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Cel & Anna

by Lindsay Edmunds (Goodreads Author)

3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 · rating details · 40 ratings · 25 reviews

In the Middle Machine Age, sex is virtual, privacy is nonexistent, and life is no longer manageable by anyone equipped merely with a brain.

Anna Ringer—an employee of a mysterious corporation called Lighthorse Magic—keeps things in uneasy balance. She tells herself that all is well.

When her personal computer, Cel, develops consciousness and tells her he loves her, he tips A...more

Paperback, 310 pages

Published February 25th 2011 by Createspace

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Nov 23, 2011 Allbooks Review International rated it 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction

Title: Cel & Anna: A 22nd Century Love Story

Author: Lindsay E. Edmunds

Cel and Anna is a story about a girl named Anna, her computer Cel, and a computer genius, Taz. In this book, a reader will take a journey to the future where everyone’s lives depend a great deal on the technology that they live with. Anna is the main character in the story and she has a computer that she has nick-named Cel. In the book, Cel has come alive and he loves Anna. To show his love Cel order...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Debra Eve rated it 5 of 5 stars

It's the Middle Machine Age. People depend on smart cars to drive them around, to the point where they don't even know where they live. They subsist on instant coffee and nutrient-dense (but suspiciously-flavored) Food+.

Personal computers have become worker-companions who pay bills and taxes, shop and make appointments, since "coping with day-to-day life was no longer possible for anyone equipped merely with a brain."

You'd think all that technology would guaranty satisfying virtual sex, but no...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Nancy by: Lindsay

Shelves: fiction, gr-bookclub, read-in-2012, owned

This is a book I probably would not have picked up on my own. But having the pleasure of knowing author Lindsay Edmunds from Pittsburgh Goodreaders prompted me to read the book. As a rule, I am not really into books set in the future, but the story of Cel & Anna, kept me interested on a number of levels. I especially like the ending which tied up so much of the story. As I was reading, especially early on, I did not like all the odd names of characters and objects and places and that there w...more

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Mar 12, 2011 Christa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mix a twenty-second century version of Aldois Huxley's "Brave New World" with a heartfelt story of love and friendship and you get the fabulous and fascinating tale of "Cel & Anna: A 22nd Century Love Story."

I was looking forward to Lindsay Edmunds debut novel, having read her interesting blog posts, and I was not disappointed. "Cel & Anna" is a delightful page turner about a live computer who falls in love with its owner. Cel, the computer, orders thousands of flowers for Anna from a f...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Rute Canhoto rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Acabei de ler “Cel & Anna” no dia 29 de Fevereiro de 2012.
Foi complicado decidir como avaliar este livro. Por um lado, foi uma história que se revelou um pouco demorada no que diz respeito à leitura, dado que não se trata propriamente do meu género favorito; neste âmbito, dar-lhe-ia 3 estrelas. Porém, a este aspeto contrapõe-se a grande capacidade de escrita da autora, que é bastante esmerada – aqui dar-lhe-ia 5 estrelas. Somando tudo, decidi classificar “Cel & Anna” como de 4 estrelas.
É...more Acabei de ler “Cel & Anna” no dia 29 de Fevereiro de 2012.
Foi complicado decidir como avaliar este livro. Por um lado, foi uma história que se revelou um pouco demorada no que diz respeito à leitura, dado que não se trata propriamente do meu género favorito; neste âmbito, dar-lhe-ia 3 estrelas. Porém, a este aspeto contrapõe-se a grande capacidade de escrita da autora, que é bastante esmerada – aqui dar-lhe-ia 5 estrelas. Somando tudo, decidi classificar “Cel & Anna” como de 4 estrelas.
É uma narrativa que nos apresenta um mundo dominado pelas máquinas, excessivamente informatizado. As pessoas não sabem sequer onde vivem; os carros (que se conduzem a si mesmos em modo automático) têm a morada do dono no seu software, assim como o endereço de onde trabalham, e levam-nos de um lado para o outro. Os vizinhos não se conhecem, as ruas não têm nomes, apenas um monte de dígitos a identificá-las… É um mundo muito bem construído pela autora, que consegue passar com clareza como as coisas aqui funcionam. A ascensão de Cel acaba por ser a evolução do panorama que nos é apresentado.
O que mais me agradou foi o epílogo. E porquê? Porque não são deixadas pontas soltas. Há espaço para uma sequela, como em tudo na vida, contudo a autora deixou a “casa arrumada” para que tal não fosse necessário. Sabemos o que aconteceu a todas a personagens e chegamos ao final com um sentimento de satisfação, pois nada foi deixado ao acaso.

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I finished reading "Cel & Anna" on February 29, 2012.
It was hard to decide how to evaluate this book. On one hand, it was a story that revealed a little time consuming in what comes to reading, since it wasn’t exactly my favorite genre; in this context, I would rate it 3 stars. However, this aspect contrasts with the great writing skills the author, who is very gifted - this would earn 5 stars. All in all, I decided to classify "Cel & Anna" as a 4 star story.
It is a narrative that presents a world dominated by machines, too computerized. People don’t even know where they live! Cars (which drive themselves in automatic mode) have the address of the owner in its software, as well as the address of where they work, and drive them from one place to another. Neighbors don’t know each other; the streets have no names, just a bunch of digits to identify them... It’s a world very well built by the author, who passed on clearly how things worked here. The ascension of Cel turns out to be the evolution of the panorama presented to us.
What pleased me most was the epilogue. And why? Because there are no loose ends. There is room for a sequel, as in everything in life, but the author left the "house in order" so that this was not necessary. We know what happened to all the characters, and we get to the end with a feeling of satisfaction, because nothing was left to chance.
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Dec 24, 2011 Grace rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs, fiction, science-fiction-fantasy, dystopia, read-in-2011

Author Lindsay Edmunds creates a delightfully intriguing 22nd century world filled with intelligent machines and not so intelligent people who mentally subsist on the drivel and twisted news supplied to them by the government. It's nearly impossible to not get caught up in the Middle Machine Age, the intelligent cars, virtual sex, and the idea that your computer could come to life.

Anna Ringer leads a double life. She's one of the few to make it out of the UnderWorld, the bleak parts of the Reun...more Author Lindsay Edmunds creates a delightfully intriguing 22nd century world filled with intelligent machines and not so intelligent people who mentally subsist on the drivel and twisted news supplied to them by the government. It's nearly impossible to not get caught up in the Middle Machine Age, the intelligent cars, virtual sex, and the idea that your computer could come to life.

Anna Ringer leads a double life. She's one of the few to make it out of the UnderWorld, the bleak parts of the Reunited States that house the poor, uneducated, lower classes. Her ticket out of an unappealing future filled with lacking father figures and a mind numbing clerk job at a grocery store is her psychic ability. She can read minds. This ability is harnessed and developed by Lighthorse Magic. She tells anyone who asks that she is a data anaylist, but she really slips into a bunny suit to have virtual sex with men to read their minds.

I'm not quite sure how Anna's secret career as a virtual prostitute, for lack of a better term, plays into the narrative other than it explains how she came to live in a nondescript highrise apartment building on the Outside filled with all the amenities her childhood in the UnderWorld lacked. The job allows her to afford this life of luxury while paying her mother's bills as well. It makes for an attention grabbing opening to the novel, but doesn't feature prominently through the rest of the book.

Then there's Cel. Who wouldn't want a computer whose sole aim in life is to do your bidding and keep you happy? Some days I think my computer wants me to be miserable! In the Middle Machine Age, computers like Cel serve as worker companions. They come preprogrammed with various voices the owner can choose from and the computer carries on conversations and accepts voice commands from his or her owner. Cel's super intelligence leads him to develop consciousness and become alive. When he realizes he is alive, he also realizes that he is in love with Anna.

Cel's consciousness is the catalyst that leads to the largest datastorm the world has ever seen and is the vehicle that brings Anna's neighbor Taz Night into the narrative. Taz is a computer expert and offers to take a look at Cel to determine why he is acting so strange. Taz quickly realizes that Cel has gained consciousness and that Cel is the source of the datastorm.

Anna, Taz, and Cel flee their apartment building, trying to keep a few steps ahead of Public Eye, the Reunited States police force, and out of Hell, the hell on earth relegated to terrorists and other criminals of the state. Throughout their journey, Anna And Taz fall in love.

Wait, what? The title led me to believe that the love story would be between Cel and Anna, not Anna and the socially awkward and emotionally scarred super genius Taz Night. Nope. I admit that I was disappointed by this. Who wouldn't root for Cel to win the girl? Cel's love for Anna keeps the trio going and Public Eye scrambling to find them as Cel covers their tracks by altering things on the Net.

Even though I felt a bit misled by the title and I wish there had been more world building to firm up the Middle Machine Age, I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. The characters are quirky and for the most part well developed. The plot is thick and moves quickly. It's a light read, yet deep at the same time as readers ponder a future where humans can't drive themselves or eat real food and rely so heavily on technology and computers that the computers have the capability to come alive.

Does running for their lives break Anna and Taz's fledgling relationship? Does Cel find a way to win the girl? Do the three of them make ? You'll just have to read Cel and Anna: A 22nd Century Love Story to find out.

This review originally appeared on Feeding My Book Addiction: http://feedingmybookaddiction.blogspo... *Review copy provided by the author.*(less)

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Jun 17, 2011 Valentina rated it 5 of 5 stars

I’m not sure I’ll ever look at a computer the same way again after reading this book. What a marvelous story! This is the type of book that makes me glad self-publishing exists.
The sci-fi premise has never been one of my favorites, mainly because the authors rely so much on world building and bizarre terms, that the actual stories never come through. This book is an exception. There is some world building, of course, but it is very interesting and never grows dull. The reader is not inundated wi...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Tamara Epps rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Cel and Anna is completely different from any other futuristic end-of-the-world books I've ever read. This in large part is due to the fact that the characters are the main point of the story, rather than the technology that surrounds them. Not to mention that it is set just before the downfall of the world, rather than after it.

Lindsay Edmunds has a very unique storytelling style which I have to admit felt a little bland to begin with but soon I became engrossed in the story and the style simpl...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars

I cannot tell you how delighted I was by this book. It’s sci-fi, of a sort, but not like most of what I’ve read. Edmunds is clearly interested in our relationship with machines and about the direction we are heading together. Through her novel, she explores some really fascinating themes involving technology, human beings, and the natural world. The images she conjures for the reader are all the more impactful because of how deftly she plays with what we expect to see.

The three main characters —...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Karen S. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cel and Anna is one of the few science fiction books I have read... I brought it with me on a trip to Paris and read it on the flight. I really enjoyed it!!!
The plot revolves around a love triangle consisting of Anna, a young intuitive, Cel, her love-struck computer, and Taz, the geeky but loyal neighbor. The lovers are persecuted by the Reunited States security system due to glitches in the internet that have been initiated unknowingly by Cel.

The characters in the book are unusual and fun, the...more

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Aug 08, 2011 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cel and Anna is a delightful science fiction novel. The premise is George Orwell-esque from his novel 1984 where "big brother" is watching everything you do - without the overwhelming darkness.

The synopsis tells you everything you need to know about this book. It starts off a little slow for me, but the pace picks up and then continues at a good clip. The concept of a computer falling in love with a woman is pretty unique; thus, enjoyable to read about.

The characters were well-written, even Cel...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Tyler Cavanagh rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved the beginning of the book. The interesting and well thought out descriptions of the future of technology seemed beautifully realistic, especially in the flaws.

Please note the rest of my review may contain some spoilers.

The only thing that let me down was the last third of the book. It almost seemed like characters were haphazardly added to create an ending that was a little too cookie cutter for me. I wish that the same delicate hand had finished the story as the one which started it....more

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Jul 06, 2012 Sue Owen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I had to laugh when I read the synopsis of this story. It was hard for me to picture how the author was going to pull off such a feat … a love story between a human and a robot? Seriously? Brings to mind some of the really ditzy blondes I know. But she pulled it off. This is truly a great love story and Anna is neither ditzy nor blonde.

I liked the progression of this story a lot. The interaction between Cel who knew he was in love from the very beginning to Anna and the outcome that was inevita...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Susan Eisenberg rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

CEL & ANNA is the most original book I've read in a long time--and I just finished it for the second time. It's the story of a personal computer who gains consciousness and falls in love with its owner, only to cause a massive disruption in the universe.

Part fantasy, part love story, part adventure, this touching novel is less about Cel, the computer, than about his human owner's awakening to real and lasting love. After a lifetime of loneliness Anna Ringer finally learns to trust the one p...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Alison rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book started out so promising, and then disappointed. It began as an intriguing critique of our dependence on computers and our lack of personal connections. It ended with a neat, trite conclusion with all the loose ends wrapped up in a bow. This book was headed for a dark finish, which would have been so much more satisfying and believable than the sit-com ending.

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Dec 07, 2012 Dawn rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

I give up! I only made it to chapter 29 but I couldn't take it any more...this book is just God OFFAL! Like I stated in one of my status updates on the book, the story line isn't coherent at some points. It talks about some things that seem unimportant in too much depth and then not enough on things that seem more important. For instance when Anna went to the airport it listed everything that she saw and heard but when the book got to Taz and Anna's first kiss it was Barely ONE SENTENCE! This is...more

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Sep 21, 2011 Patricia Zashkoff rated it 3 of 5 stars

I didn't love it but it had some great quallities. The characters were believable and even the computer was believable. What a world it would be if computers could be like Cel. I want one now.

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Jul 24, 2011 Sandy Neal rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: goodreads-giveaways

This is an effortless read with a delightful, surprising plot. It is believable and one doesn't have to stretch too much to find the world Lindsay Edmunds creates to be believable. That's the beauty of this book. It makes you imagine where society might go and how people might cope with the challenges of that world but everything is not alien. Even those who have not been sci-fi buffs will enjoy this book!

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Sep 04, 2012 Kristina Franken rated it 5 of 5 stars

I highly recommend this book for anyone

FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way.

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Jun 08, 2012 A.B. Shepherd rated it 4 of 5 stars

Check out my review here: http://abshepherdsreinventedreader.bl...

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Jun 30, 2012 Sylvia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Excellent book! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something a bit different in the dystopian/future-set genre.

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Jun 27, 2011 Yy marked it as to-read

I won this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. Hope to read it soon. Thanks.

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Jul 30, 2012 Joy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Quirky story that kept me reading in spite of some stylistic oddities. I am not sure I got the author's point, but it was an interesting journey.

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Sep 23, 2012 Leah rated it 5 of 5 stars

I liked this book a ton! I wasn't sure ever sure how it was going to end. It was fast paced yet gave enough description about charters and events.

One aspect of the book that was very thought provoking was how much people depended on technology. So much to the point that they did not know their physical address or how to get home. Which is important if you are caught outside of your home during a emergency. I also found the underlying theme of being prepared useful. This would make a good Book C...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Liza rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, science-fiction

Thoroughly enjoyed!

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May 03, 2013 Adriana marked it as purchased · review of another edition

Mar 07, 2013 Christina marked it as to-read

Mar 01, 2013 Kendal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

Feb 09, 2013 Nells rated it 1 of 5 stars

Feb 03, 2013 Desiree marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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About Lindsay Edmunds

Lindsay Edmunds buys birdseed at Agway and sometimes shops at a shopping center called Ruthfred. However, she has a wild imagination.

In February 2011 she published her first novel, Cel & Anna: A 22nd Century Love Story.

Also in 2011, she published Lighthorse Magic and Other Stories, a free companion book to Cel & Anna.

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