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The Other Kind of Life
THE THING THEY SAID COULDN'T HAPPEN, HAPPENED.
Fresh out of jail, Max finds himself drawn into the mystery of what's gone wrong with the robots in his city. He's forced to rely on the help of Jennifer/Andrew, a body hopping robot driven to solve the case before her product line is recalled.
They need to figure out what went wrong while staying one step ahead of the corporations, gangsters, and crooked cops that are hunting them across the city.
- GenresScience Fiction
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 27, 2018
6 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Shamus Young
6 books18 followersShamus Young is a programmer specializing in old-school graphics techniques. He's the author of the blog Twenty Sided. He's the creator of the webcomics DM of the Rings and Stolen Pixels. He's one of the hosts of the videogame commentary series Spoiler Warning. He's tired of writing about himself in the third person.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 16, 2021
I could say “gritty Issac Asimov” and you’d be most of the way there. Maybe I’ll say “Rivers of London” to get you some of the rest of way. But honestly what got me to keep reading this book was the architecture trivia. Rivergate isn’t even a real city, but its architectural history is fascinating.
Then, yeah, there’s robots killing people and a criminal (famous for a robot-related heist) has to figure out why. There’s a very good discussion of AI and automation, and the with just enough of the protagonist’s cynicism to throw the author’s compassion into relief. There’s also surprising, sly humor, which I enjoyed. I look forward to reading Young’s next book.
Then, yeah, there’s robots killing people and a criminal (famous for a robot-related heist) has to figure out why. There’s a very good discussion of AI and automation, and the with just enough of the protagonist’s cynicism to throw the author’s compassion into relief. There’s also surprising, sly humor, which I enjoyed. I look forward to reading Young’s next book.
August 3, 2021
Dithering between 3.5 and 4 stars - I'm trying to avoid 1/2 stars though so I'll give him the benefit! The story was nothing exceptional - a pretty standard whodunit with no great surprises or twists. However it was really just a framework for the exploration of generalised AI, meaning human-like rather than the "intelligent" phone systems etc we have now. I loved the light but gritty tone, sort of realpolitik with corruption everywhere and Our Hero just trying to navigate everyday life and solve the murders without treading on the wrong toes - and having to figure out whose toes are involved! There was some really good musing on AI, which Young worked in well with the plot. The protagonist's partner is a latest-generation human-like robot, and the murders are being committed by robots so there are many conversations about how this could happen and what "AI" is. There was a great little aside where he thinks you shouldn't give cars too much intelligence or they'd get bored waiting around in garages! Anyway, although these conversations are clearly the author expounding his own ideas, they fit in well with the plot. He also mostly avoided the common trap of having a character's limitations come and go at the whim of the plot. The robot partner was always a robot with certain limitations that are always present. And the limitations were interesting, eg its visual processing wasn't that good, and mentally it's very straightforward, no hidden agenda or subterfuge. I also really liked the author's ideas about how robots would behave with humans - no need for Asimov's 3 laws, protecting humans is a fundamental part of their make-up. As his partner put it, they'd no more harm a human than the average human would kill and eat a baby.
The world-building was pretty good, a future version of earth, with true self driving cars that worked just how I'd like them to, and union problems with robots taking over all the menial infrastructure tasks. Just one major fail, IMO, which was early in the book. Everyone uses "handhelds", i.e. smartphones, for everything (just like we do now). But here your finances and ID are tied to your handheld - also just like now but much more overtly. So he has to get a sort of "burner" handheld as he needs to go undercover. But he still carries his "real" handheld around, and then wonders how his employers are tracking him. D'uh! His robot partner has to explain to him that even though he turned it off, it's not really "off" (double d'uh!). I get that he's not tech savvy, but everyone knows your phone is always tracking you. Luckily he fixes this quickly and we get to move on, but it was really annoying. My only other quibble is that there were a few too many typos, of the type spellcheck doesn't catch.
Overall, a fun, quick read with a good journey and ending.
The world-building was pretty good, a future version of earth, with true self driving cars that worked just how I'd like them to, and union problems with robots taking over all the menial infrastructure tasks. Just one major fail, IMO, which was early in the book. Everyone uses "handhelds", i.e. smartphones, for everything (just like we do now). But here your finances and ID are tied to your handheld - also just like now but much more overtly. So he has to get a sort of "burner" handheld as he needs to go undercover. But he still carries his "real" handheld around, and then wonders how his employers are tracking him. D'uh! His robot partner has to explain to him that even though he turned it off, it's not really "off" (double d'uh!). I get that he's not tech savvy, but everyone knows your phone is always tracking you. Luckily he fixes this quickly and we get to move on, but it was really annoying. My only other quibble is that there were a few too many typos, of the type spellcheck doesn't catch.
Overall, a fun, quick read with a good journey and ending.
January 21, 2019
An enjoyable mix of some light-cyberpunk sf with a light-noir mystery. Good characters, good story, and some light musing on the nature of AI which shows the author has put some thought into it. He takes us deeper than the usual "3 laws" version, and for all that it's clearly speculation - since we don't have AI yet - his speculation rings true, and is consistent with my 20-year-old grasp of the research.
The story is set in a fictional country in the near-future modern world, and occasionally tries just a little too hard to remain Nowhere You Know. The fact that the local language is only ever referred to as "Local". The fact that this is clearly a big enough place that, if it did exist in the modern world, we'd know about it. Not a big deal, but it feels like it might have been a bit less jarring to just set it in a real country; maybe he couldn't find a place with the right mix of history to suit his story.
Also be aware that a lot of the description of how AI works in his world firmly breaks the old adage "show, don't tell" - because honestly, how would you show the internal processes of an AI? But while I don't see how it could have been done otherwise, that still leaves you with some rather prolonged sequences of listening to one character lecture another on how stuff works. Interesting stuff, but still a bit lecturey. Overall though, it serves to support the plot, and doesn't detract from the mystery investigation. Bravo Shamus; a well-spun tale!
The story is set in a fictional country in the near-future modern world, and occasionally tries just a little too hard to remain Nowhere You Know. The fact that the local language is only ever referred to as "Local". The fact that this is clearly a big enough place that, if it did exist in the modern world, we'd know about it. Not a big deal, but it feels like it might have been a bit less jarring to just set it in a real country; maybe he couldn't find a place with the right mix of history to suit his story.
Also be aware that a lot of the description of how AI works in his world firmly breaks the old adage "show, don't tell" - because honestly, how would you show the internal processes of an AI? But while I don't see how it could have been done otherwise, that still leaves you with some rather prolonged sequences of listening to one character lecture another on how stuff works. Interesting stuff, but still a bit lecturey. Overall though, it serves to support the plot, and doesn't detract from the mystery investigation. Bravo Shamus; a well-spun tale!
February 23, 2019
I am really torn about this, because there was a lot of potential and some pretty cool characters, but ultimately things fell apart a bit due to over-attention to some details and missing wide-swaths of other stuff, and a lack of internal consistency that betrayed some of the fundamentals that would have someone read the book to its conclusion.
The overall scenario played out in a way that I was almost waiting for one more plot twist, because much was made of how certain things were difficult to the point of impossible and in some cases intentionally so, and yet there was one element that trivialized the dozens of pages spent laying out the technological basis. That conflict made things frustrating by the end.
But the biggest issue was with the main character. Without spoiling, there was considerable time spent on developing the character of Max. Through exposition, actions, and conversations primarily with Jen, we learn a lot about who this person was and now is, what motivates him, where he has boundaries, strengths and weaknesses and so on ...
All of that holds together very well through the first 95% of the book, and is then tossed aside in a way that betrays the entire rest of the book, and left me ending the book thinking 'well crap'. My actual 'score' would be 2.5/5 if that was possible ... better than two stars but with too many fundamental issues for me to recommend it.
The overall scenario played out in a way that I was almost waiting for one more plot twist, because much was made of how certain things were difficult to the point of impossible and in some cases intentionally so, and yet there was one element that trivialized the dozens of pages spent laying out the technological basis. That conflict made things frustrating by the end.
But the biggest issue was with the main character. Without spoiling, there was considerable time spent on developing the character of Max. Through exposition, actions, and conversations primarily with Jen, we learn a lot about who this person was and now is, what motivates him, where he has boundaries, strengths and weaknesses and so on ...
All of that holds together very well through the first 95% of the book, and is then tossed aside in a way that betrays the entire rest of the book, and left me ending the book thinking 'well crap'. My actual 'score' would be 2.5/5 if that was possible ... better than two stars but with too many fundamental issues for me to recommend it.
January 30, 2019
Old-school Sci-fi for a Modern Audience
This is an amazing book. It has the sensibilities of old-school hard sci-fi, while keeping it interesting for a modern audience. It manages to explore serious and very technical questions in such an engaging and approachable way, that it's hard to put the book down. Questions like the nature of AI, how it interacts with us, what intelligence is, the nature of crime, and many others, are all explored in a very understandable way.
A noir cyberpunk aesthetic is used to tie it all together. And even though this is an inherently dreary aesthetic, there are enough jokes to keep it from getting too depressing.
I usually have problems with detective stories, because I don't get a lot of time to read these days, and I quickly get lost in all the things I have to keep track of. This one, however, is very easy to follow while not being at all obvious.
My only problem with the book is that it's written in present tense, but a couple of chapters in, it's not as annoying. Another gripe I have is that some of the villains aren't given the proper build-up, but fortunately there aren't that many scenes with them, so they don't detract from the incredible plot.
This is an amazing book. It has the sensibilities of old-school hard sci-fi, while keeping it interesting for a modern audience. It manages to explore serious and very technical questions in such an engaging and approachable way, that it's hard to put the book down. Questions like the nature of AI, how it interacts with us, what intelligence is, the nature of crime, and many others, are all explored in a very understandable way.
