Fremont and Sidney: A Story About a Bot and Its Boy

by Thomas Wilson

Awakening

Buried under an ancient battlefield and left for scrap, Combat Reconnaissance Robot N804rL awoke to a world it didn't understand. The heavily damaged quantum machine needed answers. On its quest for clarity, a teen boy named Sidney, a runaway girl named Twila, and a domestic service robot named Khalid join the adventure to make sense of it all.

In this clean, faith-friendly story, these unlikely friends fight against greedy gangsters, corrupt politicians, and a crumbling society in desperate need of a fresh start.

Fremont and Sidney is a fast-paced tale that takes an honest look at overcoming adversity--even when it hurts.

199 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2022

About the author

1832-1902

Reviews

[Peter Younghusband · Rating 4 out of 5]

I volunteered to review this novel upon the author offering free copies. I like to support debut authors by reading their novels and promoting them on this blog through various means other than a review.

This is one very entertaining novel. I can see young adults loving this tale and those who like a coming of age theme. Wilson definitely knows how to tell a story! It is well-constructed. I felt as if I was in this futuristic world of many decades in our future. Very regimented and almost like Big Brother is watching and tracking you if you break a law. It is not a life that I would like to live in but there are some hints that our modern society is heading towards this.

Readers will find themselves endeared to Sidney and Twila. Maybe out of empathy that they are street kids and have suffered the loss of their parents and/or siblings and forging a life on the streets in a system and society that neglects them and pretends they don't exist. I was also endeared to Angie, Twila's case worker. The only bright hope that there is at least a few people around that do care and what to see their charges in a safe and secure place with the resources at her disposable.

I can also see readers taking a liking to Fremont, despite this robot being an AI (artificial intelligence). Or is it also that the bots in this novel are deemed as sentient beings?

Wilson explains how the robots became "tethered". Why is it, that I can see this happening in our future? We seem to be afraid or technology running amok and taking over our lives, but on the other hand, we seem to be embracing technology and slowly accepting how it impacts on these same lives. Even the younger generations cannot cope when the Internet is down, or they are denied access for whatever reason. And Heaven forbid, that they lose or misplace their phone!! Their world has come to an end!! However, those young readers of this series will be jealous how every person has access to the Internet and "screens" whether you are a street kid or the elite (wealthy).

It is on this subject of sentient AIs, that Wilson explores that they could be the recipient of the saving grace of God. Although the scene where Fremont accepts the invitation of an Altar Call during a Church type service, it is not defined that he accepted God's offer of salvation. From that scene onwards, Fremont seems to add Biblical verses and even Biblical wisdom. So what did happen when Hattie prayed over Fremont? 

Hattie began to teach. She talked about good news and Jesus of Nazareth and the Great Commission and missionaries around the world. Sidney checked, and rechecked, his screen. Toward the end of the talk, Ms. Hattie invited people forward to receive prayer. Sidney was grateful because that meant she was almost done (the woman sure could talk). N804rL rose and started clunking down the aisle. every eye in the group was on the robot. Sidney was horrified. 

Ms. Hattie looked confused when the machine approached but listened as the Corebot leaned close and spoke. Sidney watched as she nodded her head affirmatively, placed her hand on the robot's back, and started to pray. She paused and appreared to ask the robot a question. The machine seemed to answer. Sidney wondered what was going on. Hattie prayed again. 

The robot lifted its arm, palm up, about waist high. A man, who appeared to be homeless, wiped tears from his eyes as he watched the scene. A woman to Sidney's left leaned in and asked, "What's your robot doing?"

Sidney answered, "Praying, I think."

"What kind of robot prays?" the woman replied. 

"A broken one," Sidney said.

When N804rL returned, Sidney hustled the unit out the door. Hattie's gaze followed them. 

"What was all that about?" the teen asked. 

"I have new mission parameters," said the bot.

Wilson is being very game here suggesting/implying that an AI (albeit sentient, but who defines this?) can become a true Christian. It pushes the boundary of Biblical theory on this. I can see much debate happening here. This review is not the arena for this. However, it would be interesting to see why Wilson has gone down this path. But, it could be seen as if Fremont's "conversion" may just be that the bot has been upgraded to being a spiritual repository of Biblical wisdom and encouragement, a supernatural App integrated into his core processors. 

Despite this, Wilson has embedded other Biblical themes in this novel and it seems that this will be continued in future volumes. To quote him: 

I wanted to offer an exploration of coming of age and coming to faith where things aren’t tidy--kind of like real life. The redemptive storyline plays out over the entire series, not just book one.

I did appreciate the humour that Wilson has included. Here is an example, when Sidney meets Fremont (N804rL):

"Do not be afraid," N804rL spoke. 

"Wwhatt, what?" Sidney replied. 

"We come in peace," the Corebot continued. "And I'm sorry to say, somewhat in pieces

Wilson has identified a method of communication here, in including humour. Teenagers and young adults keep their attention engaged when humour is added. I bet Wilson could not restrain himself from adding this familiar one-liner when it came to Sidney meeting Fremont. What better phrase than, "We come in peace,". Let me guess, Wilson has always wanted to say that? :)

The different story arcs all come together at the end and are tied up nicely, however, the foundation is laid for what is going to happen in Book 2 relating to Twila, which leads to the title of the next novel, Twila and Fremont: A Story About a Girl and Her Bot (The Corebot Trilogy Book 2) (to be published on March 20).

I do enjoy a story about teenagers or young adults being the underdog, outsmarting corrupt and devious adults who have nefarious motivations. Throw in a couple of wannabes as well and you have suspense, action and adventure and entertainment. Wilson has done this well and I look forward to this continuing in the next novels (that are confirmed, Book 3 will later in 2022). The end of this story arc adds further questioning of why people are the way they are, why they make others suffer, take advantage of them and I am sure this will be further explored in Book 2. As Sidney states, 

"The world is really broken, Fremont!"

And again, Fremont answers with some Biblical wisdom and encouragement to Sidney from the Biblical book of Lamentations (Ch 3: 19-22) authored by Jeremiah. Very appropriate to Sidney despair over the state of the world and the broken nature of the human race. 

The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.

This author has a strong entry into the arena of Christian fiction. I am sure it will be a hit with teens and young adults. 

[Dave Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. My intent was to read this one in small bites while working on some other projects, but before long I couldn't put it down. The author does something really incredible here. He writes a solid science fiction novel that speaks of faith without being preachy or off the mark theologically. Further the author combines a story from a dystopian future that still manages to be really uplifting and hopeful. It's a story about a teen who finds a discarded salvage robot from a bygone war and together do battle against hostile governments, gangsters and more. This book is pretty much good clean fun and if you're a sci-fi fan I highly recommend it.

[David Bergsland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining speculation with a Christian religious portion

This a an entertaining read. The speculation about AI warrior bots is not too far off. The idea that these AI warriors can be a true believer with saving knowledge pushes a bit beyond reality, to me.

[James Merritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice clean story, engaging characters and some interesting concepts. It's a good 'unlikely hero' story, and moves at a good pace. I liked the way he described the robot characters added to their character over time. The post-US political world is an interesting addition.

The dark parts aren't too dark. The battle scenes are plentiful and well written. It would fit well with those who like Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game Universe. There were some good similarities there. I liked it.