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We, Robots
This is a collection of seven contemporary robot tales written by some of today s most acclaimed science fiction authors. A sentient war machine combs a beach for trinkets to create memorials for its fallen comrades in the Hugo Award winning story, Tideline, by Elizabeth Bear. In Balancing Accounts, by James Cambias, a small-time independent robotic space tug is hired by a mysterious client for a voyage between two of Saturn s moons. The Seventh Expression of the Robot General, by Jeffrey Ford, involves a robot general coming to grips with his position in a world that no longer requires, or even understands, his role. A city awakens its ancient guardian as it is about to be invaded by a mining company in Shining Armour by Dominic Green. In The Illustrated Biography of Lord Grimm, by Daryl Gregory, a country ruled by a super villain comes under attack by American super heroes. In Sanjeev and Robotwallah, by Ian McDonald, a young boy becomes enamored with the armed robots that do the fighting in a Civil War and the celebrity boy-soldiers who pilot them. A robot acting as a scarecrow could be a desperate young boy s one chance of staying alive in The Scarecrow s Boy by Michael Swanwick. These are unabridged readings by Amy Bruce and J. P. Linton.
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First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 5, 2011
Only two stories engaged my interest fully: Swanwick's "The Scarecrow's Boy" and Cambias' "Balancing Accounts", but neither takes significant risks in conception or execution. They are textbook Clarion stories, charming and high-quality, but conceptually unadventurous, coloring well within the lines.
The remaining five tales were all polished, well-crafted, and forgettable, in the familiar style of the SF digests and the doorstopper "Best Of" annuals. A particular annoyance is that ALL five of these involved military robotics in some way, shape, or form, probably the least interesting angle to approach the infinitely rich thematic spectrum of AI.
The remaining five tales were all polished, well-crafted, and forgettable, in the familiar style of the SF digests and the doorstopper "Best Of" annuals. A particular annoyance is that ALL five of these involved military robotics in some way, shape, or form, probably the least interesting angle to approach the infinitely rich thematic spectrum of AI.
February 11, 2019
A couple of the stories were pretty good several of the others just weren't very interesting.
March 14, 2014
"Tideline" Elizabeth Bear - **** Poignant and significant, it gave heart to a war machine with an AI. I cried.
"Balancing Accounts" James Cambias ***1/2 A fun take on the economics of AIs with a little agency who are still slaves to humans while still being an adventure.
"The Seventh Expression of the Robot General" Jeffrey Ford - *** A different take on war machines with an AI. I didn't connect with this as much emotionally, but it was good.
"Shining Armour" Dominic Green - *** I liked the old man, but it lacked a female presence and that sort of thing matters to me. This anthology is full of little boys for no reason.
"The Illustrated Biography of Lord Grimm" Daryl Gregory - * The way it was read prevented me from connecting with the characters and I didn't much care for the story.
"Sanjeev and Robotwallah" Ian McDonald - *** Beautifully read. I think without the reader I would have been bored by the story because it's very boy-focused. 'Robotwallah' read with relish is a delicious word.
"The Scarecrow's Boy" Michael Swanwick - ***** This was my favorite story. Everyone had agency and I loved the main character. His thoughtfulness and morals. This is an example of a story that can't really be set outside of its genre.
"Balancing Accounts" James Cambias ***1/2 A fun take on the economics of AIs with a little agency who are still slaves to humans while still being an adventure.
"The Seventh Expression of the Robot General" Jeffrey Ford - *** A different take on war machines with an AI. I didn't connect with this as much emotionally, but it was good.
"Shining Armour" Dominic Green - *** I liked the old man, but it lacked a female presence and that sort of thing matters to me. This anthology is full of little boys for no reason.
"The Illustrated Biography of Lord Grimm" Daryl Gregory - * The way it was read prevented me from connecting with the characters and I didn't much care for the story.
"Sanjeev and Robotwallah" Ian McDonald - *** Beautifully read. I think without the reader I would have been bored by the story because it's very boy-focused. 'Robotwallah' read with relish is a delicious word.
"The Scarecrow's Boy" Michael Swanwick - ***** This was my favorite story. Everyone had agency and I loved the main character. His thoughtfulness and morals. This is an example of a story that can't really be set outside of its genre.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews