so interesting and his motivation has a solid base. I also think the worldbuilding was pretty strong and I'm keen to read more about this world.
An exciting, and well-written atypical story about a society integrated with "companion" robots, which are those that service and support their owners, in the ways you would expect. Jacob is a Companion who supports artist Sylvia, a woman who encourages her Companion to have his own life and think about what emotions are like and whether he has the capacity to feel.
When Sylvia is brutally murdered and Jacob brought in as the main suspect, he realises something more is going on and escapes the police to solve Sylvia's murder on his own. This is one of the best and most interesting reader-review books I've read. I loved the artworks in the book, they were so gritty and detailed, so well-drawn and included in the story as a facet of the protagonist.
This book genuinely drove me to read the rest and so I will start picking them up to see where the story goes like I have with Dane Vale's novellas. I really like Jacob as a protagonist; his thoughts are so interesting and his motivation has a solid base. I also think the worldbuilding was pretty strong and I'm keen to read more about this world.
September 4, 2021
James is an action movie screenwriter and it shows. The Fugitive if Isaac Asimov had written it and knew fight choreography.
A fast, fun read with great characters, action but also social commentary.
Can’t wait for the next installment!
A fast, fun read with great characters, action but also social commentary.
Can’t wait for the next installment!
September 16, 2021
I really enjoy reading cross-genre books and this one is the perfect blend of noir and science fiction. The setup really hooks you, the protagonist is immediately sympathetic, and the narrative is exciting and moves along at a brisk pace. If you're a fan of The Murderbot Diaries, this will definitely be right up your alley. I'm excited to see what comes next in the series!
December 16, 2021
what a great book
Very good read. A bit predictable. But over all the story was great. Very well written and well told. Peace.
Very good read. A bit predictable. But over all the story was great. Very well written and well told. Peace.
September 24, 2021
Some Animals is an urban science fiction tale that moves so fast, if you blink, you're going to miss something. I could have easily read it all in one sitting because of its length, but even more so because of the story. This volume may be short, only 157 pages, but it is packed full with an excellent story. It is loaded with action, emotionally charged, and compelling.
If this first part is any sign of the quality of work to follow, it is not to be missed and I hope it will become something to help readers look inside themselves and examine their own implicit biases.
The story opens as principal characters, Jacob Kind, chronicling the events before, and leading up to the murder of his "Primary," or the person who has purchased him. While incarcerated, Abagail, a detective on the city's police force, is called in to investigate the murder along with her partner, Daniel. Because of circumstantial evidence, the detectives determine Jacob is the murderer. When Jacob tries to explain the actual events of the crime, including a sketch of the actual perpetrator, Abigail is having nothing to do with it. As far as she is concerned, Jacob is lying and will be prosecuted.
During an incident in the police station, Jacob takes advantage of an opportunity to escape and run for his life, but even more, to find justice for his murdered Primary.
This story is told from two points of view, those of Jacob and Abigale.
Jacob is a Companion to an artist named Sylvia. His job is to protect and make her happy. Companions are synthetic beings who are very much human like, but they lack emotion and ambition beyond what they are programed for. They are also almost childlike in their innocence, and even when they experience acts of inhumanity toward them, they simply move on from them. Those who have the means may purchase Companions and are free to treat them any way they choose. Fortunately for Jacob, Sylvia treats Jacob well, encouraging him to explore his own humanity. Being artificially intelligent, Jacob can learn and understand what Sylvia tries to teach him, but he cannot grasp the essence of what he has learned. To him, it is just an exercise in making her happy. Jacob is a magnificent character who is also a little frustrating in his inaction to defend himself when the need arises.
Unfortunately, Sylvia isn't in the picture very long. What we learn about her is that she is an exceptional human being in the world created by the author. She treats Jacob more like a child to be nurtured than someone to do things for her. She encourages him to explore the world through literature, theatre, and music to enrich his experience. She knows he is incapable of understanding feeling through his explorations but is not deterred because of that. I think she is also enriching herself through her mentorship. The relationship between Sylvia and Jacob is a truly wonderful thing to behold, and Jacob's descriptions are deeply compelling.
Ever the hard-nosed detective, Abigale seems to be hardened and as emotionless as Jacob. She is passionate about solving the case and steadfast as far as Jacob's guilt is concerned. She comes across as closed-minded and is not willing to listen to anything that disagrees with her judgement. Abigale will not give up the chase, and I think it is only a matter of time before she catches up with Jacob. But there were also sneak peeks at a character who will develop during her own journey of discovery; we've only seen the surface of this strong female persona.
My favorite point of plot is how Jacob and Sylvia stand out as beacons in a world that seems to have lost what it means to be human. It is ironic to me how Jacob, who is clearly not human, stands out as a bright spot in a dark world full of prejudice and bigotry.
My takeaway from reading Some Animals is how sad things can become when people lose their humanity. Those of us who have paid attention to events since the onset of the COVID pandemic can allow people to behave in inhumane ways. People hoarding necessities, throwing tantrums over being asked to wear masks, and the "too hell with you" attitudes have become a part of our daily lives. But in all of that, there are those who see there is a need to continue to be humane and care about their neighbors. In that way, for me, James has ripped a page out of very recent history and projected it into the not-too-distant future. The principal theme of this story is illustrated in how humanity is abandoned in the treatment of those different from others. But there are undertones of the "meek inheriting the earth" too. Jacob and Sylvia provide hope in a seemingly hopeless situation and I, for one, am hoping their example will inspire readers to do some introspection and rediscover what has been lost in being human.
Thanks to Joshua Todd James' excellent writing, outstanding story, and amazing characters, Some Animals is one of the best starts to a series I have read this year. It isn't a long book and can easily be read in one sitting. There are illustrations included in the book reflecting the action of the tale. Those have a definite noir feeling to them and complement the story nicely.
If this first part is any sign of the quality of work to follow, it is not to be missed and I hope it will become something to help readers look inside themselves and examine their own implicit biases.
The story opens as principal characters, Jacob Kind, chronicling the events before, and leading up to the murder of his "Primary," or the person who has purchased him. While incarcerated, Abagail, a detective on the city's police force, is called in to investigate the murder along with her partner, Daniel. Because of circumstantial evidence, the detectives determine Jacob is the murderer. When Jacob tries to explain the actual events of the crime, including a sketch of the actual perpetrator, Abigail is having nothing to do with it. As far as she is concerned, Jacob is lying and will be prosecuted.
During an incident in the police station, Jacob takes advantage of an opportunity to escape and run for his life, but even more, to find justice for his murdered Primary.
This story is told from two points of view, those of Jacob and Abigale.
Jacob is a Companion to an artist named Sylvia. His job is to protect and make her happy. Companions are synthetic beings who are very much human like, but they lack emotion and ambition beyond what they are programed for. They are also almost childlike in their innocence, and even when they experience acts of inhumanity toward them, they simply move on from them. Those who have the means may purchase Companions and are free to treat them any way they choose. Fortunately for Jacob, Sylvia treats Jacob well, encouraging him to explore his own humanity. Being artificially intelligent, Jacob can learn and understand what Sylvia tries to teach him, but he cannot grasp the essence of what he has learned. To him, it is just an exercise in making her happy. Jacob is a magnificent character who is also a little frustrating in his inaction to defend himself when the need arises.
Unfortunately, Sylvia isn't in the picture very long. What we learn about her is that she is an exceptional human being in the world created by the author. She treats Jacob more like a child to be nurtured than someone to do things for her. She encourages him to explore the world through literature, theatre, and music to enrich his experience. She knows he is incapable of understanding feeling through his explorations but is not deterred because of that. I think she is also enriching herself through her mentorship. The relationship between Sylvia and Jacob is a truly wonderful thing to behold, and Jacob's descriptions are deeply compelling.
Ever the hard-nosed detective, Abigale seems to be hardened and as emotionless as Jacob. She is passionate about solving the case and steadfast as far as Jacob's guilt is concerned. She comes across as closed-minded and is not willing to listen to anything that disagrees with her judgement. Abigale will not give up the chase, and I think it is only a matter of time before she catches up with Jacob. But there were also sneak peeks at a character who will develop during her own journey of discovery; we've only seen the surface of this strong female persona.
My favorite point of plot is how Jacob and Sylvia stand out as beacons in a world that seems to have lost what it means to be human. It is ironic to me how Jacob, who is clearly not human, stands out as a bright spot in a dark world full of prejudice and bigotry.
My takeaway from reading Some Animals is how sad things can become when people lose their humanity. Those of us who have paid attention to events since the onset of the COVID pandemic can allow people to behave in inhumane ways. People hoarding necessities, throwing tantrums over being asked to wear masks, and the "too hell with you" attitudes have become a part of our daily lives. But in all of that, there are those who see there is a need to continue to be humane and care about their neighbors. In that way, for me, James has ripped a page out of very recent history and projected it into the not-too-distant future. The principal theme of this story is illustrated in how humanity is abandoned in the treatment of those different from others. But there are undertones of the "meek inheriting the earth" too. Jacob and Sylvia provide hope in a seemingly hopeless situation and I, for one, am hoping their example will inspire readers to do some introspection and rediscover what has been lost in being human.
Thanks to Joshua Todd James' excellent writing, outstanding story, and amazing characters, Some Animals is one of the best starts to a series I have read this year. It isn't a long book and can easily be read in one sitting. There are illustrations included in the book reflecting the action of the tale. Those have a definite noir feeling to them and complement the story nicely.
June 28, 2022
It was a quick read, one sitting. I felt there were elements of Blade Runner and other 80s/90s movies incorporated. It was simple yet good.
December 22, 2021
Hard to put down.
Easy to follow, created a good amount of craving for justice. Gave permission to "feel". Look forward to the next volume!
Easy to follow, created a good amount of craving for justice. Gave permission to "feel". Look forward to the next volume!
September 6, 2023
Here are my Reflections on Some Animals by Joshua Todd James
Some Animals is a novel that delves into a world of artificial intelligence, human relationships, and the quest for justice. Sci-fi is my favourite genre, so I knew I’d like this book, however this one was different as it was a mix of genres, Sci-fi, thriller and hardboiled detective mystery that provided a literary cocktail of excitement that I found interesting enough to make it one of those ‘hard to put down’ books.
The narrative centred around Jacob Kind, a manufactured Companion that feels, thinks and loves, he was designed to serve and protect Humans. But when he's thrust into a world where he's the prime suspect in the murder of his adored human owner, the story took a turn that kept me glued to the pages. Jacob finds the untimely demise of his adored human, Syliva totally devastating and is determined to bring her killer to justice, so he embarks on a dangerous, suspenseful, intriguing journey that’s full of ethical dilemmas that he’s never had to deal with before!
Some Animals is a novel that delves into a world of artificial intelligence, human relationships, and the quest for justice. Sci-fi is my favourite genre, so I knew I’d like this book, however this one was different as it was a mix of genres, Sci-fi, thriller and hardboiled detective mystery that provided a literary cocktail of excitement that I found interesting enough to make it one of those ‘hard to put down’ books.
The narrative centred around Jacob Kind, a manufactured Companion that feels, thinks and loves, he was designed to serve and protect Humans. But when he's thrust into a world where he's the prime suspect in the murder of his adored human owner, the story took a turn that kept me glued to the pages. Jacob finds the untimely demise of his adored human, Syliva totally devastating and is determined to bring her killer to justice, so he embarks on a dangerous, suspenseful, intriguing journey that’s full of ethical dilemmas that he’s never had to deal with before!
August 17, 2023
Some Animals by Joshua Todd James is a well-written and fast-paced urban sci-fi tale that packs a gripping story into its short length of 157 pages. Jacob Kind, a Companion to artist Sylvia, is accused of her murder, leading detective Abigail to investigate. The narrative shifts between Jacob's and Abigail's perspectives. Jacob's synthetic nature and innocent demeanor make him intriguing but frustrating in his inaction to defend himself. Sylvia's nurturing relationship with Jacob highlights her exceptional character. On the other hand, Abigail is a determined detective, seemingly emotionless, but hints of her development are shown. This is a great book, fast-paced and wholly unique. Highly recommended.
April 27, 2024
Short but perfect. This is like I, Robot on steroids. It is non-stop action. The characters are great; the way Jacob evolves throughout is masterful and very interesting. This is an extremely well-written book - especially for how short it is.
Read
July 19, 2024Reminded me of something.
September 14, 2024
Very interesting premise. The book seemed a bit short, but it was quite intriguing.
September 28, 2024
Some Animals -
This is basically an intro to future books. It’s short enough that I wouldn’t refer to it as a book. It was well written and enjoyable to read.
This is basically an intro to future books. It’s short enough that I wouldn’t refer to it as a book. It was well written and enjoyable to read.
November 5, 2024
3,75🌟🌟🌟🌟
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews