Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library discussion
Need advice of club members RE: Robot VS Android
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Dennis wrote: "Robot VS AndroidWe 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 ..."
Android tends to mean human-like and robot can be any mechanical device. However, androids mimic a look like a human, while a robot does not. Ex: Mr Data from Start Trek Next Generation is an android. C3PO from Star Wars is a robot. there are those that will argue that C3PO is an android due to his humor and human like affectations. The difference to me is that C3PO would never be mistaken for anything other than a robot. C3PO would be in the same class as the B-9 Model of Robot from the old Lost in Space TV series or Robbie the Robot of Forbidden Planet fame.
As important, Androids always are human appearing and robots do not have to be at all depending on the task they are designed to perform.
Lastly, there is a fuzzy line as far as I can tell and nothing is set in stone or a bright line.
One last piece of advice, do not worry about the intelligence of your readers. Do not dumb down the writing. At worst, you can have the writer explain in a paragraph or two the difference in this world.
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