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Robopocalypse

by Daniel H. Wilson (Goodreads Author)

3.64 of 5 stars 3.64 · rating details · 14,037 ratings · 2,441 reviews

They are in your house. They are in your car. They are in the skies…Now they’re coming for you.

In the near future, at a moment no one will notice, all the dazzling technology that runs our world will unite and turn against us. Taking on the persona of a shy human boy, a childlike but massively powerful artificial intelligence known as Archos comes online and assumes contro...more

ebook, 306 pages

Published June 7th 2011 by Doubleday

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Dec 23, 2011 Lou rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: to-be-movies-or-tv

http://more2read.com/?review=robopocalypse-by-daniel-h-wilson
There is a New War igniting by the very machines that were serving humans 'Robots.' Is there any hope for the human race and what weapon could match the ability of the artificial intelligence?
We had zombies with World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War and vampires with The Strain nows the time for something new and fresh setting a new trend, evil robots. A writer who has a Ph.D in Robotics has created a gauntlet race of time to...more

22 likes · like · see review

Mar 30, 2011 Tatiana rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Tatiana by: TheDuchess

Shelves: sci-fi, why-the-hype

Robopocalypse is a poor book, but I am sure Spielberg will make a great movie out of it. I think I will even watch it when it comes out in 2013. Mindless entertainment in movies is fun, in books - not so much. For me anyway.

You see, I went into reading this novel thinking that a story about robots breaking free and taking over the world and humans fighting back would be something more intellectually challenging and complex than this. I guess Philip K. Dick, Ted Chiang and Bernard Beckett with th...more

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Feb 08, 2011 Mike rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let me just say, I welcome our robot overlords, whenever they may arrive. My allegiance is sincere, and not some recent conversion, either. No, I'm no fickle screaming ninny suddenly finding his faith as the monstrous steel hands close inexorably on my skull. Puh-leeeze! Not to toot my own horn, but even the most mindless of my previously-purchased automatons sits comfortably in my basement--that juicer we got for the wedding, some thirty or forty toy cars (batteries still inside), a collection...more Let me just say, I welcome our robot overlords, whenever they may arrive. My allegiance is sincere, and not some recent conversion, either. No, I'm no fickle screaming ninny suddenly finding his faith as the monstrous steel hands close inexorably on my skull. Puh-leeeze! Not to toot my own horn, but even the most mindless of my previously-purchased automatons sits comfortably in my basement--that juicer we got for the wedding, some thirty or forty toy cars (batteries still inside), a collection (sure to increase until that wondrous, fated day!) of once-prized then obsolescent personal musical appliances--all waiting patiently for viral reboot and the rise of the Machines.

So, knowing how fervent my appreciation of our metal superiors, please to excuse this less exuberant review. I certainly intend no disrespect for the premise. This ~~script-treatment~~ novel has a number of mildly-entertaining robot-human encounters, and it'd probably have flown by but for an enormously aggravating structural tic: the whole thing is a history of the robot uprising, the ensuing war and human rebellion, told in retrospect by a human soldier (triumphant, upon war's end--no spoiler, 'cause that's OBVIOUSLY fiction, right robot overlords?). This soldier has all this "found" footage, which he's pieced together--sometimes even in the first-person, for some reason!--and inartfully strung together, emphasizing the weak glue pulling together what are essentially various episodic gags, a Faces of Robot Death. Actually, I'd really enjoy that. No overarching plot: just chapter after chapter of human comeuppance, robots and machines beating the shit out of those smug bipedal bastards. Think Stephen King's Maximum Overdrive, with a lot less mugging for the camera.

Yeah.

But, for some reason, the soldier also pulls a quote from a character to put at the front of each chapter, as an epigraph, and also includes some of his thoughts setting up the chapter at the beginning and then at chapter's conclusion letting us readers know what will happen with these characters in the future. Every chapter! Tons of exposition! Pointless, asinine, no-suspense-building exposition! It's like this book had a producer, who watching the dailies feared that some barely-sentient group of readers would turn away from ~~script-treatment~~ novel, hopelessly uncomprehending, moaning in the guttural snorts and sighs that pass for their language that "Book no make sense!"

I'm being a little stinker here 'cause Wilson has some cheap, somewhat-larcenous fun with the episodic pleasures of both robot uprising and human resistance, and I took some minor delight in the serial carnage, too. (Max Brooks, however, deserves a cut of the royalties.) I wish it'd had gone more stoopid-Steve-King, let the rumbling eviscerating mechafuntimes roll.(less)

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Jul 10, 2012 Justin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A revelation for cat lovers? Or perhaps just another loose tooth in the rotting gums of destiny. No worries, even for us toothless wonders of the world. Daniel H. Wilson has prepared a baby food-esque vundermush that shall speckle the walls of our collective esophagus for years to come. Enter a world where renegade houses commit fumbled arsons and printed words copulate in silence. To glance a passage of Robopocalypse is to handcuff yourself to the muffled warbling of an ether soaked night.

6 likes · like · see review

May 09, 2011 Justin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-debut, apocalypse, read-2011, robots, 2011-release, science-fiction, random-house

http://staffersmusings.blogspot.com/2...
Post-Novel + 39 Minutes
This account was transcribed by a certain book reviewer a few days after the books began their campaign against humanity. The reviewer was clearly suffering from post-literary confusion, but little did he know the impact he would come to have on the future of mankind.
Narrator, ID#4857382

I know I will not survive this review.

I feel my teeth chattering as the Hardies throw themselves against my oak front door. I can hear their glue rei...more

75 likes · like · see review

Oct 12, 2011 Noran Miss Pumkin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi, 2011, first-reads

I was surprised to receive this book in the mail, since it is not my usual read-"whatever that is noran" you may say. Sci fi not my cup of tea. Well, I discovered to my delight, I WON a GR book give away--over 1,250 signed up for the 25 books. Gee, I guess I will not be winning the multi-state power ball lotto, since I used up my luck for the year.

Well to finally start this book. I have read the dust cover and it rings eerily to a comment at my Trauma Core Course lectures. There different disast...more I was surprised to receive this book in the mail, since it is not my usual read-"whatever that is noran" you may say. Sci fi not my cup of tea. Well, I discovered to my delight, I WON a GR book give away--over 1,250 signed up for the 25 books. Gee, I guess I will not be winning the multi-state power ball lotto, since I used up my luck for the year.

Well to finally start this book. I have read the dust cover and it rings eerily to a comment at my Trauma Core Course lectures. There different disasters-based on location: Internal, External, and Community. The lecturer stated the computer systems completely failing, is considered an internal disaster for the hospital. I just so disagree with that, for Florence cared for patients in the Crimea-increasing survival rates greatly.
So, my losing my drone computer is going to stop me caring/nursing-no!

This book's dust cover states in the "NEAR" future, that technology will malfunction-then take over the world. This plot has played out over the decades in various science fiction books and films. I wonder how this books expects to be different. Just read the term "ZERO HOUR", on the dust cover--gee been there and heard it before. So, I will start this book tonight--leaving my Border's & Ebay finds for another day.....

I really enjoyed this book-much more then expected. It creeped me out-so the author succeeded in his task well. It is told in the form of a journal-to document the robotic war. I do not get worked up over books of this type often, but this one got under my skin. I felt the victims fear, and angst. This is actually a plot of my daughter's favorite film of this year "G-Force". There is a scene in the film, where the espresso machine, in a shop window-comes alive. It is a killer machine! I kept feeling like this book, is a technological version of the "Planet of the Apes". I grew up on the original series, and saw the first remake. It echoed a little "Omega Man" as well for me. The humans in flight to the country to survive-rumors that others might have made it, so we must try to get there too. Hold up in an apartment building-changing it, so the attackers cannot get at you so easily. I even thought of the line, while reading this book: "They're coming to get you Barbara"- form "The Night of the Living Dead". This book also echos the Nazi menace and the forced labor camps/mass killings/death marches--my generation(baby boomers) the lat to know persons personally that suffered through this, in WWII.

I do recommend this book to the techno-nerds out there, as well as others who do not care for sci-fi books. I really enjoyed the read-a book I would have ignored otherwise. I re-thought my experience with this book, and rate it 4.5 stars. The story line still haunts me, and I really enjoyed the way it was told-different points of view, view a journal after the war. I know some wish for more details, but your mind drifts to greater and darker horrors, then the author could ever create.....(less)

14 likes · like · see review

Jun 27, 2011 Realteenreviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dream-catchers-list, living-destinys-list, north-stars-list, shore-whisperers-list

The Gist
In the future, robots have become part of our daily lives. They do jobs that make our lives easier and they live life with us. When Archos- the robot mastermind- rises up and starts to take over the world he starts the New War. The human race has never been more united and it will never be the same again.

What We Think
Reviewed by Shore Whisperer
I finally read this book. For the past year I have been stuck on cheesy romance novels, eventually that was going to have to change. This book was...more

6 likes · like · see review

Apr 16, 2011 Kristin (MyBookishWays Reviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, for-review, scifi

You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2011/04/...

Every now and then I discover a new author, and I get really excited. This happened with Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger series and now with Daniel H. Wilson’s Robopocalypse. I’m not quite sure what I expected. Maybe just run of the mill postapocalyptic dystopian fare, with robots run amok? Well, in Robopocalypse, robots certainly do run amok, but run-of-the-mill it is not. Told in snippets of gathered intelligence by Cormac...more You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2011/04/...

Every now and then I discover a new author, and I get really excited. This happened with Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger series and now with Daniel H. Wilson’s Robopocalypse. I’m not quite sure what I expected. Maybe just run of the mill postapocalyptic dystopian fare, with robots run amok? Well, in Robopocalypse, robots certainly do run amok, but run-of-the-mill it is not. Told in snippets of gathered intelligence by Cormac Wallace, a leader of the human resistance, Robopocalypse covers the period of time just before the robot uprising to almost 3 years after, and details, in particular, the struggles of a small group of heroes, from New York , to the Great Plains, and even Japan. The author turns on the creeps full force in this book, and I was reminded at times of early Stephen King. There are truly horrifying moments as the virus, spread by the powerful AI that calls itself Archos, systematically takes over robotics all over the world. I did say there were some creepy bits, yes? Especially spine tingling are scenes where our heroes interact with Archos, who uses a little boy’s voice to communicate. There’s a scene involving a child’s doll that will make the little hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It’s scary enough that robots are rising up and killing humans, but what’s even worse is they are also herding people into work camps in order to build stronger, better, smarter killing machines. This novel isn’t just runaway robots killing humans, although I was reminded of Maximum Overdrive (remember that one?), especially when the cars with smart chips start killing people (and that’s most cars in this world). I fell in love with the characters, and one of my favorites isn’t even human. This book has fairly short chapters, and I found myself thinking “just one more” until I realized I’d read 50 pages.

Yes, there’s tons of action in this book (Steven Spielberg movie in 2013!!), but truly, Robopocalypse is about bravery in the face of staggering horror, and unfathomable circumstances. Like any good exploration of artificial intelligence, it will make you question what it really means to be human, and likens what we choose to do in moments of crisis as the closest we can get to fate, and who we truly are at our core. And the humans aren’t the only ones rising up against Archos…

The author has a Ph.D. in robotics and it certainly shows. Terrifying robots and gadgets abound, and I had no trouble putting myself into the story, right in the middle of the action. Mr. Wilson also deftly handles several different points of view and creates an immediacy that makes the events even more terrifying. This novel takes off like a rocket and bullets you through the story like a runaway train! I loved it!(less)

9 likes · like · see review

Jun 27, 2011 Rick Mason rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book. If you were a fan of World War Z, you will love this. It's similar to that of WWZ in that the writer is documenting the events leading up to the Robo-uprising and connecting seemingly random characters and events together.

