Robots, Please

by Jared Bentley

144 pages, Paperback

Published February 21, 2025

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the way author Jared Bentley uses this anthology to explore humanity through inhuman subjects. Each interconnected story in this collection offers a snapshot of a different time period within Bentley's imagined future, a future in which robots and AI slowly take over humanity, and ultimately emulate it. Some stories are poignant, some laugh-out-loud funny, and some are both. Though these tales pay homage to other sci-fi masters, from Orwell to even Stephen King, Bentley has created a unique and genuinely fresh world that casts a new spin on a topic that is all too important as AI looms large in our own reality. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection, and I am excited to read its rumored sequel!

[Timmy BOOKS! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book by Jared Bentley. The style of building a world with a bunch of semi-connected shorter stories instead of one longer narrative reminds me of Tales from the Perilous Realm by Tolkien. That book is definitely less cohesive, but the style is overall quite similar. I particularly liked the progression of SKYL-R bot's story and the recurring bit of Sheers glorious return to ops.

The themes covered remind me a bit of Meditations on Moloch, which is an analysis of the famous poem about Moloch by Allen Ginsberg. In it the author writes on greed, human ambition, capitalism, and the issues of modern society's drive for endless competition. Similarity, this book touches on many of the same ideas while presenting them in a new, unique way.

I found this book to be an interesting anthology that covers deep themes with a fun twist. Through a future world where humans and robots must learn to live with each other, the author explores not only present issues, but what might happen when we’re not the only intelligent species on this planet.

[Sheila Shotwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robots, Please was a delightful read. I have no background whatsoever in anything related to robotics, but I was still able to fully appreciate and enjoy it. Right from the start it's a vivid exploration of what the future of our AI world could possibly be. I was especially intrigued by the human qualities that the robots possessed and that made it very palatable for the non-robotic me. What kept the whole book going, however, was the author's clever weaving of the possible repercussions that our current world might have on the the future of this world and beyond.

[Emily Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jared Bentley's Robots, Please gives the rare glimpse into humanity from the view of robot civilization. He does really well with the continuity throughout the series of short stories and his use of gripping tie-ins to modern day themes compells the reader to invest in his characters. This is a win for Bentley, I can't wait to see what he comes out with next.

[Lisa Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a new genre for me but it is something that has my attention. The writing is very clever and fun.
But not all stories will hit the same and I think that's just to keep you sucked in and wondering what the next story will be. I really like the repeating characters and how they follow the different story lines.

[Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a short book of short stories about robots and humans in society together. Full of humor and lessons, it was a nice quick enjoyable read

[Will Grove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, quick, unique, futuristic stories.

[Khalil Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant surprise! When I first started this book, I didn’t know that it was short stories, which is not something I would typically read but I loved it and I’m excited for more. It’s funny and thrilling at times, some stories I thought were kind of scary but every one I enjoyed! Each story is its own but they are all in the same world and connect!

I got a chance to talk to the author about this book and it made me appreciate the book a lot more, I think I’ll read it again before the second one drops!