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Love, Death + Robots #2
Love, Death + Robots: The Official Anthology: Volumes 2 & 3
The seventeen stories that make up Volumes Two and Three of the Emmy® award-winning Netflix Original series Love, Death & Robots.
Featuring best-selling authors and screenwriters from all over the globe, curated by filmmakers Tim Miller and David Fincher, and Supervising Director Jennifer Yuh Nelson.
Stories by Neal Asher, Paolo Bacigalupi, J. G. Ballard, Alan Baxter, Justin Coates, Harlan Ellison, Joachim Heijndermans, Joe Lansdale, Rich Larson, Alberto Miego, Jeff Fowler & Tim Miller, John Scalzi, Bruce Sterling, Michael Swanwick.
Featuring best-selling authors and screenwriters from all over the globe, curated by filmmakers Tim Miller and David Fincher, and Supervising Director Jennifer Yuh Nelson.
Stories by Neal Asher, Paolo Bacigalupi, J. G. Ballard, Alan Baxter, Justin Coates, Harlan Ellison, Joachim Heijndermans, Joe Lansdale, Rich Larson, Alberto Miego, Jeff Fowler & Tim Miller, John Scalzi, Bruce Sterling, Michael Swanwick.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 12, 2022
Basically, every word I've wrote reviewing the first book applies here likewise.
Plus, I'm still at awe how my favorite NETFLIX episodes corresponds to my favorite book short stories. And I'm not even jumping in a bandwagon of Jibaro superfans. I liked "The Very Pulse of the Machine" more, though "Jibaro" is also crazy good.
Anyways, my highest recommendations for this series!
Plus, I'm still at awe how my favorite NETFLIX episodes corresponds to my favorite book short stories. And I'm not even jumping in a bandwagon of Jibaro superfans. I liked "The Very Pulse of the Machine" more, though "Jibaro" is also crazy good.
Anyways, my highest recommendations for this series!
December 14, 2025
The second Love, Death & Robots book is just as great as the first one. For some reason, Netflix decided to make shorter seasons, so this book covers the second and third seasons of the series. The stories here are excellent—as usual, they offer much more depth and are often better than their animated versions.
It is a very nice treat for fans of the series, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to re watch Love, Death & Robots.
“The Drowned Giant” is much more interesting in book form—very weird and surreal, playing subtly with the main character’s fear of death. “Pop Squad” was amazing: crazy and depressing in the best way, and I enjoyed it far more than the animation. “Tall Grass” was significantly more horrific without the goofy animated style and “The Very Pulse of the Machine” was an incredible psychedelic ride. I liked all the other stories as well, but these four were highlights of the book.
It is a very nice treat for fans of the series, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to re watch Love, Death & Robots.
“The Drowned Giant” is much more interesting in book form—very weird and surreal, playing subtly with the main character’s fear of death. “Pop Squad” was amazing: crazy and depressing in the best way, and I enjoyed it far more than the animation. “Tall Grass” was significantly more horrific without the goofy animated style and “The Very Pulse of the Machine” was an incredible psychedelic ride. I liked all the other stories as well, but these four were highlights of the book.
August 14, 2026
(2.5)A little more uneven than the first entry…
There’s methane whale watching, kiddie death squads, trekking across Io, some lovecraftian horror, and trains that make bad stops…the Asher and Sterling stories stand out and on the flip side there’s Scalzi who writes the most unoriginal satire. Why is this guy good?
There’s methane whale watching, kiddie death squads, trekking across Io, some lovecraftian horror, and trains that make bad stops…the Asher and Sterling stories stand out and on the flip side there’s Scalzi who writes the most unoriginal satire. Why is this guy good?