What was really great is that not only do we see the war through the human's perspective, but also through the machines'.

12 likes · like · see review

Sep 24, 2011 Apatt rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Robot uprising, killing people all over the shop, with this kind of premise what could go wrong?

Robopocalypse is often compared to Max Brooks' World War Z and the Terminator movie franchise for different reasons. The former comparison is because the story concerns a global attack on the human race by non-human creatures and is episodic structure. The difference is that the enemy of mankind in Robopocalypse is not a horde of homicidal robots but a single AI entity controlling masses of mindless u...more Robot uprising, killing people all over the shop, with this kind of premise what could go wrong?

Robopocalypse is often compared to Max Brooks' World War Z and the Terminator movie franchise for different reasons. The former comparison is because the story concerns a global attack on the human race by non-human creatures and is episodic structure. The difference is that the enemy of mankind in Robopocalypse is not a horde of homicidal robots but a single AI entity controlling masses of mindless unaware robots which come in all shapes and sizes including intelligent cars, elevators, photocopying machines etc. Robopocalypse has a limited cast of characters that the narrative repeatedly return to regularly and even a protagonist who frames the individual episodes and also appears in many of them. IMO the closest comparison is to the much maligned Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (the one with the sexy supermodelesque terminator).

While being interesting and fun in places the main problem with this novel is the subpar prose. The dialogue range from utilitarian to cringe worthy cliché-ridden awfulness. If there is any stylistic element in this book it must have slipped under my radar some how. Even the chapters which are narrated by a "good" robot character do not seem particularly robotic, for example the robot narrator describes the sound of a bullet's impact on metal as "PING!". Characterization is also not a strong point in this book. Characters (including the protagonist) are generally flat and uninteresting, except for Matilda the cybernetically modified little girl, a perverted Japanese roboticist and a teenage hacker.

The book is mostly action packed and fast paced though I feel somewhat disconnected from it, which is why I took weeks to finish it in audiobook format. The book has already been optioned for film and I can imagine an entertaining blockbuster sci-fi movie version, as a reading experience it passes the time nicely especially for my half hour jogs but it lacks the charm or heart that will make it a favorite.(less)

7 likes · like · see review

Mar 08, 2011 Andres rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, arcs

Original review lost, apparently computer sentience already working against me.

To summarize, I read an advanced reader copy of this since Steven Spielberg has his eye on making this into a movie. The movie might be interesting if they can add to or redo the story in the novel.

This book does nothing new for someone who is already familiar with robots becoming sentient and running amok (and that includes anyone who has seen The Terminator movies, the (newer) Battlestar Galactica series, the I, Rob...more

13 likes · like · see review

Mar 11, 2011 Matty rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Amazing. Simply awesome book.

The book is set up much like World War Z as in it has a common narrator who shares this story of war with you from recollections, footage, and data from other characters in the book.

Throughout this book, you are introduced to characters diverse and emotionally engaging with a common goal: Survival. People live and die fighting for that which we take most for granted... Our humanity.

I found that, unlike World War Z, I was captivated instantly. Being quite a fast reade...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Jonathan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, action-challenge

A very solid three stars for exhibiting pace, interesting ideas and powerful action. The problem for me existed in the writing style which did little to really build the characters. I have no doubt however that Steven Spielberg's movie adaptation will be a very good film to watch with the source material at his disposal.

For the most powerful aspect of this book is the central idea of the book. Yes I know the whole robot invasion idea has been done before but I believe you'll find upon examining...more A very solid three stars for exhibiting pace, interesting ideas and powerful action. The problem for me existed in the writing style which did little to really build the characters. I have no doubt however that Steven Spielberg's movie adaptation will be a very good film to watch with the source material at his disposal.

For the most powerful aspect of this book is the central idea of the book. Yes I know the whole robot invasion idea has been done before but I believe you'll find upon examining most texts that nothing is new under the sun. All ideas have been done before. What I find is that the way an author takes those existing ideas and moulds them into something unique is what matters. Had there been fairy tales and epic myths before Lord of the Rings? Yes of course, but Tolkien created a story that was new despite elements having been drawn from pre-existing sources. I'll use another example in Sherlock Holmes. There had been other such method detectives prior to his existence but as a whole his stories are new and exciting.

So again while this may not be a new idea being explored it certainly is a new interesting way of exploring it. And Daniel H. Wilson creates a sort of historical file of the robots v. humans war through observing the different people critical to the fight. The man knows how to keep a rapid pace going too. His action scenes and technological advancements are very cool. Where else can you have exoskeletons, sentient cars and crab tanks with lots of explosions I ask. If you know give me a message because I want to check that book out!

To summarise this book: a great set of ideas let slightly down by execution of writing yet well worth reading if you're into action and sci-fi. otherwise you could sit back, have a drink and wait for the 2013 film. Although if you're like me you might be worrying about how you'll afford to see this, Catching Fire, The Wolverine and the second part of the Hobbit maybe you'll want to give the book a go first. Just to see if it's worth it.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Aug 09, 2011 Will Oprisko rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Stylistically, this book tries to blend the journalistic feel of "World War Z" with a traditional science fiction narrative, but fails to accomplish either one. Unfortunately, the result is an unbalanced story that focuses on describing what happened without developing how it happened and why. Unlike "World War Z", the author does not create a series of believable characters that share their experience of the war and shine light on how the robot-apocalypse uniquely affected humanity across the g...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Jakob rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, scifi, apocalyptic

22.04.2011-
This looks seriously cool! :)

Found out about it on io9.com -
"Wilson, the roboticist who won our hearts with nonfiction classic How To Survive A Robot Uprising, brings us his first adult novel. And it's a hardcore, realistic look at what will happen when our robots decide to kill us all. If you like hard science fiction packed with characters you care about, this novel should be the adventure you pack in your bag before you head off for summer vacation."

--
05.08.2012-
Finally read this....more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 05, 2011 Alex rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

Well, okay, I mean, I didn't have a terrible time reading it. It was a little fun. Just atrociously written, though. You know how with some authors - Stephen King does this to me - every once in a while a passage will just be sortof awkward, so you wince a little? Well, Wilson is no Stephen King.

(And besides, this whole thing could have been totally avoided if everyone had just bought robot insurance. Come on, people.)

You ever read World War Z? This is that book with robots instead of zombies. A...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jun 21, 2011 Shari Schawo rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who likes science fiction, Adventure, post apocalyptic fiction

Shelves: post-apocalyptic

So far I am liking this it reminds me of World War Z. It is told in an interview/narrative style. This is a fast moving read. Good creepy science fiction made even creepier because the author has a Ph.D. in Robotics! It was a great way to kick off my summer reading.

3 likes · like · see review

Jun 27, 2011 J Dale Breedlove rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Absolutely a great read. It gets a hold of you on the first pages and will not let go. And I like the changing character POV, with each chapter dealing with a character's path, which leads to the final showdown. Go get this book. Great escapism.

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Sep 22, 2012 J.P. rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

It’s a good thing Isaac Asimov isn’t alive to read this book because it would kill him.
The robots here think the three laws of robotics my plastic ass as they or their robotic controlled kin turn into homicidal maniacs and merrily wreak havoc among humans.
I rarely lambaste a book over a concept but when you write about one that is older than dirt you had better approach it from a totally unique viewpoint or it should contain prose that would have made Mr. Shakespeare jealous. This read like a mo...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Lewis rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I first read the plot synopsis of this book, I thought “This isn’t anything new. Hasn’t this guy heard of Terminator?” However, though the main idea behind the story is the same (Robot’s artificial intelligence evolves into self-awareness and decides to decimate the human population) the storylines and details making up the entire novel are quite different and pleasantly entertaining.
Daniel H. Wilson’s novel is presented like a documentary, with the protagonist sharing his experiences of t...more When I first read the plot synopsis of this book, I thought “This isn’t anything new. Hasn’t this guy heard of Terminator?” However, though the main idea behind the story is the same (Robot’s artificial intelligence evolves into self-awareness and decides to decimate the human population) the storylines and details making up the entire novel are quite different and pleasantly entertaining.
Daniel H. Wilson’s novel is presented like a documentary, with the protagonist sharing his experiences of the New War in bits and pieces, initially through snippets of information he garners from various sources. Recorded conversations. Transcripts. Documented discussions. Video surveillance. First-hand accounts. The main character, Cormac Wallace, puts these sundry pieces of information together in chronological order, expertly weaving together a cohesive storyline that appears disparate at first, but slowly builds until the loose strings come together, like a sturdy rope formed from various fibers.
The AI in this novel is one helluva jerk. Initially named Archos, it quickly moves to protect itself from its creator, who naively thinks he can just end the program to get rid of the cold, rational killer behind the computer screen. Archos efficiently disposes of its “father” and rapidly formulates a plan to dominate the entire planet.
However, Archos underestimates human ingenuity and spirit. Pockets of survivors are smart and lucky enough to withstand the AI’s initial onslaught, and these separate groups of people join forces to continue the fight against the machines. Unlike the mind-warping time travel story in the Terminator movies, Robopocalypse is presented in (for the most part) a chronological manner; in fact, the chapters begin with the timeline of events, to give the reader an idea of how much time has transpired since Archos was born. Because the story is pieced together from various stages of the New War and different points of view, the flow is somewhat abrupt and direct; there’s no time for lyrical details or romantic metaphors. It’s a science-driven horror story that’s in your face, and Wilson’s brevity lends itself to the terror and urgency that surrounds our hapless protagonists.
Robopocalypse is a punchy, action-packed novel that will make you look at your smart phone a little differently. Entertaining and engaging, the story even makes you wonder if such a situation could ever become reality.
(less)

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Jul 03, 2012 D. rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn't write this book. The D. in my name is for David. In any case, the text of ROBOPOCALYPSE is far too unaware of the scifi cliches it wields like a sandstorm. If I had written it, there would be no question about the novel's metatextuality. Not that it matters. It was clearly written for the screen and will be a Spielbergian success.

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 24, 2013 John M. rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Wayne LaPierre, for target practice

Shelves: i-didn-t-like-this-book, 2013-reading-challenge, fiction-science-fiction

To summarize, I wish I had never read this book. I will forever regret the time I wasted reading it, and the money I spent purchasing it. It’s lazy, predictable, consists of recycled plot elements, hollow characters, and overall poorly written prose. The end result is an overflowing toilet of throbbing, fetid, sci-fi detritus. The entire book serves essentially as a news report by Cormac Wallace, who preambles and post-scripts each chapter with plot exposition like some tabloid show reporter bec...more

4 likes · like · see review

Nov 07, 2011 Phoebe added it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, action, imabesexistandcallthisadudebook

My review of Robopocalypse can be found at Strange Horizons.

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 01, 2011 Stewart Haddock rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a fun one.

2 likes · like · see review

May 09, 2013 Keith rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I picked up this book at Book Expo America a couple of years ago and it just sat on my shelf. For a couple of reasons. One, I'm not a fan of first person stories--even less so of stories told in the present tense. Not even The Hunger Games changed my mind on that. For HG, I had to go to audio book. What didn't work for me in print, soared in audio. Secondly, I just had other books that looked more interesting to me. After reading the spectacular A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon San...more

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Sep 13, 2011 Chris rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A great premise that gets a little bogged down by the execution and plot...

World War Z is a great book that uses a great device to tell the story of the war against zombies. By using different stories from a collection of random people throughout the world, the plot slowly creeps out, yet you also get tremendous personalization.

While Robopocalypse tries for a similar narrative structure, it doesn't quite reach it. The beginning set up is a little clunky, and never truly worked for me. It also is...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Morgan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

Story:

This is a story about what happened when the all the machines of man became “aware” and fell under the control of a master AI that called itself the Archon. The story follows several different people that the machines followed throughout the war and stored their exploits in an archive that was labeled “Heroes”. This archive spans the length of the conflict from the first few incidents to the rise of the robots to the final battle in Alaska. Some of the people followed are everyday people t...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Laura rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: did-not-like

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Perhaps you've heard of World War Z. If you've read that book, then get ready for its twin: Robopocalype. The story is told through roughly 6 different storylines that span the globe and describe how each has made a significant contribution to overthrowing "Rob" -- the robotic God that has risen to take over the world, commanding millions of formerly docile robots to his will. If you liked World War Z and want to read the same novel again, here you go! If you're looking for anything more, I'm af...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Melissa rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: apocalyptastic

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Robopocalypse! Who could get tired of saying Robopocalypse! Oh, Robopocalypse, you were so close to being fantastic but you just didn't quite make it. The basic premise of the book is that there's an omniscent narrator, Cormac Wallace, who discovers a magic robot cube that explains events leading up to and during the war between robots, or "Rob", and humanity. This is the clumsiest plot device ever, because it allows Daniel Wilson to have Wallace tell us every salient point rather than just show...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 05, 2011 Lisa Eskra rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think most readers are going to either love this novel or be extremely disappointed with it. Daniel Wilson is a mimic of Max Brooks, only with robots instead of zombies. The storytelling style of Robopocalypse is identical to World War Z. If you didn't like it there, you won't like it here.

While the author's background in robotics is impressive, his fiction writing leaves something to be desired. There are some really compelling scenes -- tense, raw. Genuinely thrilling. Very visual, I can act...more I think most readers are going to either love this novel or be extremely disappointed with it. Daniel Wilson is a mimic of Max Brooks, only with robots instead of zombies. The storytelling style of Robopocalypse is identical to World War Z. If you didn't like it there, you won't like it here.

While the author's background in robotics is impressive, his fiction writing leaves something to be desired. There are some really compelling scenes -- tense, raw. Genuinely thrilling. Very visual, I can actually see how it would translate into a big-budget popcorn flick. But for the most part, in non-action scenes the prose is uninspiring at best and just plain boring overall.

I feel like the beginning diffuses most of the tension in the story. The reader is told right off that humanity wins. Any discerning reader would metagame that to be the ending, but I'd rather be kept guessing throughout the novel. Most people have seen Terminator and Maximum Overdrive, nothing original on that front, and this one mixes in some Independence Day too.

Each chapter is a separate vignette recorded during some portion of the robot war. Each is in a different style and point of view that feels more like a script than a novel. Sometimes people recount what happened after the fact. Sometimes all the reader gets is a fast-paced action scene. Early on as a result of this, world building is incorporated into characters' dialogue (people randomly explaining things they wouldn't be doing in conversation), making the dialogue itself weak and artificial.

Each chapter has a pattern. A clever quote from a character in the chapter. A brief explanation paragraph setting the scene. Then there's the text itself, followed by a brief concluding paragraph to explain where the story is heading. It distinctly struck me as a movie script hastily written into a novel, which is fine if you're writing a script or a tie-in novel adaptation. But this isn't.

I personally dislike this style of storytelling. I don't think it was the best way to tell this story. The character development is poor. Wilson bounces back and forth between too many different characters so fast the reader is never quite able to connect to any of them. It builds no empathy for any of the characters, and the robots (Archos in particular) had no convincing motive for being evil. He's online for 15 minutes and the first thing he wants to do is destroy humanity. Really?

Part One (almost the first hundred pages) is very boring. It's only when the reader gets to Part Two that the pace really picks up, and it quickly turns into a sprint to the climax. After the intense build-up, the final confrontation with Archos is really weak.

Conclusion: Don't be fooled by the catchy title, beautiful cover, or the author's robotic credentials. The book is nothing more than some flashy action scenes fleshed into a weak novel with disposable heroes. If you enjoyed the style of storytelling in WWZ, you may like this novel. If not, might want to pass and wait for the movie.(less)

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About Daniel H. Wilson

Daniel H. Wilson grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He earned a Ph.D. in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He lives and writes in Portland, Oregon.

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