Sci Fi novel involving robots; Their conversations to each other are printed in the margins of each page.

[Alan]

In the late 1980's or early 1990's, I saw a hard cover science fiction novel set in a futuristic world that I found at my local library. I would guess the publishing date was near to the time I read it. The only detail I remember is a novel way of presenting dialog. Throughout the narrative, there were robot characters in the background of the story. Their conversations to each other are printed in the margins of each page. I've never seen that literary device used since so its got to be pretty unique to that book, right? Any help would be much appreciated.

[Kate]

Alan --
You can bump this thread every month or so by typing a new comment, even just the word bump. This moves your thread to the top of the list where new eyes are more likely to see it.

[Alan]

Their conversations to each other are printed in the margins of each page, along side the main body of text

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Alan, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Alan]

No I never did track it down! Any help is appreciated

[Ky]

Long shot but could it be Aristoi? There are some sections where the main character has conversations with his background personalities--they aren't robots though, they're parts of his own mind. When he converses with them, the dialog between him and these personalities turns into split columns on the page. Aristoi is set far in the future and I remember reading it in the late 1980s myself so it fits timewise.

[Alan]

Huh, you know, it could be this. I will check it out and get back to you ASAP. Thank you SO much.

[Kris]

Here is Google Book's preview of Aristoi by Walter Jon Williams - Ky's suggestion:

https://books.google.com/books?id=YA7... There are different cover images.