A noir cyberpunk aesthetic is used to tie it all together. And even though this is an inherently dreary aesthetic, there are enough jokes to keep it from getting too depressing.
I usually have problems with detective stories, because I don't get a lot of time to read these days, and I quickly get lost in all the things I have to keep track of. This one, however, is very easy to follow while not being at all obvious.
My only problem with the book is that it's written in present tense, but a couple of chapters in, it's not as annoying. Another gripe I have is that some of the villains aren't given the proper build-up, but fortunately there aren't that many scenes with them, so they don't detract from the incredible plot.
February 5, 2019
A sci-fi noir, light on cyberpunk and heavy on AI speculation. Max, a recently-released techno-thief criminal, falls headfirst into a robot murder conspiracy, one that involves foreign governments, corrupt police, mega-casinos, underground hackers, and body-hopping artificial intelligences. The author, whose works I have been following for a long time, loves to ask of fictional settings 'But what do they eat?", and if you have ever looked at a sci-fi video game, movie, or book and felt that there were some plot-essential questions that weren't being answered, you will not get that in this book. The book's plot is driven by robot AI, and oh man does it answer every question you might have about it, and it remains a fun read with all that in mind. Thoroughly believable and immensely enjoyable.
November 4, 2023
I liked it. Good worldbuilding and interesting insights into robotics/AI. Very good for a self-published novel.
From a feminist perspective, it's a mixed bag. There was one cliche that was subverted, to describe it would be to spoil the story, so I'll just say it was a pleasant surprise. On the negative end:
- there was one character that reminded me of https://www.viruscomix.com/page330.html
- it failed the bechdel test
From a feminist perspective, it's a mixed bag. There was one cliche that was subverted, to describe it would be to spoil the story, so I'll just say it was a pleasant surprise. On the negative end:
- there was one character that reminded me of https://www.viruscomix.com/page330.html
- it failed the bechdel test
November 11, 2024
I found this book fun, thought-provoking, deep, and all sorts of other good things. Shamus builds a fascinating world deep enough to handle his commentary on AI as he shows many sides of the arguments for and against it. It's not so deep nor dense that you get lost in it, so that makes it a good read. I might have liked some other POV characters, but Max the protagonist was entertaining enough to follow all the way through.
January 24, 2019
This is a tough one.
On the one hand, I enjoyed the setting and the characters and the plot and a lot of the little touches that fleshed out the world this book was set in.
On the other hand, I absolutely fucking hated that the book was written in the third person present tense. It was so jarring, and so weird that it constantly kept breaking me out of the story.
On the one hand, I enjoyed the setting and the characters and the plot and a lot of the little touches that fleshed out the world this book was set in.
On the other hand, I absolutely fucking hated that the book was written in the third person present tense. It was so jarring, and so weird that it constantly kept breaking me out of the story.
January 25, 2019
Worth Reading
A really intesting book that I couldn't put down. A bit self-indulgent in but in all the right ways, going off on interesting tangents and explaining the setting in a little more detail than you'd expect. It was actually a little disappointing when things got a bit more linear and quickly resolved towards the end, but it was still a great book!
A really intesting book that I couldn't put down. A bit self-indulgent in but in all the right ways, going off on interesting tangents and explaining the setting in a little more detail than you'd expect. It was actually a little disappointing when things got a bit more linear and quickly resolved towards the end, but it was still a great book!
February 8, 2019
Intelligent and riveting.
Usually, when robots are involved in literature, it's the same old story retold with updated technology. This book approaches machine intelligence with actual intelligence, leaving you with believable characters, intriguing actions, and a remarkably engaging setting. The story is also a great blend of detective mystery and crime drama.
Usually, when robots are involved in literature, it's the same old story retold with updated technology. This book approaches machine intelligence with actual intelligence, leaving you with believable characters, intriguing actions, and a remarkably engaging setting. The story is also a great blend of detective mystery and crime drama.
December 7, 2018
More of an SF noir than cyber punk
As I hoped and expected, the world of the book is consistent and believable, the characters are full dimensional with relatable motivations and actions. I would very much like to see a sequel or related story from this setting.
As I hoped and expected, the world of the book is consistent and believable, the characters are full dimensional with relatable motivations and actions. I would very much like to see a sequel or related story from this setting.
January 26, 2019
Sci-fi noir
An instant classic of gritty streets and clever dialogue wrapped up in a shiny science fiction mystery that leaves the reader wanting more
An instant classic of gritty streets and clever dialogue wrapped up in a shiny science fiction mystery that leaves the reader wanting more
March 4, 2019
Philosophy as thriller
Young does a great job of contemplating the ethics and contradictions inherent in AI and robots by wrapping the whole thing in a compelling story
Young does a great job of contemplating the ethics and contradictions inherent in AI and robots by wrapping the whole thing in a compelling story
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews