Roderick at Random

Roderick #2

by John Sladek

Here is the continuing and uproarious saga of Roderick, a robot and "learning machine" growing up in an America in the near future. The mild-mannered robot is confronted with an ever-widening cast of madcap characters who typify the artificial values endemic in modern America.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Novels, Humor, Speculative Fiction, Robots

317 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

John Thomas Sladek (generally published as John Sladek or John T. Sladek, as well as under the pseudonyms Thom Demijohn, Barry DuBray, Carl Truhacker and others) was an American science fiction author, known for his satirical and surreal novels.

Reviews

[MJ Nicholls]

The second Roderick novel is wackier and more skittish than the first, with the hapless Gump-like robot only periodically at the centre of a comically chaotic satire with a cast of periodically hilarious and tiresome characters taking part in periodically hilarious and tiresome plots and subplots. Sladek’s commitment to barmy randomness woven around sumptuous wordplay, bodacious SF nous, and Mel Brooks-strength dialogue is laudable.

[Edward Davies]

This is an incredibly witty, incredibly touching novel that portrays the life of a robt named Roderick and how he copes with life and essentially goring up. As an allegory for the human condition this manages to be largely successful and really shows us how people treat each other because of their differences. Those who expect thsi to be a serious discussion may be disappointed, in spite of the serious topic the novel attempts to address.

[Chris]

2.5 Stars.

Sladek didn't just coast on Roderick with this one, he does continue to evolve the character and story. But my interest was lagging towards the end of the first and this one wasn't able to reverse the momentum.

[Christopher Heckman]

Not bad, but ...

In my copy, the page after 128 was 97. Yes, pages 97-128 showed up twice, and then came page 161. I don't know how many copies ended up like this, but it kind of ruined the experience. (This is the First Carroll & Graf edition from 1988.)

[Robert Rabinowitz]

Excellent book, very imaginative, unique premise - highly recommended.

[D-day]

Sequel to Roderick is more of the same. In fact I think they were originally intended to be published together as one novel.