Guestion for readers - Robot VS Android?

[Dennis]

Robot VS Android
We just got some feedback from our beta readers, as usual, it was constructive and insightful. Thanks beta readers.

I have two questions and I’m hoping for some comments from the Goodreads book club members.

The book is futuristic, there are humanlike house helpers and then there are the “mechs” who definitely don’t look human, they can be spiderlike or snakelike, etc. A beta read thinks we should call them all androids, we are calling them all robots.

1 – Would it be confusing to you, the reader if we called some robots (the mechs) and some androids (the humanlike)?

2 – Is the term android as popular/recognizable a term as robot for the general reader?

The book is the Neuromorphs [http://dennismeredith.com/the-neuromo...] and please note I do not add the link for promotion, just if you need/want more information.

Regards,

Joni
Joanne Meredith
editor@glyphus.com

[G.G.]

To me, it makes sense to call the ones who look like humans androids. When I see android, I see an ultra sophisticated humanlike machine able to think and do things for themselves.

If I see the word robot, for me it can mean anything from sophisticated machine to kid toys, but if I see robot for human (android) I definitely don't see a humanlike machine but rather a metallized machine...kind of the difference between terminator with a human face (Android) and terminator without its skin (sophisticated robot).

But that's just me. I may not be the best to answer this question since I am a huge fan of science fiction. As long as you are clear from the beginning, your readers should adjust to what you call the robots/androids without a problem.

[Dennis]

GG,

Thanks for your wonderful comments. As an independent publisher we rely on our beta readers and book club members like you to let us know what we are doing right and what we need to do differently. We really do listen!

Thanks so much,
Joni
editor@glyphus.com