July 13, 2022
Goodreads不让我增加书目和版本了诶 哭哭。读的中文译本。
不如1好看。我最喜欢的是《机器的脉搏》电视剧版本也是。当时的date说最喜欢《坏旅程》 我觉得还行。
新意比较少 头皮发麻的时刻基本没 凑合看看行了。
也可能是最近心情不好所以读着觉得没劲 爱咋咋了
不如1好看。我最喜欢的是《机器的脉搏》电视剧版本也是。当时的date说最喜欢《坏旅程》 我觉得还行。
新意比较少 头皮发麻的时刻基本没 凑合看看行了。
也可能是最近心情不好所以读着觉得没劲 爱咋咋了
June 24, 2023
Amikor egy könyvet, novellát megfilmesítenek, abban benne van az esély, hogy az eredetivel egyenértékű, esetleg még jobb mű szülessen - most így hirtelen a Mechanikus narancs vagy a Ragyogás jut eszembe. A filmek "novelizációja" (megkönyvesítése? :-)) ritkán jár ilyen eredménnyel, inkább marketinges fogás, hogy legyen "long tail", azaz újabb műfajban is bevételre lehessen szert tenni - kb. mint az akciófigurákkal.
Néha azonban sikerül nettó értéket létrehozni: a könyvben "elférnek" a film szereplőinek vizuálisan csak nehezen ábrázolható gondolatai, érzései, kibontható a karakterek háttere, és így többet kapunk, mintha csak a képernyőt néznénk.
A Love, Death + Robots a Netflix egyik meglepően eredeti animációs sorozata volt, az első évadot talán túl gyorsan követte a második és a harmadik is, a színvonal érezhetően csökkent, de azért mindkét folytatásban maradtak értékes epizódok. Érdekes, hogy a kötet elsősorban azokhoz tud hozzáadni extra tartalmat, amelyek kicsit kevésbé működtek filmen. Az "Automated Customer Service" vagy a "Bad Traveling" nem nyert túl sokat a plusz szöveggel, a "Swarm", az "In Vaulted Halls Entombed" és a "Jibaro" viszont gazdagabbak lettek.
Megérte elolvasni! Ja, és remélem, lesz 4. évad.
Néha azonban sikerül nettó értéket létrehozni: a könyvben "elférnek" a film szereplőinek vizuálisan csak nehezen ábrázolható gondolatai, érzései, kibontható a karakterek háttere, és így többet kapunk, mintha csak a képernyőt néznénk.
A Love, Death + Robots a Netflix egyik meglepően eredeti animációs sorozata volt, az első évadot talán túl gyorsan követte a második és a harmadik is, a színvonal érezhetően csökkent, de azért mindkét folytatásban maradtak értékes epizódok. Érdekes, hogy a kötet elsősorban azokhoz tud hozzáadni extra tartalmat, amelyek kicsit kevésbé működtek filmen. Az "Automated Customer Service" vagy a "Bad Traveling" nem nyert túl sokat a plusz szöveggel, a "Swarm", az "In Vaulted Halls Entombed" és a "Jibaro" viszont gazdagabbak lettek.
Megérte elolvasni! Ja, és remélem, lesz 4. évad.
January 25, 2023
What a mixed bag! 💩🚽
❤️💀🤖
❤️💀🤖
July 25, 2026
An animated series based on SF short stories. Some of the most creative story telling on visual media since Twilight Zone. It's on Netflix. If you're a Sci-Fi or fantasy fan, just do it. It's so good.
January 30, 2024
I had a fantastic time reading volume 1 of this series, and I absolutely loved the second and third seasons of the show, so I was very eager to get to the next volume. This collection runs a narrower gamut than the previous, with both fewer goofy stories and fewer high-art opuses, but with much more interesting medium-strength adventure stories. More explorations of alternate humanities, our own dystopias futures, and stunningly vivid images of the horrors just beyond our understanding. There were so many great stories in here, by classic voices and new talents alike. I really do hope they make more. Some favorites: Pop Squad, The Very Pulse of the Machine, Swarm, In Vaulted Halls Entombed.
March 28, 2023
What. Does this. Remind You. Of?
Thought that Snow in the Desert by Neal Asher was better than the animated episode made from it. Thought The Tall Grass by Joe Lansdale was not as good as the episode made from it. Thought Swarm by Bruce Sterling (probably the most visionary thing here) is about as good in either format. The Very Pulse of the Machine by Michael Swanwick is absolutely awesome in both versions.
Thought that Snow in the Desert by Neal Asher was better than the animated episode made from it. Thought The Tall Grass by Joe Lansdale was not as good as the episode made from it. Thought Swarm by Bruce Sterling (probably the most visionary thing here) is about as good in either format. The Very Pulse of the Machine by Michael Swanwick is absolutely awesome in both versions.
May 26, 2023
Some of the short stories were way better than others! I really enjoyed some of the longer stories that expanded on the episodes of the show.
Other short stories I liked the episode more than the story.
Other short stories I liked the episode more than the story.
September 25, 2023
A fitting continuation
A fitting continuation. I love these anthologies with different short stories and their plot twists that remind me of the twilight zone.
Had lots of fun reading and imagining continuations of each story.
A fitting continuation. I love these anthologies with different short stories and their plot twists that remind me of the twilight zone.
Had lots of fun reading and imagining continuations of each story.
August 31, 2023
Amazing stories
The show and short stories are almost exact copies, but the stories are so good you will burn through this book! There is a little extra from John Scalzi as well.
The show and short stories are almost exact copies, but the stories are so good you will burn through this book! There is a little extra from John Scalzi as well.
July 9, 2025
I need a T-shirt that says “F***k You Honey Badger!”
August 13, 2026
Molti dei racconti non mi sono piaciuti molto.. Ma la raccolta merita anche solo per i 5 migliori racconti contenuti.. quello di Larson, di Bacigalupi, due di Asher e quello di Sterling.. solo con questi 4 non si può dare meno di 4 stelle.. Il resto è si contorno per lo più..
1) John Scalzi - Servizio Clienti 2.5*
Simpatico, nulla di più.
2) Rich Larson - Ghiaccio 5*
Due fratelli, una corsa sul ghiaccio, e le balene della brina. Larson creatore di mondi immaginifici ha sempre una sua magia.
3) Paolo Bacigalupi - Squadra Eliminazione 5*
Altro autore tra i miei preferiti. Crudo, sferzante, umano. In un mondo in cui nessuno muore più, non si fanno più figli. Solo i criminali. E la polizia elimina bambini. Tema fortissimo, storia che è un pugno sulle balle!
4) Neal Asher - La Neve Nel Deserto 4.5*
Caccia a Snow l'Albino millenario.. Caotico e divertente, mille idee originali in un mondo simil-Dune..
5) J. R. Lansdale - L'Erba Alta 3*
Racconto weird western, carino, ma non il mio genere.
6) Joachim Heijndermans - Per Tutta La Casa 2*
3 paginine su un babbo natale mostruoso.. Inutile!
7) Harlan Ellison - Rifugio di Sopravviveva 3.5*
Un soldato e un robot intrappolati in una sfida mortale. Soluzione carina.
8) JG Ballard - Il Gigante Annegato 3*
Un gigante sulla battigia, giorno dopo giorno di consuma. Scritto molto bene, ma come storia poca cosa.
9) John Scalzi - Tre Robot.1 3.5*
Tre robot disquisiscono sulla fine dell'uomo. Simpatico.
10) Neal Asher - Un Brutto Viaggio 4*
Sui mari di un misterioso pianeta, tra mostri marini e navi a vela.. dal sapore quasi fantasy.. bello
11) Michael Swanwick - Il Cuore Pulsante.. 4*
Un allucinante passeggiata sulla superficie di Io in compagnia di un morto che parla.. racconto piuttosto lisergico.. Bello
12) Miller-Fowler - La Notte Dei Mini-Morti 2*
Storie di zombie. Non mi è piaciuto.
13) Justin Coates - Uccidi, Squadra, Uccidi 3*
Storia di guerra e mostri tra i boschi.. carina, ma il finale è piuttosto leggero..
14) Bruce Sterling - Lo Sciame 4*
Esplorazione e intrighi in un nido di una razza aliena.. finale sotto sopra!! Davvero pieno di idee originali!
15) Neal Asher - I Ratti di Mason 2*
Simpatico ma nulla di più.
16) Alan Baxter - Tumulato in Sale a Volta 3.5*
Soldati e mostri nel sottosuolo di Kandahar. Un bagno di sangue un po' fantasy.
17) Alberto Mielgo - Jibaro 2.5*
Un fantasy che non c'entra nulla con il resto ma che ho trovato anche davvero inutile.
18) Chiusura di John Scalzi evitabilissima..
1) John Scalzi - Servizio Clienti 2.5*
Simpatico, nulla di più.
2) Rich Larson - Ghiaccio 5*
Due fratelli, una corsa sul ghiaccio, e le balene della brina. Larson creatore di mondi immaginifici ha sempre una sua magia.
3) Paolo Bacigalupi - Squadra Eliminazione 5*
Altro autore tra i miei preferiti. Crudo, sferzante, umano. In un mondo in cui nessuno muore più, non si fanno più figli. Solo i criminali. E la polizia elimina bambini. Tema fortissimo, storia che è un pugno sulle balle!
4) Neal Asher - La Neve Nel Deserto 4.5*
Caccia a Snow l'Albino millenario.. Caotico e divertente, mille idee originali in un mondo simil-Dune..
5) J. R. Lansdale - L'Erba Alta 3*
Racconto weird western, carino, ma non il mio genere.
6) Joachim Heijndermans - Per Tutta La Casa 2*
3 paginine su un babbo natale mostruoso.. Inutile!
7) Harlan Ellison - Rifugio di Sopravviveva 3.5*
Un soldato e un robot intrappolati in una sfida mortale. Soluzione carina.
8) JG Ballard - Il Gigante Annegato 3*
Un gigante sulla battigia, giorno dopo giorno di consuma. Scritto molto bene, ma come storia poca cosa.
9) John Scalzi - Tre Robot.1 3.5*
Tre robot disquisiscono sulla fine dell'uomo. Simpatico.
10) Neal Asher - Un Brutto Viaggio 4*
Sui mari di un misterioso pianeta, tra mostri marini e navi a vela.. dal sapore quasi fantasy.. bello
11) Michael Swanwick - Il Cuore Pulsante.. 4*
Un allucinante passeggiata sulla superficie di Io in compagnia di un morto che parla.. racconto piuttosto lisergico.. Bello
12) Miller-Fowler - La Notte Dei Mini-Morti 2*
Storie di zombie. Non mi è piaciuto.
13) Justin Coates - Uccidi, Squadra, Uccidi 3*
Storia di guerra e mostri tra i boschi.. carina, ma il finale è piuttosto leggero..
14) Bruce Sterling - Lo Sciame 4*
Esplorazione e intrighi in un nido di una razza aliena.. finale sotto sopra!! Davvero pieno di idee originali!
15) Neal Asher - I Ratti di Mason 2*
Simpatico ma nulla di più.
16) Alan Baxter - Tumulato in Sale a Volta 3.5*
Soldati e mostri nel sottosuolo di Kandahar. Un bagno di sangue un po' fantasy.
17) Alberto Mielgo - Jibaro 2.5*
Un fantasy che non c'entra nulla con il resto ma che ho trovato anche davvero inutile.
18) Chiusura di John Scalzi evitabilissima..
May 28, 2022
‘Bad Travelling’ - better somewhat than the animated short - as in Torrin seems less noble and more vengeful and resenting of the crew, he actively punishes them for throwing him at the Thanapod (also, brilliant name!) initially; and there was a moment when I got the sense he thought himself better than the folk with whom he sails. All in all, a great depiction of a morally grey character, an antihero even.
‘The Pulse of the Machine’ - who would have thought an astronaut, Olympic winner athlete would have an inferiority complex? Martha is so accomplished but all she sees is her playing second fiddle to others, she is so very human, I could weep! And the idea that a machine was waiting for her, only her to know, to love to care for her - she truly deserved the animated ending, becoming one with Io!
‘Mini Zombie Apocalypse’ - the animation was funnier.
‘Kill team kill’ - funnier in animation, more badass in writing. Apparently there were three grizzly bear abominations created and our team managed to terminate two of them. Also, in the story they don't die at the end.
‘Swarm’ - not much is changed, perhaps more details are given as to what drives humankind to enslave another race. Dialogues are expanded.
‘Mason's Rats’ – is much the same with Mason’s disdain for the suits more apparent.
‘In Vaulted Halls Entombed’ - eldritch horror, great execution in animation, great story to read. I found the story to be more chilling though.
‘Jibaro’ – amazing both in animation and in writing. Kudos to the animators though, they really brought the characters to life with no dialogue!
Volume 2 is worth a read, too. I especially remember ‘ICE’ where the ending is changed from the short story. ‘Pop Squad’ will remain in my memory for the short story is compelling to read and it retains an air of mystery still. ‘The Drowned Giant’ will haunt me because in writing I found it hit harder – an essay about mortality and decaying and perceived memory even after death.
‘The Pulse of the Machine’ - who would have thought an astronaut, Olympic winner athlete would have an inferiority complex? Martha is so accomplished but all she sees is her playing second fiddle to others, she is so very human, I could weep! And the idea that a machine was waiting for her, only her to know, to love to care for her - she truly deserved the animated ending, becoming one with Io!
‘Mini Zombie Apocalypse’ - the animation was funnier.
‘Kill team kill’ - funnier in animation, more badass in writing. Apparently there were three grizzly bear abominations created and our team managed to terminate two of them. Also, in the story they don't die at the end.
‘Swarm’ - not much is changed, perhaps more details are given as to what drives humankind to enslave another race. Dialogues are expanded.
‘Mason's Rats’ – is much the same with Mason’s disdain for the suits more apparent.
‘In Vaulted Halls Entombed’ - eldritch horror, great execution in animation, great story to read. I found the story to be more chilling though.
‘Jibaro’ – amazing both in animation and in writing. Kudos to the animators though, they really brought the characters to life with no dialogue!
Volume 2 is worth a read, too. I especially remember ‘ICE’ where the ending is changed from the short story. ‘Pop Squad’ will remain in my memory for the short story is compelling to read and it retains an air of mystery still. ‘The Drowned Giant’ will haunt me because in writing I found it hit harder – an essay about mortality and decaying and perceived memory even after death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2026
Again this is one I read with a good friend of mine. One or two stories a week, then watch the episode adaptation, then call each other to discuss it (and have a catch up).
Season two and three, in my opinion really showcases the best Love, Death + Robots has to offer.
I must also say that the cover for this book is incredible, they definitely chose the best frame from both these seasons.
A lot of phenomenal stories that leave you yearning for more, from the characters, the world even the mythos and a wonder of what came next?
My favourite stories from this collection were:
- Pop Squad
- Snow in the Desert
- All Through the House
- Bad Travelling
- Kill Team Kill
- Swarm
- In Vaulted Halls Entombed
One I’d particularly like to shine a light on is ‘Pop Squad’ - probably my favourite episode from all of LD+R.
- In the future, everyone can live forever, all it takes is a little top up injection. Though this causes a little population problem. The solution… NO KIDS.
The short story and the episode are different enough to keep it interesting. The book having more time to dive into the protagonist and showing him to be much more unlikeable than the episode (even though he does do incredibly heinous things in both, but in the world this takes place in, it’s normalised).
The story has such shocking descriptions, about how the idea of children and being pregnant would be disgusting. How desensitised the world and our main characters are to something we in today’s world would find irredeemably monstrous.
The protagonist does have more of an arch in the episode and I prefer the ending in the episode. Though the detail the short story goes into left me more than satisfied.
For me it’s the most challenging and most incredible story. I would urge everyone to seek it out, in both book form and the episode.
Season two and three, in my opinion really showcases the best Love, Death + Robots has to offer.
I must also say that the cover for this book is incredible, they definitely chose the best frame from both these seasons.
A lot of phenomenal stories that leave you yearning for more, from the characters, the world even the mythos and a wonder of what came next?
My favourite stories from this collection were:
- Pop Squad
- Snow in the Desert
- All Through the House
- Bad Travelling
- Kill Team Kill
- Swarm
- In Vaulted Halls Entombed
One I’d particularly like to shine a light on is ‘Pop Squad’ - probably my favourite episode from all of LD+R.
- In the future, everyone can live forever, all it takes is a little top up injection. Though this causes a little population problem. The solution… NO KIDS.
The short story and the episode are different enough to keep it interesting. The book having more time to dive into the protagonist and showing him to be much more unlikeable than the episode (even though he does do incredibly heinous things in both, but in the world this takes place in, it’s normalised).
The story has such shocking descriptions, about how the idea of children and being pregnant would be disgusting. How desensitised the world and our main characters are to something we in today’s world would find irredeemably monstrous.
The protagonist does have more of an arch in the episode and I prefer the ending in the episode. Though the detail the short story goes into left me more than satisfied.
For me it’s the most challenging and most incredible story. I would urge everyone to seek it out, in both book form and the episode.
February 6, 2026
Once again I have been unable to find a collection of short stories that pulled me into every single one. So I cannot give it five stars. But that’s because I was let down by the narrators of the more lengthy stories as I wasn’t pulled into that particular world easily.
It’s not necessarily their fault though, in the case of Swarm it was because the author made an alien race with a really irritating speech pattern which would have driven me mad listening to. Though I wasn’t a big fan of that episode either so I didn’t miss much personally.
Other than that a majority of these stories interesting and range bleak and hopeless to darkly humorous so there’s got to be something you’ll enjoy.
It’s not necessarily their fault though, in the case of Swarm it was because the author made an alien race with a really irritating speech pattern which would have driven me mad listening to. Though I wasn’t a big fan of that episode either so I didn’t miss much personally.
Other than that a majority of these stories interesting and range bleak and hopeless to darkly humorous so there’s got to be something you’ll enjoy.
August 20, 2025
Since i've seen the Netflix adaptation a long time ago, it was an experience reading this story, and having flashbacks of the show and the "awww" moments of realizing which story is what episode.
Loved them, and enjoyed the imagination behind the words.
i can say I only found one story not so interesting, the rest were just great!
Loved them, and enjoyed the imagination behind the words.
i can say I only found one story not so interesting, the rest were just great!
November 30, 2022
Not as good as the first volume. The only five-star one is Michael Swanwick’s The Very Pulse of the Machine. And then the ones by Neal Asher are not bad, among which my favorite is Snow in the Desert. The other ones are okay, but I’m not too impressed.
December 31, 2025
highlights: "Swarm" (had read this previously as part of Schismatrix Plus and it's what made me realise that Love Death + Robots were all from short stories!), "Pop squad", "Jibaro", "The Very Pulse of the Machine", "In Vaulted Halls Entombed"
May 25, 2025
jibaro was almost as engaging to read as it was to watch ... storytelling improved across the board in this anthology ... also the bonus content was cute
August 22, 2025
le agrega detalles a las historias
October 6, 2025
This was as good as volume 1 and equally as interesting to read - a nice touch to add some extras in the form of the 3 Robots as well.
November 23, 2025
Good dystopian science fiction collection, mostly good short stories
December 11, 2025
A wonderful collection of scifi short stories, Love it!!!
March 22, 2026
A sterling collection from some amazing writers. And great adaptations from the tv series as well.
April 10, 2026
A fun compilation of short and very short stories by some top SF authors.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews