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The Robots Of Gotham
A group of misfit humans and machines fight to stop a conspiracy to exterminate humanity in a future Chicago ruled by a brutal artificial intelligence.The future is ruled by intelligent machines. After a brutal war leaving at least one quarter of the United States still under occupation, the remnants of the American government are negotiating for a permanent peace with a coalition of sophisticated but fascist machines that have besieged the country.Barry Simcoe, a businessman from Canada, is in occupied Chicago when his hotel is attacked by a rogue, thirty-foot-tall war drone. In the aftermath, he meets a Russian medic and a badly damaged robot called 19 Black Winter. Together, the trio stumble on a deep conspiracy driven by America’s conquerors that reveal a vicious plan, setting them in a race against time to protect the nation from a fate worse than subjugation.Praise for The Robots of Gotham“This debut novel beautifully combines a postapocalyptic man-versus-machine conflict and a medical thriller . . . This is thrilling, epic SF.” —New York Times“An epic novel . . . full of action, political intrigue, and unexpected twists. Todd McAulty has given us a fresh, compelling take on life during a robot apocalypse.” —Jeff Abbott, New York Times–bestselling author of Blame“A page-turner that kept me riveted from the opening lines to the final chapter. Highly recommended!” —David B. Coe, author of The Case Files of Justis Fearsson series
693 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2018
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July 14, 2018So far, this has been a summer with some amazing reads.
Todd McAulty’s stories in Blackgate (sadly no longer in print) were always standouts for me, so when I had a chance to get an ARC of this his debut novel, I grabbed it.
At novel length, McAulty is even better.
We’re at the other end of the 21st Century, and machine intelligences have taken over much of the United States as well as the rest of the world. I’m not usually a fan of robot stories, but I trusted McAulty not to offer up machines-are-evil or alpha guys bashing around in gigantic mecha (a fandom I just don’t get), and I was right.
Our first person narrator is Canadian businessman Barry Simcoe who happens to be in Chicago to conduct business. When his hotel is abruptly vacuated and he runs out into the middle of a firefight, he discovers that the war in Chicago isn’t quite as over as he’d assumed.
And here is where I got hooked: in the middle of this vivid, extremely tense and bloody fight, Barry’s instinct is compassion. For humans, for robots. Later, for a dog about to starve to death in an abandoned hotel room.
This mixture of humane behavior in the midst of inhuman violence gripped me tight and made it difficult to put the book down. From the beginning, the pacing accelerates steadily to a high stakes climax.
Along the way, Barry teams up with a Russian doctor, a Chicago realtor, and a Venezuelan soldier as well a couple of machine intelligences. As Barry ends up doing what he feels is the right thing, though it's usually the most dangerous thing, he's constantly outrunning surveillance as he begins to find out who the enemy is, and what motivates them.
The aspect that won me over with the robots is that they aren’t machine-evil, or gigantic tin cans for guys to smash buildings, bridges, and countries. McAulty takes the time to develop the robot intelligences, making their culture fascinating as well as believable.
I really liked the female characters, who all have smarts and agency, and the occasional robot blog posts are a hoot—a great way to deliver background data and make it entertaining. The narrative style is skillful, full of humor and image, and gracefully executed in past tense. (I’ve been reading too many first person present tense stories in which complicated backgrounds are especially awkward in present tense.) We assume he survives, and yet that somehow didn’t take away from the white-knuckle climactic scene, which we see twice—and the second time the action is relayed, step by step, blow by blow, increases the tension, even though we know what happened.
When I finished, I was surprised to discover that it’s 600 pages. Those pages flew by so fast I really thought it was a short novel.
It ends with some intriguing threads still dangling, making me hope there will be more from Barry and this world.
July 23, 2018
83/100
Click here for full review:
https://outofthisworldrev.blogspot.co...
I have a thing for robots. Before that is taken completely out of context and used against me in a future Presidential run, allow me to please explain. For those who have taken the time to read my brief bio in the right column of my blog, you know that the author who I hold singularly responsible for my love of reading is Isaac Asimov. And the specific book I cite for this is The Robots of Dawn. I fully admit to somewhat unfairly holding every book that features robots in it up against that ridiculously high standard because to me, the quintessential books about robots will always be written by the master Asimov. That doesn't stop me from searching out and reading any and all robot stories I can get my hands on since by and large, I still enjoy them even though I know they most likely will never move me the way that Asimov's creations did. THE ROBOTS OF GOTHAM by Todd McAulty is a book that has had considerable positive buzz associated with it in recent months. I am a bit late to the party on this one but was able to obtain a copy from the publisher a few weeks ago. When I found out that the story focused on robots that attack and take over certain countries in the world and even areas of the United States, I immediately had thoughts of the movie The Terminator. I was extremely excited to try this book out to see if it would live up to the heaping of praise from many reviewers. And so I began reading with the fervent hope that THE ROBOTS OF GOTHAM would scratch that omnipresent robot itch that I have constantly carried around with me since my early teenage years.
THE ROBOTS OF GOTHAM begins with the description of a world that has been overrun and threatened by evil fascist machines. The United States is no longer united with much of the eastern seaboard having been taken over by the brutal machine armies. Manhattan in fact, has been annexed by a robotic monarchy of sorts and is now a no-go zone for civilians living in the surrounding areas. Other states in the country have sued for peace and established treaties with the occupying forces that enable them to remain semi-autonomous, but that peace is very fragile indeed as open attacks begin to occur with more regularity in the neutral zones. The American resistance has been subdued somewhat but there are still pockets of freedom fighters who remain and organize secretly in an attempt to come up with some sort of plan to combat the machine threat and regain America's independence. The robots are brutal however, and are intent on rooting out and crushing any resistance wherever it is found. The main character of ROBOTS OF GOTHAM is Canadian businessman Barry Simcoe. Mr. Simcoe is caught in a hotel in Chicago during one very violent machine attack and is subsequently taken into custody by the local authorities. There he meets a Russian medic named Sergei who is stationed with the occupying army and a battered robot also in custody named 19 Black Winter. Black Winter is not a part of the robot takeover and soon becomes a friend of Simcoe's in his quest to find out what is happening with regard to the robot takeover. As Simcoe becomes more persistent in looking for answers, he uncovers a conspiracy to release a plague on the American populace to be perpetrated by the machines in a final act of subjugating the United States under the heel of the machine overlords once and for all. It is now incumbent upon Simcoe, Sergei and 19 Black Winter to expend all effort to attempt to make contact with the shadowy resistance and to thwart the robots' plan of a weaponized extinction event unlike any other. As they scramble to get this done, they eventually stumble across a robot colony living underground that may or may not be friendly to their cause. Why they are there is a mystery and what secrets they harbor could end up tilting the balance when the ultimate disaster plan is put into motion. Through it all Simcoe is persistent in his belief that humanity can and will be saved, no matter what he has to do to make that dream a reality. Add to that the fact that other countries in Europe are beginning to fall one by one to the fascist robot aggression, and it becomes even more urgent than ever to stop the machines from gaining more of a foothold. The rebellion must begin and end in the United States where there is still a sliver of hope to throw off the chains of the robot oppressors What secrets will be revealed in the meantime will shock Simcoe and his friends to the core before all is said and done.
This book started off with a bang for me and kept going at a feverish pace until about the 25% mark. It was then that the action settled down a little and the story became more of a technical read for large sections. This is understandable when you consider that author Todd McAulty earned his Ph.D. by using supercomputers to solve huge real life data problems. So to say that he is a smrt cookie would be a vast understatement. And there is a lot of techno-speak in this book, make no mistake about it. I really did think that the plot itself was quite intriguing and at times, the story of the robot takeover of certain parts of the world was very well done and compelling. I thought that if more information was given on the background of why the robots rose up to become this aggressive occupying army, it would have made this book a much better read. However, the lack of historical context and more specifics on the back story made this a very good popcorn fun book, but ultimately caused it to just fall short of being a truly incredible one in the end. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy ROBOTS OF GOTHAM quite a bit, I was just let down somewhat by the focus being more on the applications and technology aspects of the robots as opposed to their particular origin and motivations. There were times when the book really engaged me and I lost track of time, and these were the times when it really sucked me in. I liked the way that the occupied United States were handled as well, with many of these states broken out into different territorial zones. The robot plan of dividing and conquering is something that has interesting connotations for what could possibly take place in our own society. The confusion and chaos that would engender would simply be incalculable, so it is interesting to ponder the ramifications of what would occur in that kind of scenario, albeit not caused by robots but say with cyber attacks or an attack on our power grid. in the end, I would definitely recommend THE ROBOTS OF GOTHAM to anyone who is looking for a cool robot apocalypse story with loads of technical jargon and characters who persevere through the direst of situations. Weighing in at 688 pages, it is also a tome that you can really sink your teeth into and enjoy for a long period of time. I found it to be a fun and entertaining read that barely missed delivering fully on a very promising premise. But that can always be rectified in book 2, which I will be sure to pick up when it is completed. Overall, a very good Science-Fiction book.
Click here for full review:
https://outofthisworldrev.blogspot.co...
I have a thing for robots. Before that is taken completely out of context and used against me in a future Presidential run, allow me to please explain. For those who have taken the time to read my brief bio in the right column of my blog, you know that the author who I hold singularly responsible for my love of reading is Isaac Asimov. And the specific book I cite for this is The Robots of Dawn. I fully admit to somewhat unfairly holding every book that features robots in it up against that ridiculously high standard because to me, the quintessential books about robots will always be written by the master Asimov. That doesn't stop me from searching out and reading any and all robot stories I can get my hands on since by and large, I still enjoy them even though I know they most likely will never move me the way that Asimov's creations did. THE ROBOTS OF GOTHAM by Todd McAulty is a book that has had considerable positive buzz associated with it in recent months. I am a bit late to the party on this one but was able to obtain a copy from the publisher a few weeks ago. When I found out that the story focused on robots that attack and take over certain countries in the world and even areas of the United States, I immediately had thoughts of the movie The Terminator. I was extremely excited to try this book out to see if it would live up to the heaping of praise from many reviewers. And so I began reading with the fervent hope that THE ROBOTS OF GOTHAM would scratch that omnipresent robot itch that I have constantly carried around with me since my early teenage years.
THE ROBOTS OF GOTHAM begins with the description of a world that has been overrun and threatened by evil fascist machines. The United States is no longer united with much of the eastern seaboard having been taken over by the brutal machine armies. Manhattan in fact, has been annexed by a robotic monarchy of sorts and is now a no-go zone for civilians living in the surrounding areas. Other states in the country have sued for peace and established treaties with the occupying forces that enable them to remain semi-autonomous, but that peace is very fragile indeed as open attacks begin to occur with more regularity in the neutral zones. The American resistance has been subdued somewhat but there are still pockets of freedom fighters who remain and organize secretly in an attempt to come up with some sort of plan to combat the machine threat and regain America's independence. The robots are brutal however, and are intent on rooting out and crushing any resistance wherever it is found. The main character of ROBOTS OF GOTHAM is Canadian businessman Barry Simcoe. Mr. Simcoe is caught in a hotel in Chicago during one very violent machine attack and is subsequently taken into custody by the local authorities. There he meets a Russian medic named Sergei who is stationed with the occupying army and a battered robot also in custody named 19 Black Winter. Black Winter is not a part of the robot takeover and soon becomes a friend of Simcoe's in his quest to find out what is happening with regard to the robot takeover. As Simcoe becomes more persistent in looking for answers, he uncovers a conspiracy to release a plague on the American populace to be perpetrated by the machines in a final act of subjugating the United States under the heel of the machine overlords once and for all. It is now incumbent upon Simcoe, Sergei and 19 Black Winter to expend all effort to attempt to make contact with the shadowy resistance and to thwart the robots' plan of a weaponized extinction event unlike any other. As they scramble to get this done, they eventually stumble across a robot colony living underground that may or may not be friendly to their cause. Why they are there is a mystery and what secrets they harbor could end up tilting the balance when the ultimate disaster plan is put into motion. Through it all Simcoe is persistent in his belief that humanity can and will be saved, no matter what he has to do to make that dream a reality. Add to that the fact that other countries in Europe are beginning to fall one by one to the fascist robot aggression, and it becomes even more urgent than ever to stop the machines from gaining more of a foothold. The rebellion must begin and end in the United States where there is still a sliver of hope to throw off the chains of the robot oppressors What secrets will be revealed in the meantime will shock Simcoe and his friends to the core before all is said and done.
This book started off with a bang for me and kept going at a feverish pace until about the 25% mark. It was then that the action settled down a little and the story became more of a technical read for large sections. This is understandable when you consider that author Todd McAulty earned his Ph.D. by using supercomputers to solve huge real life data problems. So to say that he is a smrt cookie would be a vast understatement. And there is a lot of techno-speak in this book, make no mistake about it. I really did think that the plot itself was quite intriguing and at times, the story of the robot takeover of certain parts of the world was very well done and compelling. I thought that if more information was given on the background of why the robots rose up to become this aggressive occupying army, it would have made this book a much better read. However, the lack of historical context and more specifics on the back story made this a very good popcorn fun book, but ultimately caused it to just fall short of being a truly incredible one in the end. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy ROBOTS OF GOTHAM quite a bit, I was just let down somewhat by the focus being more on the applications and technology aspects of the robots as opposed to their particular origin and motivations. There were times when the book really engaged me and I lost track of time, and these were the times when it really sucked me in. I liked the way that the occupied United States were handled as well, with many of these states broken out into different territorial zones. The robot plan of dividing and conquering is something that has interesting connotations for what could possibly take place in our own society. The confusion and chaos that would engender would simply be incalculable, so it is interesting to ponder the ramifications of what would occur in that kind of scenario, albeit not caused by robots but say with cyber attacks or an attack on our power grid. in the end, I would definitely recommend THE ROBOTS OF GOTHAM to anyone who is looking for a cool robot apocalypse story with loads of technical jargon and characters who persevere through the direst of situations. Weighing in at 688 pages, it is also a tome that you can really sink your teeth into and enjoy for a long period of time. I found it to be a fun and entertaining read that barely missed delivering fully on a very promising premise. But that can always be rectified in book 2, which I will be sure to pick up when it is completed. Overall, a very good Science-Fiction book.
October 10, 2018
The title of this book is misleading Gotham is were Batman lives is it not. The cover has what at glance Batman's gloved hand hanging over Gotham so I thought was Batman book about Robots. What mistaka to maka its nothing to do with Batman, so Why call it Gotham.? To put Batman fans in muddled
Asimov laws of the Robots have been used in real creation of Robotic creations but we have had other more complex books about Robots since Asimov read RUR by Capek & Westworld. We also have problem of Robots vs Androids like Data. A Robot is more a machine, often huge brutal not like Humans on Ch.4.
This Terminator but unlike the Arni moves which are fun but not really believable this is set in 2083 about Fascism the author has wanted to write about about the terrors of Fascist society but has added new Twist by using Robot. So he has no one say he has insulted anyone, no backlash because he has created the perfect disposable 'robotic creations ' no gives blind fuck if Robot dies' Nazi's Utopia in Robotic America -a Donald Trump joke.
Asimov laws of the Robots have been used in real creation of Robotic creations but we have had other more complex books about Robots since Asimov read RUR by Capek & Westworld. We also have problem of Robots vs Androids like Data. A Robot is more a machine, often huge brutal not like Humans on Ch.4.
This Terminator but unlike the Arni moves which are fun but not really believable this is set in 2083 about Fascism the author has wanted to write about about the terrors of Fascist society but has added new Twist by using Robot. So he has no one say he has insulted anyone, no backlash because he has created the perfect disposable 'robotic creations ' no gives blind fuck if Robot dies' Nazi's Utopia in Robotic America -a Donald Trump joke.
August 14, 2018
This book has several major flaws that keep me from giving it a higher rating. The writing is strong, surprisingly fluid and kept me reading through the 600+ pages. All in all, I felt as though what this book could have used was a better editor.
The book felt a bit repetitive and claustrophobic to me the farther in I got, as nearly every scene in this pretty sprawling book revolved around one location. Action and return, action and return. Which felt like a lost opportunity to me in a world so richly developed, I wish I'd gotten the chance to explore it more. Barry bothered me as a main character as well. He's a textbook Mary Sue. By his fourth or fifth time escaping near death by the skin of his teeth, complete with all the moral fortitude of a benevolent god, I just couldn't suspend my disbelief and got bored with him as a narrator.
The end feels designed for the beginning of a series, which is a pet peeve of mine. The book would work nicely in this schema but I can't help wondering what it could have been if it were allowed to be a complete work that stands on its own right.
The book felt a bit repetitive and claustrophobic to me the farther in I got, as nearly every scene in this pretty sprawling book revolved around one location. Action and return, action and return. Which felt like a lost opportunity to me in a world so richly developed, I wish I'd gotten the chance to explore it more. Barry bothered me as a main character as well. He's a textbook Mary Sue. By his fourth or fifth time escaping near death by the skin of his teeth, complete with all the moral fortitude of a benevolent god, I just couldn't suspend my disbelief and got bored with him as a narrator.
The end feels designed for the beginning of a series, which is a pet peeve of mine. The book would work nicely in this schema but I can't help wondering what it could have been if it were allowed to be a complete work that stands on its own right.
June 18, 2018
What a great adventure this was, and with plenty of robot tech and suspense. This book is definitely high on my top 10 list for the year. For a debut novel, it really delivered. My full review will can be read here ---> https://wp.me/p5t5Tf-1AU
February 2, 2019
Of all the many names for New York City, the most magical must be "Gotham." So I was immediately intrigued by Todd McAulty's debut novel The Robots of Gotham, and checked it out to find that it takes place in... Chicago?
I guess "The Robots of Mud City" didn't have quite the same ring.
The Robots of Gotham starts with a bang, though (well, after a map and a "Sovereignty Matrix" that you'll at least want to skim), and never lets up. Which is good, because McAulty has a lot to get through. This is a big book, clocking in at 675 pages of dense, high-impact prose. McAulty's version of the 21st Century has been rather... eventful, and he seems determined to work in at least passing mention of most of its events.
The basic setup is pretty simple, though. The Earth is swiftly being overrun by smart, fast, ruthless AIs, machine intelligences modeled after human minds (see: ruthless), who (that) are consequently altogether too interested in human affairs. Most of the world's countries are now openly run by AIs—a few were even elected, though most are dictators ruling over "machine fascisms." After being an early leader in the field, the United States got cold feet and tried to keep out AIs altogether—outlawing further research and refusing to recognize their status as sentient beings. That plan worked about as well as isolationism usually does, culminating with an invasion by a coalition of AI-led nations. As The Robots of Gotham begins, the United States aren't united, not anymore. The eastern states have been involuntarily partitioned, into even more isolated Sectors.
Sector One—the island of Manhattan—was taken over entirely by a machine intelligence calling herself Queen Sophia, who appears to be one of the more benevolent AIs. The city of Chicago is in much worse shape—Sector 11 is occupied by a multinational force called the AGRT, made up primarily of human soldiers from Venezuela and elsewhere in South America. Communication is severely limited; sickness and privation are widespread; most of the population has been dispersed to refugee camps; and military drones both sentient and otherwise patrol the deserted streets.
Where some people see devastation, though, others see opportunity...
Enter Barry Simcoe, a Canadian dealer in medical technology, currently one of a few dozen civilian residents left in one of Chicago's finest hotels. He's trying to pull together a deal in the middle of a war zone, with only intermittent access to network services and very little sympathy from the Coalition's occupying forces—whose leaders are occupying that very same hotel.
Barry's a gregarious guy, though, not just a chair-warmer or a glad-handing salesman. He has some important real-world skills—he knows a lot about the medical technology he sells, for example, and about first aid as well. Simcoe reasons quickly and well in a crisis, and he's remarkably clear-eyed, neither paranoid nor worshipful, when meeting minds with machines with minds. While Barry's innate kindness often puts him at odds with the harsh environment of Sector 11, those impulses also help him make friends... starting with Sergei Vulka, a Russian medical technician who soon has reason to appreciate Simcoe's willingness to help...
So... lots of excitement. Killer robots. Snappy dialogue. A complex, fast-moving plot whose large-scale events are illuminated by frequent small-scale acts—reminders that individuals matter. Killer. Robots. What's not to like?
Well...
Where The Robots of Gotham really falls down, I think, is that it's so much of a sausage-fest. There are exactly two female characters in these hundreds of pages who have any depth at all. Both of them are sexy young women, and both become more-or-less romantically involved with Barry. The one who "knows how to flirt" has just categorically rejected any such involvement—but of course women never know what they really think, do they, and what she really meant by "We're not going to be friends. Got that? Not friends. Not lovers." was, "I am this close to throwing myself at you right here in this armored car, Barry."
Uh-huh.
Fortunately—or otherwise—most of The Robots of Gotham avoids such awkward interactions with the female of the species. Barry's really much more comfortable dealing with robots anyway, and along the way he makes some more good friends among the intelligences in Chicago that (who) aren't yet on board with the whole "exterminate all hu-mans" thing. (One of these robots periodically drops references to various 20th-Century science-fiction films like Star Wars and Blade Runner into conversation, then gets miffed when his human companions fail to recognize quotes from those 100-year-old movies. It's an amusing and entirely plausible running gag.)
Now, a more mercenary author (or publisher) might have tried to split The Robots of Gotham into multiple volumes, but it really does hang together pretty well as a unified tale—and, never fear, even though McAulty wraps up most of the loose threads and papers over most of the cracks, he still leaves plenty of hooks for sequels dangling at the end of this one.
So... if you're willing to overlook how firmly it's embedded in the brozone, The Robots of Gotham might just be the beginning of something you'll find seriously entertaining.
I guess "The Robots of Mud City" didn't have quite the same ring.
The Robots of Gotham starts with a bang, though (well, after a map and a "Sovereignty Matrix" that you'll at least want to skim), and never lets up. Which is good, because McAulty has a lot to get through. This is a big book, clocking in at 675 pages of dense, high-impact prose. McAulty's version of the 21st Century has been rather... eventful, and he seems determined to work in at least passing mention of most of its events.
The basic setup is pretty simple, though. The Earth is swiftly being overrun by smart, fast, ruthless AIs, machine intelligences modeled after human minds (see: ruthless), who (that) are consequently altogether too interested in human affairs. Most of the world's countries are now openly run by AIs—a few were even elected, though most are dictators ruling over "machine fascisms." After being an early leader in the field, the United States got cold feet and tried to keep out AIs altogether—outlawing further research and refusing to recognize their status as sentient beings. That plan worked about as well as isolationism usually does, culminating with an invasion by a coalition of AI-led nations. As The Robots of Gotham begins, the United States aren't united, not anymore. The eastern states have been involuntarily partitioned, into even more isolated Sectors.
Sector One—the island of Manhattan—was taken over entirely by a machine intelligence calling herself Queen Sophia, who appears to be one of the more benevolent AIs. The city of Chicago is in much worse shape—Sector 11 is occupied by a multinational force called the AGRT, made up primarily of human soldiers from Venezuela and elsewhere in South America. Communication is severely limited; sickness and privation are widespread; most of the population has been dispersed to refugee camps; and military drones both sentient and otherwise patrol the deserted streets.
Where some people see devastation, though, others see opportunity...
And if I was going to be the bagman for a black market pet food transaction, after curfew, in the middle of a hotly disputed urban territory, I was probably overdressed. And much too Canadian.
—p.72
Enter Barry Simcoe, a Canadian dealer in medical technology, currently one of a few dozen civilian residents left in one of Chicago's finest hotels. He's trying to pull together a deal in the middle of a war zone, with only intermittent access to network services and very little sympathy from the Coalition's occupying forces—whose leaders are occupying that very same hotel.
It's a good plan, I told myself. I love this plan.
—p.199
Barry's a gregarious guy, though, not just a chair-warmer or a glad-handing salesman. He has some important real-world skills—he knows a lot about the medical technology he sells, for example, and about first aid as well. Simcoe reasons quickly and well in a crisis, and he's remarkably clear-eyed, neither paranoid nor worshipful, when meeting minds with machines with minds. While Barry's innate kindness often puts him at odds with the harsh environment of Sector 11, those impulses also help him make friends... starting with Sergei Vulka, a Russian medical technician who soon has reason to appreciate Simcoe's willingness to help...
"You know, I was really hoping you wouldn't confirm my worst suspicions."
—p.300
So... lots of excitement. Killer robots. Snappy dialogue. A complex, fast-moving plot whose large-scale events are illuminated by frequent small-scale acts—reminders that individuals matter. Killer. Robots. What's not to like?
Well...
Damn, this woman knows how to flirt, I thought.
—p.443
Where The Robots of Gotham really falls down, I think, is that it's so much of a sausage-fest. There are exactly two female characters in these hundreds of pages who have any depth at all. Both of them are sexy young women, and both become more-or-less romantically involved with Barry. The one who "knows how to flirt" has just categorically rejected any such involvement—but of course women never know what they really think, do they, and what she really meant by "We're not going to be friends. Got that? Not friends. Not lovers." was, "I am this close to throwing myself at you right here in this armored car, Barry."
Uh-huh.
Fortunately—or otherwise—most of The Robots of Gotham avoids such awkward interactions with the female of the species. Barry's really much more comfortable dealing with robots anyway, and along the way he makes some more good friends among the intelligences in Chicago that (who) aren't yet on board with the whole "exterminate all hu-mans" thing. (One of these robots periodically drops references to various 20th-Century science-fiction films like Star Wars and Blade Runner into conversation, then gets miffed when his human companions fail to recognize quotes from those 100-year-old movies. It's an amusing and entirely plausible running gag.)
Now, a more mercenary author (or publisher) might have tried to split The Robots of Gotham into multiple volumes, but it really does hang together pretty well as a unified tale—and, never fear, even though McAulty wraps up most of the loose threads and papers over most of the cracks, he still leaves plenty of hooks for sequels dangling at the end of this one.
So... if you're willing to overlook how firmly it's embedded in the brozone, The Robots of Gotham might just be the beginning of something you'll find seriously entertaining.
September 1, 2019
McAulty's first-person style is profoundly easy to consume. The Robots of Gotham is highly recommended--SE
Todd McAulty's The Robots of Gotham has already received great praise from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, the Toronto Star, Kirkus Reviews, and numerous authors. Here is another.
What is the best way to deal with being constantly surveilled by devices? Being controlled by them? Wearing aluminum hats won't help us (put that smartphone down!), but reading well-crafted fiction allows the journey toward robot domination to be more fun... less scary.
Artificial Intelligence: I am by no means an expert in artificial intelligence, which makes my perspective even more alarming (exciting?); many readers likely share this history, and it is why you'll enjoy Todd McAulty's The Robots from Gotham.
As a teenager (1980's), I had the experience of interacting with Apple IIe and TI94 computers (when data was never stored on disk or was saved to tape) which had users game with a computer that served as a dungeon master. Digitized, text-based adventures like Zork from Infocom/Activision provided a surreal version of Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books. As a chemist for decades who chills with engineers, I've witnessed computers grow from being calculators to devices that measure, store, analyze and report data with limited human intervention.
Currently (2019) there are powerful, open-sourced codes for Deep Learning and Neural Network tasks & decision making--the accessibility and power of enabling AI is skyrocketing. Couple that with the proliferation of smartphones & the-internet-of-things and the once "speculative" concept of Batman using phones to echolocate & virtually surveil a city is near reality (from the 2008 movie The Dark Knight). I confess that in 2008 I thought echolocation was a silly concept, but not anymore.
Batman’s machine that operated on Fox’s concept of SONAR. (Photo Credit: The Dark Knight (film) / Warner Bros. Pictures (scienceabc.com)
Can you imagine life with machines in 2083?
Fast forward another six decades, and there is a strong likelihood we humans will be dialoguing with robots as if they are independent, sentient things (cheers to any offspring of Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa, and Google's Assitant). Robots will serve many functions beyond soldier or policeman (Terminator or Robocop) including politics.
Todd McAulty, himself an excerpt in machine learning whose roots came from managing at the start-up that created Internet Explorer, provides us with a compelling vision. For over a decade he created this wonderful thriller, employing protagonist Barry Simcoe to narrate his exploits as a businessman wrapped up in a dystopic war between humans & robots (and robots vs. robots, and humans vs. humans, etc.). Robots have evolved into many classes, many are very "human." Listen in now to Barry as he summarizes his lunch date with the robot Black Winter:
Profoundly easy to read: Actually, McAulty's writing style is similar to talking to Black Winter. McAulty's first-person chapters are present-tense blog posts that are profoundly easy to consume. This 670page novel was easier to read than most 200page, third-person narratives. Each chapter/post is sponsored by hilarious entrepreneurs too, but these details are easy to overlook since you will jump right into the text.
The first chapter starts with a literal blast and each successive post propels the thrill ride. Why are Venezuelan military forces occupying Chicago? Is Barry being followed? What the hell happened to America? Well, no spoilers here, but we can quote from the one other blog poster beside Barry, a machine journalist called Paul the Pirate, who puts all the madness into context:
Title and cover: I do not have any misgiving with the The Robots of Gotham story, but I am a little perplexed on the title. Granted there are many robots present everywhere, but only a select few hail from New York (i.e., Gotham). Also, a lot of awesome, robot history transpires in New York, but not any more than several other locations across the globe. This book is really about Chicago. In fact, the cover image features the Lake Michigan skyline (not Manhattan). So there is some dissonance here. Etymologically from Old English, "Gotham" means "home of goats," but there are no goats here either. Ironically, by calling out the Dark Knight movie above, I am accidentally furthering a weak connection between this novel and Gotham.
Is Bary Simcoe a virtual avatar of Todd McAulty? Barry Simcoe is Canadian, works in Chicago, works in the machine learning field, and is an expert blogger. So is Todd McAulty. But who is he really? Well, it is a fun mystery to unravel, one which author Howard Andrew Jones tackles (check out his blog).
More McAulty: The Robots of Gotham is a debut novel and is entirely self-contained. However, the history and characters presented are so fleshed out, that it screams for more. Thankfully there is. According to an interview on The Qwillery (June 20th, 2018), a sequel is in the works called: The Ghosts of Navy Pier.
Mark Robinson - cover art
Todd McAulty's The Robots of Gotham has already received great praise from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, the Toronto Star, Kirkus Reviews, and numerous authors. Here is another.
What is the best way to deal with being constantly surveilled by devices? Being controlled by them? Wearing aluminum hats won't help us (put that smartphone down!), but reading well-crafted fiction allows the journey toward robot domination to be more fun... less scary.
Artificial Intelligence: I am by no means an expert in artificial intelligence, which makes my perspective even more alarming (exciting?); many readers likely share this history, and it is why you'll enjoy Todd McAulty's The Robots from Gotham.
As a teenager (1980's), I had the experience of interacting with Apple IIe and TI94 computers (when data was never stored on disk or was saved to tape) which had users game with a computer that served as a dungeon master. Digitized, text-based adventures like Zork from Infocom/Activision provided a surreal version of Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books. As a chemist for decades who chills with engineers, I've witnessed computers grow from being calculators to devices that measure, store, analyze and report data with limited human intervention.
Currently (2019) there are powerful, open-sourced codes for Deep Learning and Neural Network tasks & decision making--the accessibility and power of enabling AI is skyrocketing. Couple that with the proliferation of smartphones & the-internet-of-things and the once "speculative" concept of Batman using phones to echolocate & virtually surveil a city is near reality (from the 2008 movie The Dark Knight). I confess that in 2008 I thought echolocation was a silly concept, but not anymore.
Batman’s machine that operated on Fox’s concept of SONAR. (Photo Credit: The Dark Knight (film) / Warner Bros. Pictures (scienceabc.com)
Can you imagine life with machines in 2083?
Fast forward another six decades, and there is a strong likelihood we humans will be dialoguing with robots as if they are independent, sentient things (cheers to any offspring of Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa, and Google's Assitant). Robots will serve many functions beyond soldier or policeman (Terminator or Robocop) including politics.
Todd McAulty, himself an excerpt in machine learning whose roots came from managing at the start-up that created Internet Explorer, provides us with a compelling vision. For over a decade he created this wonderful thriller, employing protagonist Barry Simcoe to narrate his exploits as a businessman wrapped up in a dystopic war between humans & robots (and robots vs. robots, and humans vs. humans, etc.). Robots have evolved into many classes, many are very "human." Listen in now to Barry as he summarizes his lunch date with the robot Black Winter:
"I really enjoyed our lunch. Yeah, it was a bit awkward at first. Machines don't actually eat lunch, for one thing. But before long we were chatting like old friends.
It's tough to explain why I find Black Winter so fascinating. It's not just the novelty of talking casually to a high-end machine. I've met plenty of machines, although admittedly few of them socially. Black Winter is different. He jokes that it's because he was trained in human diplomancy, but it goes deeper than that. There is something about him. There's a sincerity to him that makes him profoundly easy to talk to."
Profoundly easy to read: Actually, McAulty's writing style is similar to talking to Black Winter. McAulty's first-person chapters are present-tense blog posts that are profoundly easy to consume. This 670page novel was easier to read than most 200page, third-person narratives. Each chapter/post is sponsored by hilarious entrepreneurs too, but these details are easy to overlook since you will jump right into the text.
"CanadaNET1 Encrypted, Sponsored by Hot Pupil.
Are they checking you out? Hot Pupil monitors nearby skin temperature and pupil contraction for signs of lust. Dont' be the last to know.... 100% Accurate" - The Robots of Gotham, chapter XXVI
The first chapter starts with a literal blast and each successive post propels the thrill ride. Why are Venezuelan military forces occupying Chicago? Is Barry being followed? What the hell happened to America? Well, no spoilers here, but we can quote from the one other blog poster beside Barry, a machine journalist called Paul the Pirate, who puts all the madness into context:
"Will any of these three [various sentient entities] -- or their shadowy allies around the world -- be brought to justice for what they've done?
Don't hold your breath. Ain't nothing changed, my fiend. Civilization on this planet has been one continuous 30,000-year saga of the rich shitting on the poor, and the new era of the Machine Gods is no different. It's not personal. It's simply about power. You got it, they'll take it from you. Period."
Title and cover: I do not have any misgiving with the The Robots of Gotham story, but I am a little perplexed on the title. Granted there are many robots present everywhere, but only a select few hail from New York (i.e., Gotham). Also, a lot of awesome, robot history transpires in New York, but not any more than several other locations across the globe. This book is really about Chicago. In fact, the cover image features the Lake Michigan skyline (not Manhattan). So there is some dissonance here. Etymologically from Old English, "Gotham" means "home of goats," but there are no goats here either. Ironically, by calling out the Dark Knight movie above, I am accidentally furthering a weak connection between this novel and Gotham.
Is Bary Simcoe a virtual avatar of Todd McAulty? Barry Simcoe is Canadian, works in Chicago, works in the machine learning field, and is an expert blogger. So is Todd McAulty. But who is he really? Well, it is a fun mystery to unravel, one which author Howard Andrew Jones tackles (check out his blog).
More McAulty: The Robots of Gotham is a debut novel and is entirely self-contained. However, the history and characters presented are so fleshed out, that it screams for more. Thankfully there is. According to an interview on The Qwillery (June 20th, 2018), a sequel is in the works called: The Ghosts of Navy Pier.
Mark Robinson - cover art
January 7, 2020
Really excellent. I was intrigued by the cover blub claiming it to have “the fierce readability of early Neal Stephenson”. After reading it, that’s dead on target - very reminiscent in tone and (breakneck) pace to Snowcrash. Not all questions answered, and am eagerly looking forward to the sequel.
June 16, 2018
Overall, I enjoyed The Robots of Gotham. It presents a future that is definitely scary for humans to look at, one that we instinctively cover our eyes to, but end up anxiously peeking at between our fingers. The book had me guessing until the end: Who is the good guy? Who is the bad guy? Who is going to win in the end? It is definitely a worthy addition to the genre.
Full review can be found here: http://paulspicks.blog/2018/06/07/the...
Please check out all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
Full review can be found here: http://paulspicks.blog/2018/06/07/the...
Please check out all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
September 8, 2018
This one had me at robots. So basically from the get go. But the prodigious length of 688 pages was a deterrent, so…audio it is. The longest audio book I’ve listened to thus far, great many walks and bike rides in the company of Barry Simcoe, amicable Canadian businessman, who finds himself in Chicago and gets embroiled in a global conspiracy set in a post apocalyptic world where robots rule. That’s right, the singularity took place and not even that far into the future, only some 60 years or so from now. But this is a new world, certainly, completely reshaped politically by the machine overlords who range (like their flesh and blood counterparts) from munificent to malicious. The USA hasn’t fared too well in the fallout and is now partially under foreign occupation. And then there is a plot to possibly end the world as we (well, as they) know it. So Barry’s got a lot going on. And through sheer power of inadvertent heroism he steps up to the plate as it were and delivers. With assistance of newly made friends, both flesh and metal. In fact, the latter, 19 Black Winter, a robotic ambassador whom Barry saves, totally steals the show. But in general, in this book robots do. Steal the show, that is. Because they and the world they remake is so well realized and rendered by the author. In fact world building in this book is off the charts awesome. And there’s a sort of guest narrator Paul the Pirate who explains the minutiae of machines’ functions and complexities of social lives, while throughout the book the complexity of mores and motivations make these robotic creations not only terrifically intricate and fascinating, but also completely personable and even relatable. This isn’t a Terminator style bleak slick one note annihilation and control situation, this is nuanced and clever and very elaborate. So that more or less justifies the bulk on the novel. What disappointed me was the lack of finality in the ending. Figure you get through such a behemoth and there’d be a satisfying resolution, but the author chose to go with a more…possibilities are a plenty sort of thing and thus in the end for every answered question there was at least one unanswered one, for each conspiracy a sublayer and Barry just waltzed off into a new adventure. So obviously there’ll be a sequel or at least more novels set in the same universe. And odds are I’d be interested in checking them out too, because of MacAulty’s writing and imagination alone. Even if this one does leave a reader slightly cheated. The book is structured via electronic data entries by Barry and this epistolary approach seems completely unnecessary for the narration, outside of the fun ads that precede every entry. At first it alternates with Paul the Pirate, but then it’s predominantly Barry with only minor asides from Paul. And Paul is awesome, you kinda wanna hear more from him. AI thinker and ponderer, he meditates of the very nature of artificial intelligence and complex AI made social structures. So yeah…a great adventure with great characters and great ideas. Lots of greatness and much fun to be had with it. The audio narrator did a terrific job, pleasure to listen to. There's a very good chance reading this one would have tired me out, audio was definitely a great choice. And…robots. Very enjoyable read. Recommended for science fiction fans. Also, again…freaking robots. Robots of every kind. So very awesome.
August 2, 2021
ohhhhh boy, this book. It's an interesting book, but I don't think I count it as a good book.
So let's take this in buckets of the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The Good:
The writing is pretty engaging! Despite being >600 pages, I finished it in the matter of a few days.
Good world building! I'd love to read more books in this setting. The author has some fun thoughts about artificial intelligence and a plausible bridge up from humans making AIs to something resembling a singularity. It'd be fun to learn more.
The Bad:
This book reads like a Mary Sue/Marty Stu hero fantasy. Our accidental and plucky protagonist chances upon the plight of the unfortunate (literally from the first page on forward) in scene after scene, and out of his sense of nobility and/or sympathy for others will do literally anything asked of him. And not only will he do anything asked of him, but he will accomplish anything asked of him. No danger or challenge is insurmountable in the face of our protag's wit, charm, perseverance, good fortune or the good-will he's engendered in others.
And to be clear, we're not just talking hero fantasy, but full-on secret-identity super-hero fantasy.
The Ugly:
Just from memory, I can't recall the book passing the Bechdel test. The closest the book comes, as I can recall are a breakfast conversation during which two named women are present, and speak, but only to other male characters, and later in the book, two men having a discussion about a conversation two women with names had, but that's as close as it comes.
Three of the five (human) women who have names and dialogue are another character's love interest. The other two characters have minor roles and participate in barely a handful conversations. (To the author's credit, none of the women are ever damseled)
This book is sodden with Canadian Exceptionalism. As machines take over nations, Canada does it the right way, the sensible way, while other nations fall to machine fascism, or ban AIs outright.
Likewise our Canadian protagonist (charismatic & ethical businessman, conveniently athletic 40-year-old who is irresistible to the ladies, and erudite engineer) is the epitome of the good samaritan willing to help anyone and everyone out of a jam. Doesn't matter if you're four legs & furred, electronic & mechanical, or just bog standard homo sapiens, he'll get it done. If you've just met our protag, well, it's your lucky day! By chance were you shooting at our protag 10 minutes ago, but now find yourself in a scrape? No worries! things are going to work out thanks to his big heartedness! The only ill-will our protag has is for the truly evil, and he's an excellent judge of character.
So let's take this in buckets of the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The Good:
The writing is pretty engaging! Despite being >600 pages, I finished it in the matter of a few days.
Good world building! I'd love to read more books in this setting. The author has some fun thoughts about artificial intelligence and a plausible bridge up from humans making AIs to something resembling a singularity. It'd be fun to learn more.
The Bad:
This book reads like a Mary Sue/Marty Stu hero fantasy. Our accidental and plucky protagonist chances upon the plight of the unfortunate (literally from the first page on forward) in scene after scene, and out of his sense of nobility and/or sympathy for others will do literally anything asked of him. And not only will he do anything asked of him, but he will accomplish anything asked of him. No danger or challenge is insurmountable in the face of our protag's wit, charm, perseverance, good fortune or the good-will he's engendered in others.
And to be clear, we're not just talking hero fantasy, but full-on secret-identity super-hero fantasy.
The Ugly:
Just from memory, I can't recall the book passing the Bechdel test. The closest the book comes, as I can recall are a breakfast conversation during which two named women are present, and speak, but only to other male characters, and later in the book, two men having a discussion about a conversation two women with names had, but that's as close as it comes.
Three of the five (human) women who have names and dialogue are another character's love interest. The other two characters have minor roles and participate in barely a handful conversations. (To the author's credit, none of the women are ever damseled)
This book is sodden with Canadian Exceptionalism. As machines take over nations, Canada does it the right way, the sensible way, while other nations fall to machine fascism, or ban AIs outright.
Likewise our Canadian protagonist (charismatic & ethical businessman, conveniently athletic 40-year-old who is irresistible to the ladies, and erudite engineer) is the epitome of the good samaritan willing to help anyone and everyone out of a jam. Doesn't matter if you're four legs & furred, electronic & mechanical, or just bog standard homo sapiens, he'll get it done. If you've just met our protag, well, it's your lucky day! By chance were you shooting at our protag 10 minutes ago, but now find yourself in a scrape? No worries! things are going to work out thanks to his big heartedness! The only ill-will our protag has is for the truly evil, and he's an excellent judge of character.
July 26, 2019
If Johnny 5 had a baby with the Terminator, the result would be Robots of Gotham: a book that explores the consequences of world domination by our Robot Overlords. (And, lest we forget the badassiest of them, our Robot Overladies.) Drones, dinosaurs, and doggies—with a plague thrown in for good measure!—the barter is banter, and death is cheap. With man against machine, machine against machine, man against man, unlikely alliances must be forged across all species, rational or otherwise. For all its breakneck world-building, constant questing, and relentless wheeling and dealing, Robots of Gotham is deceptively deep-hearted: a novel about, of all things, friendship.
August 16, 2018
(No spoilers.)
In short: An otherwise compelling action story is let down by overly complicated politics.
The good:
* A very believable world, populated by fantastic machines/robots and likeable human beings, all managing to coexist together uncomfortably.
* Nail-bitingly tense action scenes.
* A variety of well-written believable machine characters, all with their own agendas.
* A dark, atmospheric city setting; very "post apocalyptic". (Think 'Fallout', only without the molerats.)
* Great descriptions of futuristic technology.
The Not-so-good:
* Page after page of tedious (and so far as I could see, utterly unnecessary) political machinations. And discussions of political machinations. And theories of political machinations. And plots to combat the political machinations of those doing the political machinations. I've never in my life read a book that had so much political stuff in it. The whole book is made unbearably long because of it, and by the end, you're none the wiser as to what it was all about anyway (or even who was who.) They could have cut this book down by 300 pages and it would have benefited immensely.
* Endless acronyms. It seems every politically minded group or organisation has their own acronym. Pretty soon it's like the ARGT are getting DVDs from the IRA in the UN on the QT without RSVP. It's mental. And very, very tiresome after a while.
* A main character who at first appears to be little more than a paper pusher, but ends up having a skill set that would give a Navy Seal an inferiority complex. I know that a reader has to suspend some belief when reading a work of futuristic fiction, but by the end of this book, the only thing that the protagonist seems to be unable to do is give birth, he's good at soooo much stuff. It just stops being believable. I also had an issue with the way he put himself in danger willingly and recklessly so many times; even with friends in need, the bravest of people will be slow to put themselves in the firing line. It's human preservation. It just felt a little too unreal to me that this guy was willing to throw himself in harm's way every five minutes, but that's only a minor personal annoyance.
Basically, this would have been a fantastic read if a good editor had suggested dropping the political side of things (or drastically cutting it back and simplifying it at least) and concentrating on the action adventure side. Because there is a LOT to like in here, and despite my complaints, I would read a second novel in the series if the whole politics thing was dramatically reduced. It stands up as a great tale without the complicated wranglings.
In short: An otherwise compelling action story is let down by overly complicated politics.
The good:
* A very believable world, populated by fantastic machines/robots and likeable human beings, all managing to coexist together uncomfortably.
* Nail-bitingly tense action scenes.
* A variety of well-written believable machine characters, all with their own agendas.
* A dark, atmospheric city setting; very "post apocalyptic". (Think 'Fallout', only without the molerats.)
* Great descriptions of futuristic technology.
The Not-so-good:
* Page after page of tedious (and so far as I could see, utterly unnecessary) political machinations. And discussions of political machinations. And theories of political machinations. And plots to combat the political machinations of those doing the political machinations. I've never in my life read a book that had so much political stuff in it. The whole book is made unbearably long because of it, and by the end, you're none the wiser as to what it was all about anyway (or even who was who.) They could have cut this book down by 300 pages and it would have benefited immensely.
* Endless acronyms. It seems every politically minded group or organisation has their own acronym. Pretty soon it's like the ARGT are getting DVDs from the IRA in the UN on the QT without RSVP. It's mental. And very, very tiresome after a while.
* A main character who at first appears to be little more than a paper pusher, but ends up having a skill set that would give a Navy Seal an inferiority complex. I know that a reader has to suspend some belief when reading a work of futuristic fiction, but by the end of this book, the only thing that the protagonist seems to be unable to do is give birth, he's good at soooo much stuff. It just stops being believable. I also had an issue with the way he put himself in danger willingly and recklessly so many times; even with friends in need, the bravest of people will be slow to put themselves in the firing line. It's human preservation. It just felt a little too unreal to me that this guy was willing to throw himself in harm's way every five minutes, but that's only a minor personal annoyance.
Basically, this would have been a fantastic read if a good editor had suggested dropping the political side of things (or drastically cutting it back and simplifying it at least) and concentrating on the action adventure side. Because there is a LOT to like in here, and despite my complaints, I would read a second novel in the series if the whole politics thing was dramatically reduced. It stands up as a great tale without the complicated wranglings.
May 22, 2020
Robots of Gotham (ROG) by Todd McAulty, is an original, fascinating and thought provoking SF novel. A lot of reviewers have done an excellent job describing the world building, the history of complex AI Robots and the overall plot of this novel (here and on Amazon), so I won't bother, except to say that a variety of competing AI's are running the entire planet and have vastly altered much of our current political governments (the US has been split into competing regions, along with the rest of the world -humans are often pitted against each other as well as against the ruling AI's. The historical background of how we got to where the story begins is only revelaled very gradually as the story progresses
This book stands like a beacon of originality and intelligent extrapolation in a sea of hackneyed, dull, books which fail to reflect serious thinking on the part of the authors.
ROG grabs your attention and won't let go of you until you finish it. It's truly exciting and very well written. Most of all it is truly original, and creative, the kind of book that you will will keep thinking about years after you have finished it, because it deals with a far more seriously imagined future of autonomous AI, than just about any treatment other than done in books written by Lem. It is worth noting that I'm writing this in the year 2018, a time during which we are just beginning to have a glimpse of what AI is capable of achieving in everyday life.
The book slowly unfolds the technological and political background of the rise of AI Thinking Machines and brings it into present where Barry Simcoe is staying at a hotel in Chicago. One of the negative reviews has complained that the protagonist Barry Simcoe, is just too good a person, but I think that's a fresh new type of character. Let's see how that works out. The characters staying at the hotel are quite interesting, much more like those in non SF books, in the sense that they seem like real people, rather than merely just simple stereotypes.
Several negative reviews begin by saying that this book is very long. Those whose foremost complaint is that the novel is too long generally are people who should not even start to read a book of this length. Complexity is an important feature of real life, so I can readily understand that many people avoid such things in books (complexity is difficult to convey in a very short work), as well as the fact that some events are not fully explained (at least in this first book, which may have a sequel. It is, in my opinion, the complexity as well as some unexplained motivation, or events, that made this novel so attractive, because too many books are over simplistic both with respect to characterization as well as the overall history of a future world.
The use of Gotham in title of this book may lead some readers to think that there is some connection to Batman, which I believe is somewhat misleading.
If you liked ROG, you are likely to also enjoy On My Way to Paradise, and which in my opinion, has a very interesting although very different and complex view of a future.
This book stands like a beacon of originality and intelligent extrapolation in a sea of hackneyed, dull, books which fail to reflect serious thinking on the part of the authors.
ROG grabs your attention and won't let go of you until you finish it. It's truly exciting and very well written. Most of all it is truly original, and creative, the kind of book that you will will keep thinking about years after you have finished it, because it deals with a far more seriously imagined future of autonomous AI, than just about any treatment other than done in books written by Lem. It is worth noting that I'm writing this in the year 2018, a time during which we are just beginning to have a glimpse of what AI is capable of achieving in everyday life.
The book slowly unfolds the technological and political background of the rise of AI Thinking Machines and brings it into present where Barry Simcoe is staying at a hotel in Chicago. One of the negative reviews has complained that the protagonist Barry Simcoe, is just too good a person, but I think that's a fresh new type of character. Let's see how that works out. The characters staying at the hotel are quite interesting, much more like those in non SF books, in the sense that they seem like real people, rather than merely just simple stereotypes.
Several negative reviews begin by saying that this book is very long. Those whose foremost complaint is that the novel is too long generally are people who should not even start to read a book of this length. Complexity is an important feature of real life, so I can readily understand that many people avoid such things in books (complexity is difficult to convey in a very short work), as well as the fact that some events are not fully explained (at least in this first book, which may have a sequel. It is, in my opinion, the complexity as well as some unexplained motivation, or events, that made this novel so attractive, because too many books are over simplistic both with respect to characterization as well as the overall history of a future world.
The use of Gotham in title of this book may lead some readers to think that there is some connection to Batman, which I believe is somewhat misleading.
If you liked ROG, you are likely to also enjoy On My Way to Paradise, and which in my opinion, has a very interesting although very different and complex view of a future.
September 23, 2018
I bought this book nearly sight unseen. The editor is John Joseph Adams, who I have found usually has impeccable taste. Also, the cover art is intriguing and cool. That said, I'm glad I did--this is a fantastic, smart science fiction thriller, and it's on my list of the best books of 2018.
This book takes place in 2083, when artificial intelligence is in full bloom, and the robot population is expanding so rapidly it is on track to surpass the human population. Many countries are now governed (or ruled) by robots. (There is a neat chart on the very first page, the "2083 Sovereignty Matrix," which lists many countries of the world and how they are ruled, whether by Machine Cabals, Elected/Appointed/Hereditary human rulers, or Elected/Hereditary machine government. It's a concise piece of setting and worldbuilding that lets us know right away what we're getting into.) Our protagonist is Barry Simcoe, a blogger/engineer/entrepreneur who, because of his desire to impress a woman and out of his own sense of compassion, gets dragged into a world-changing conspiracy.
The plotting, characterization and worldbuilding in this book is just stellar. The author is a software engineer, so needless to say the robot ecosystem/evolution is well thought out. There are periodic chapters from a robot blogger, "Paul the Pirate," whom Barry reads, that provide crucial background information without dragging down the story. This is not a Terminator/Skynet situation--far from it; the robots are just as individualized as the humans, with their own internal struggles and factions. The book is 675 pages, but doesn't feel like it due to its excellent pacing. I particularly appreciated the fact that the characters aren't stupid or do dumb things because The Plot Demands It. They share information and think and plan as their situation gets more precarious, and the final showdown is a nail-biting confrontation where the characters' loyalty and friendship come through.
This story is pretty self contained, but the world is so fascinating I would love to see the author return to it again, whether with these characters or others. Highly, highly recommended.
This book takes place in 2083, when artificial intelligence is in full bloom, and the robot population is expanding so rapidly it is on track to surpass the human population. Many countries are now governed (or ruled) by robots. (There is a neat chart on the very first page, the "2083 Sovereignty Matrix," which lists many countries of the world and how they are ruled, whether by Machine Cabals, Elected/Appointed/Hereditary human rulers, or Elected/Hereditary machine government. It's a concise piece of setting and worldbuilding that lets us know right away what we're getting into.) Our protagonist is Barry Simcoe, a blogger/engineer/entrepreneur who, because of his desire to impress a woman and out of his own sense of compassion, gets dragged into a world-changing conspiracy.
The plotting, characterization and worldbuilding in this book is just stellar. The author is a software engineer, so needless to say the robot ecosystem/evolution is well thought out. There are periodic chapters from a robot blogger, "Paul the Pirate," whom Barry reads, that provide crucial background information without dragging down the story. This is not a Terminator/Skynet situation--far from it; the robots are just as individualized as the humans, with their own internal struggles and factions. The book is 675 pages, but doesn't feel like it due to its excellent pacing. I particularly appreciated the fact that the characters aren't stupid or do dumb things because The Plot Demands It. They share information and think and plan as their situation gets more precarious, and the final showdown is a nail-biting confrontation where the characters' loyalty and friendship come through.
This story is pretty self contained, but the world is so fascinating I would love to see the author return to it again, whether with these characters or others. Highly, highly recommended.
March 25, 2019
A rousing political thriller set in the near future. Earth now has a mix of human and machine intelligence leaders.
We follow Barry and Sergei as they try to identify who is trying to kill all humanity with a deadly virus.
Soon Barry, Sergei and assorted intelligences are in a race to stop the plot.
Great character development and fast paced plot makes this a GREAT READ
We follow Barry and Sergei as they try to identify who is trying to kill all humanity with a deadly virus.
Soon Barry, Sergei and assorted intelligences are in a race to stop the plot.
Great character development and fast paced plot makes this a GREAT READ
June 19, 2018
A near future USA in a world where machine intelligences have taken over much of the United States as well as the rest of the world is the setting for Robots of Gotham by Todd McAulty. An outstanding debut novel with a well-realized and frighteningly believable world.
The story is told through the eyes of Canadian businessman Barry Simcoe who arrives in Chicago to conduct some business when he finds that the war in Chicago isn’t quite as over as he thought it was. Barry finds himself saving a wounded diplomat robot and befriending a Russian doctor, a Chicago realtor, a Venezuelan soldier and a near-starving dog. If that’s not enough, he stumbles upon a plot that could mean the end of humanity.
If this sounds like a lot going on, it is. But McAulty skillfully plays the story out so that it never feels overwhelming. Barry makes for a great protagonist as he is smart and uncommonly brave. McAulty has created a rich, complex world and he has filled it with compelling characters and a fascinating plot.
The robot and machine characters are painted with the same care as the human characters, giving them depth, wit and purpose -- on both sides of the conflict. The story picks you up from the opening chapter and carries you relentlessly forward until the very end. There are enough twists and surprises to keep you engaged all along the way.
I loved the characters in this book and the world it is set in. The action is exciting and believable. This deserves to be one of the biggest hits of the summer and it is going to make my list for one of the top books of the year. I can’t wait to see where McAulty goes next. One of my favorite reads. Any fan of science fiction, thrillers, or just good writing should pick this up. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.
The story is told through the eyes of Canadian businessman Barry Simcoe who arrives in Chicago to conduct some business when he finds that the war in Chicago isn’t quite as over as he thought it was. Barry finds himself saving a wounded diplomat robot and befriending a Russian doctor, a Chicago realtor, a Venezuelan soldier and a near-starving dog. If that’s not enough, he stumbles upon a plot that could mean the end of humanity.
If this sounds like a lot going on, it is. But McAulty skillfully plays the story out so that it never feels overwhelming. Barry makes for a great protagonist as he is smart and uncommonly brave. McAulty has created a rich, complex world and he has filled it with compelling characters and a fascinating plot.
The robot and machine characters are painted with the same care as the human characters, giving them depth, wit and purpose -- on both sides of the conflict. The story picks you up from the opening chapter and carries you relentlessly forward until the very end. There are enough twists and surprises to keep you engaged all along the way.
I loved the characters in this book and the world it is set in. The action is exciting and believable. This deserves to be one of the biggest hits of the summer and it is going to make my list for one of the top books of the year. I can’t wait to see where McAulty goes next. One of my favorite reads. Any fan of science fiction, thrillers, or just good writing should pick this up. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.
July 5, 2018
I had some reservations about reviewing The Robots Of Gotham. On the one hand, John Joseph Adams, who bought us the amazing apocalypse triptych anthologies The End Is Nigh,The End Is Now,and The End Has Come,has a keen sense of great story-telling. On the other hand, I couldn’t quite square this book as being a genuine apocalypse novel even given that most countries are ruled by machines at the book’s opening.
Still, the premise was intriguing. Plus, there are robots in it.
The Robots Of Gotham opens with a bang, introducing our hero in the middle of his hotel being evacuated, before he’s shot at and almost blown up. Shortly thereafter he meets 19 Black Winter a robot with the Manhattan consulate, and a Russian medic name Sergei, who gets the absolute best lines in the story. Then, when he decides to try to impress a woman, he unwittingly sets in motion a chain of events that lead to the discovery of a deadly contagion, a powerful machine conspiracy, an enigmatic resistance, and a mysterious robot colony hiding underground. The action is breathtaking (even more so considering the main character doesn’t carry a gun), the suspense is pulse-pounding, and the comic relief light enough that when the occasional laugh-out-loud moment comes it doesn’t ruin the experience.
The world of The Robots Of Gotham is well-realised and believable, and the occasional interludes that give us greater insight into our machine overlords add a depth and a richness to the storyline. From AI babies to robot sex (admit it, you were curious) and down to the differing kinds of robot intelligence, you get to learn just enough to keep the storyline going but never really enough to answer all your questions – particularly the new questions that pop up after one of these asides. It’s a measure of how much the story immerses you in this world that those questions largely become unimportant when compared with the self-assured writing that almost turns the pages for you.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Robots Of Gotham. It’s not balls-out, gung-ho action. It’s smarter than that and much more entertaining. The politics are nuanced and the robots aren’t some kind of hive mind – they’re all individuals and not (always) out to enslave or kill all humans. In fact, whether good or evil, the robots are just cool. A lot of the little touches peppered here and there in the narrative lend weight to the overall vision of a civilisation in its days of decline while doing its best to pretend it isn’t happening. The blog entry adverts never failed to make me smile (another of those little touches), and some of the quirkier characters are more endearing that you might expect. Not everything gets tied up neatly though, and the last few chapters have a rushed feel to them. I’m hoping that means there’s going to be a sequel. There just has to be.
Still, the premise was intriguing. Plus, there are robots in it.
The Robots Of Gotham opens with a bang, introducing our hero in the middle of his hotel being evacuated, before he’s shot at and almost blown up. Shortly thereafter he meets 19 Black Winter a robot with the Manhattan consulate, and a Russian medic name Sergei, who gets the absolute best lines in the story. Then, when he decides to try to impress a woman, he unwittingly sets in motion a chain of events that lead to the discovery of a deadly contagion, a powerful machine conspiracy, an enigmatic resistance, and a mysterious robot colony hiding underground. The action is breathtaking (even more so considering the main character doesn’t carry a gun), the suspense is pulse-pounding, and the comic relief light enough that when the occasional laugh-out-loud moment comes it doesn’t ruin the experience.
The world of The Robots Of Gotham is well-realised and believable, and the occasional interludes that give us greater insight into our machine overlords add a depth and a richness to the storyline. From AI babies to robot sex (admit it, you were curious) and down to the differing kinds of robot intelligence, you get to learn just enough to keep the storyline going but never really enough to answer all your questions – particularly the new questions that pop up after one of these asides. It’s a measure of how much the story immerses you in this world that those questions largely become unimportant when compared with the self-assured writing that almost turns the pages for you.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Robots Of Gotham. It’s not balls-out, gung-ho action. It’s smarter than that and much more entertaining. The politics are nuanced and the robots aren’t some kind of hive mind – they’re all individuals and not (always) out to enslave or kill all humans. In fact, whether good or evil, the robots are just cool. A lot of the little touches peppered here and there in the narrative lend weight to the overall vision of a civilisation in its days of decline while doing its best to pretend it isn’t happening. The blog entry adverts never failed to make me smile (another of those little touches), and some of the quirkier characters are more endearing that you might expect. Not everything gets tied up neatly though, and the last few chapters have a rushed feel to them. I’m hoping that means there’s going to be a sequel. There just has to be.
Want to read
April 7, 2018PW Starred: Debut author McAulty, an expert in machine language learning, extrapolates a scary AI-overrun 2083 that’s only a few steps removed from today’s reality. This massive and impressive novel is set in an America that outlawed the development of artificial intelligence and quickly lost a short and bitter war against robot-led fascist countries. Most of America is now occupied by Venezuelan “peacekeeping” forces. The story is narrated tastefully and with self-deprecating humor by Barry Simcoe, a 30-something Canadian CEO recently arrived in Chicago to close some international technology deals. Shocked by what he sees, he immediately plunges into 10 days of complicated rescue sorties against a backdrop of urban devastation and corruption. He saves a wounded diplomat robot, allies himself with a Russian biowarfare specialist who’s developing an antidote for a virus intended to wipe out the human race, and risks his life to adopt a starving Rottweiler. For romantic appeal, he variously saves and is saved by Mackenzie Stronnick, a gorgeous machine-hating Chicago realtor; tough Venezuelan sergeant Noa Van de Velde; and enigmatic masked robot Jacaranda. Though the technology-rich plot loses a bit of its savage verisimilitude as it progresses, McAulty maintains breathless momentum throughout. Readers will hope for more tales of this sinister future and eagerly pick up on hints that Barry and his companions may continue their exploits. (June)
June 30, 2018
This is good stuff, exploring society in a very "Terminator" future after the puny humans make peace with the machines.
As you can imagine, it doesn't go well.
The whole story is a thrilling action flick in book form, with cool robots and conspiracies and things blowing up. Read it while walking in slow-motion away from an explosion.
I'm also very pleased with the extensive backstory, with the 2083 Sovereignty Matrix explaining what countries are ruled by which robots (my home state of Alabama is still ruled by a human! That's a refreshing change (sick burn directed at my own home state.)
One quibble: The title "Robots of Gotham" sounds like it would be an awesome Batman story. The word "Gotham," perhaps, should be off limits. People may expect certain things from such a story. Well, one certain thing.
Granted, if the title gets one person to pick it up thinking "Batman," but delivers robots and conspiracies instead, that's not a bad tradeoff.
As you can imagine, it doesn't go well.
The whole story is a thrilling action flick in book form, with cool robots and conspiracies and things blowing up. Read it while walking in slow-motion away from an explosion.
I'm also very pleased with the extensive backstory, with the 2083 Sovereignty Matrix explaining what countries are ruled by which robots (my home state of Alabama is still ruled by a human! That's a refreshing change (sick burn directed at my own home state.)
One quibble: The title "Robots of Gotham" sounds like it would be an awesome Batman story. The word "Gotham," perhaps, should be off limits. People may expect certain things from such a story. Well, one certain thing.
Granted, if the title gets one person to pick it up thinking "Batman," but delivers robots and conspiracies instead, that's not a bad tradeoff.
April 8, 2023
I read this book because of the author's short post on John Scalzi's blog. It was clever and premised on the idea that artificial intelligence, if realized, would be at risk of exhibiting some of the same foibles as humans. The book was disappointing. The humor was a bit ham-fisted. The robots were so human that they might as well not have been robots.
Besides these specific complaints, the story itself was sorely in need of editing. It was just too long with too many side plots and diversions. A bit of focus would have made it much more readable. Also, the main character was a bit too idealized. It is a virtue to value human life. It is another thing to risk your own to save enemy soldiers of an occupying force who are actively pursuing you with the intent to kill or capture you. Even Canadians aren't that friendly.
Besides these specific complaints, the story itself was sorely in need of editing. It was just too long with too many side plots and diversions. A bit of focus would have made it much more readable. Also, the main character was a bit too idealized. It is a virtue to value human life. It is another thing to risk your own to save enemy soldiers of an occupying force who are actively pursuing you with the intent to kill or capture you. Even Canadians aren't that friendly.
June 19, 2018
The robopocalypse is coming in Todd McAulty’s futuristic scifi tome, The Robots Of Gotham. 🤖
📚
The Robots Of Gotham is a heavy tale of a terrifying future, with incredibly detailed world building and covert missions that will have you holding your breath in anticipation.
📚
My full review is here: geeksofdoom.com/2018/06/19/book-review-robots-of-gotham
📚
The Robots Of Gotham is a heavy tale of a terrifying future, with incredibly detailed world building and covert missions that will have you holding your breath in anticipation.
📚
My full review is here: geeksofdoom.com/2018/06/19/book-review-robots-of-gotham
Read
July 7, 2018It’s near future America, in a world where machine intelligence has mostly taken over. In Chicago, one man finds himself unexpectedly at the center of a conspiracy that threatens to raze the world. This 30-something businessman, Barry Simcoe, forges an unlikely alliance with a Russian doctor, a Venezuelan soldier, a half-dead dog, and a suave diplomat robot to prevent a medical apocalypse and machine domination.
In this explosive debut, Todd McAulty takes the well-explored theme of man vs. machine and blows it out of the park. Though it’s a hefty tome, finishing at nearly 700 pages, the plot carries relentlessly along from one high-charged sequence to the next. The cinematic quality and tasteful dialogue never loses its momentum, and is supported by a believable take on AI. Whether robot or human, every character is crafted with equal care, and the well-realized setting of urban devastation lends a sinister air.
This is an excellent example of epic sci-fi, with a perfect balance of action and exposition that never overwhelms. There are promising hints concerning Barry and friends’ future exploits! -AD
Click here to place a hold: The Robots of Gotham .
Following the same "rise of the machines" theme, try another engaging and textured sci-fi thriller: Robopocalpyse by Daniel H. Wilson.
In this explosive debut, Todd McAulty takes the well-explored theme of man vs. machine and blows it out of the park. Though it’s a hefty tome, finishing at nearly 700 pages, the plot carries relentlessly along from one high-charged sequence to the next. The cinematic quality and tasteful dialogue never loses its momentum, and is supported by a believable take on AI. Whether robot or human, every character is crafted with equal care, and the well-realized setting of urban devastation lends a sinister air.
This is an excellent example of epic sci-fi, with a perfect balance of action and exposition that never overwhelms. There are promising hints concerning Barry and friends’ future exploits! -AD
Click here to place a hold: The Robots of Gotham .
Following the same "rise of the machines" theme, try another engaging and textured sci-fi thriller: Robopocalpyse by Daniel H. Wilson.
January 14, 2019
If you want to read a good male centric, machine filled, explosion heavy science fiction novel that is not misogynistic, "The Robots of Gotham" is your baby.
I say that kind of as a joke. I reviewed another novel here a while ago that was all about science fiction boys and their toys, blowing' stuff up, and it treated women as Barbie dolls and arm candy.
The women on this book were real women, unless they were machines.
Anyway, this was an enjoyable romp through a future post apocalyptic Chicago, with different militaries battling for control of what's left of the former US, some of those armies run by machine intelligences. Our hero is a Canadian journalist (I think), who gets caught up in all this by accident, and ends up proving his worth in amazing ways.
I loved it. Although the story had a definite ending, the author left the possibility open for either a sequel or short story or novellas to follow. From the buzz among my sf friends, there is a demand for it.
I say that kind of as a joke. I reviewed another novel here a while ago that was all about science fiction boys and their toys, blowing' stuff up, and it treated women as Barbie dolls and arm candy.
The women on this book were real women, unless they were machines.
Anyway, this was an enjoyable romp through a future post apocalyptic Chicago, with different militaries battling for control of what's left of the former US, some of those armies run by machine intelligences. Our hero is a Canadian journalist (I think), who gets caught up in all this by accident, and ends up proving his worth in amazing ways.
I loved it. Although the story had a definite ending, the author left the possibility open for either a sequel or short story or novellas to follow. From the buzz among my sf friends, there is a demand for it.
August 27, 2018
In my limited readings of artificial intelligence fiction, this is a stand out. It is a character and plot driven novel of about 600 pages. It has somewhat the flavor of the Murderbot novels in that the AI is given definite human emotions but in contrast The Robots of Gotham is narrated thru a human protagonist rather than an AI. I enjoyed it tremendously and look forward hopefully to a quickly coming sequel.
There are important unanswered questions here Todd McAulty, and your characters and readers deserve to have them answered. Indeed, Barry Simcoe, as you wrote him, would insist on answers. So you have captured us and via Hayduk style the wait is tortuous so Suit up (pun intended, read the book and you will understand) and, deliver the sequel. "Yeah, let's find out."
There are important unanswered questions here Todd McAulty, and your characters and readers deserve to have them answered. Indeed, Barry Simcoe, as you wrote him, would insist on answers. So you have captured us and via Hayduk style the wait is tortuous so Suit up (pun intended, read the book and you will understand) and, deliver the sequel. "Yeah, let's find out."
July 14, 2018
An amazing book! I couldn't put it down. A creative and well-crafted narrative, thrilling twists, killer tech, and engaging characters. One of the best books I've read this year. If you like sci-fi, consider this book. The description sounds a bit dystopian; that can be hit or miss in my opinion. This was the perfect blend of crazy things happening in a not-so-distant-future where the world has cascaded to the brink of destruction and now struggles to find new social and political footing. Surprisingly light-hearted and optimistic, the protagonist stumbles along with surprising and refreshingly good luck as a war-torn Chicago of the future hangs in the balance.
July 7, 2018
It’s near future America, in a world where machine intelligence has mostly taken over. In Chicago, one man finds himself unexpectedly at the center of a conspiracy that threatens to raze the world. This 30-something businessman, Barry Simcoe, forges an unlikely alliance with a Russian doctor, a Venezuelan soldier, a half-dead dog, and a suave diplomat robot to prevent a medical apocalypse and machine domination.
In this explosive debut, Todd McAulty takes the well-explored theme of man vs. machine and blows it out of the park. Though it’s a hefty tome, finishing at nearly 700 pages, the plot carries relentlessly along from one high-charged sequence to the next. The cinematic quality and tasteful dialogue never loses its momentum, and is supported by a believable take on AI. Whether robot or human, every character is crafted with equal care, and the well-realized setting of urban devastation lends a sinister air.
This is an excellent example of epic sci-fi, with a perfect balance of action and exposition that never overwhelms. There are promising hints concerning Barry and friends’ future exploits!
In this explosive debut, Todd McAulty takes the well-explored theme of man vs. machine and blows it out of the park. Though it’s a hefty tome, finishing at nearly 700 pages, the plot carries relentlessly along from one high-charged sequence to the next. The cinematic quality and tasteful dialogue never loses its momentum, and is supported by a believable take on AI. Whether robot or human, every character is crafted with equal care, and the well-realized setting of urban devastation lends a sinister air.
This is an excellent example of epic sci-fi, with a perfect balance of action and exposition that never overwhelms. There are promising hints concerning Barry and friends’ future exploits!
November 16, 2018
Held my interest. A miracle.
It’s hard to keep my interest but this new author did it. Even though I listened to it in my car it was still a good read. It helped that the narrator was really interesting. But it was more than that. I was rooting for the main character. Even though dystopian futures piss me off and bore me, the characters helped draw me in. Give this one a go. I actually looked for a sequel. Not one as of 2018. Maybe he should call the next one Slater Core.
It’s hard to keep my interest but this new author did it. Even though I listened to it in my car it was still a good read. It helped that the narrator was really interesting. But it was more than that. I was rooting for the main character. Even though dystopian futures piss me off and bore me, the characters helped draw me in. Give this one a go. I actually looked for a sequel. Not one as of 2018. Maybe he should call the next one Slater Core.
August 12, 2018
An action packed book from start to finish. Hold on to your hats, because it’s entertaining and thought provoking
October 12, 2018
Now this was fun!
675 pages or so, & I found it hard to put down & just torched through it!
Aside from the usual East Coast collapsing scenario, (interesting how much of a theme this is in dystopias, almost as if the rest of the country kinda resents us) there were a lot of novel concepts.
675 pages or so, & I found it hard to put down & just torched through it!
Aside from the usual East Coast collapsing scenario, (interesting how much of a theme this is in dystopias, almost as if the rest of the country kinda resents us) there were a lot of novel concepts.
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