"Sea of Rust" - First Impressions *No Spoilers*

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

This is our random sci-fi read! Who else is excited to read it?

Please, no discussion of spoilers, such as character growth or the plot!

[Chris]

By random happenstance I read this book right after reading the classic "Do androids dream of electric sheep". Now I am pretty convinced that humans are doomed. It is a pretty popular theme in Science fiction generally. From Asimov to Terminator to Sea of rust. Are robots humanities future?

[Rachel]

I read this earlier in the year. Pretty powerful stuff in it

[Clay]

I just finished this so I'm eager to hear what others think. I have read some postapocalyptic books before, but never one that just starts out with "the humans are all dead".

[Ariana]

I got this from the library so I started it a little early and finished it in a few days (unusual for me!). I really enjoyed it!

[Tom]

I've been listening to this for that last few days and am really enjoying it. The setting is post-apocalyptic, post-human American Midwest populated by a fascinating array of robotic entities. I do have one "Why haven't they..." question but I should probably hold off and post it on the spoiler's welcome thread.

[Cheryl]

Never heard of it, missed the poll... but I love reading about robots/ androids/ sentient computers so I'm in. I appreciate the cover for sure, but that's my only first impression so far. :)

[Bruce]

The world sounds fascinating, I mean, what kind of world would computers and robots build after the humans are all dead?

[Chris]

I am reading it now. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss it.

[Clay]

If you like reading about androids, I highly recommend The Mechanical. It's set in an alternate timeline where the French and Dutch are world powers (and control North America). The Dutch are the dominant military and economic power thanks to their mechanical automata, and the rival French/Canadians are master chemists. Much of the books is from the POV of one of the mechanicals.

[Jessica]

can't wait to see what everyone thinks. I'm loving it! couldn't put it down

[Lars]

30 % in and enjoying it, Simak’s City meets terminator

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

It sounds to me like Wall-e. I hope it's like Wall-e!

[Chris]

Allison wrote: "It sounds to me like Wall-e. I hope it's like Wall-e!"

That's funny! I had the same thought, though I couldn't remember the name of the Pixar film. I'll have to rewatch Wall-e one of these days.

Sea of Rust has been compared to a Western, and that seems pretty accurate at the moment.

[Ariana]

Allison wrote: "It sounds to me like Wall-e. I hope it's like Wall-e!"

Maybe if Wall-e had been directed by Michael Bay?

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Ariana wrote: "Allison wrote: "It sounds to me like Wall-e. I hope it's like Wall-e!"

Maybe if Wall-e had been directed by Michael Bay?"

lolol

That...sounds less promising to me. But I am curious!

[Sarah]

Allison wrote: "Ariana wrote: "Allison wrote: "It sounds to me like Wall-e. I hope it's like Wall-e!"

Maybe if Wall-e had been directed by Michael Bay?"

lolol

That...sounds less promising to me. But I am curious!"

lol So many things I want to add here but can't without spoilers. I felt like it was a really fun read, it's just one of those you read for entertainment rather than critical analysis.

[Ariana]

Sarah wrote: "I felt like it was a really fun read, it's just one of those you read for entertainment rather than critical analysis."

Agreed! I kind of loved this, but also have nothing to say about it.

[Conal]

Chris wrote: Sea of Rust has been compared to a Western, and that seems pretty accurate at the moment."

I agree with this, if this book has a soundtrack, it would probably sound something like this link...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKUB2...

[Jen]

I'm about 30 pages in and getting into it. This is another book I'd likely never pick up if it wasn't for this group.

[Tom]

I finished this this afternoon and really enjoyed it. I think this would make an interesting movie. The Battle of (view spoiler)[ the Sexbots (hide spoiler)] alone would be worth the price of admission. Hysterical!

[Cheryl]

Hmm. The cover doesn't imply humor...
And Rachel said 'powerful...'
I'd better get on it!

[Tom]

Cheryl wrote: "Hmm. The cover doesn't imply humor...
And Rachel said 'powerful...'
I'd better get on it!"

Most of it wasn't funny but some of the dialog was clever and the one scene that I referred to above did strike me as humorous.

[Anna, Circadian heretic]

Let's try to keep it to first impressions, please!

I don't know if it's my weirdo mood again, but I'm having to really work to slog through this. It's like the boring version of Murderbot.

edit: That was maybe a bit harsh, it's not that bad! Just that everyone was speaking so highly of it, and I'm not really connecting with it. It's OK while I'm reading, but I'm not in a hurry to pick it back up.

[Tom]

Anna wrote: "Let's try to keep it to first impressions, please!."

Is there a discussion board for those who have completed it?

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Hey Tom,

We post a discussion topic on the 15th for full spoiler talk. We've found that spreading it out prolongs the conversation and gets more readership as people don't feel they've "missed" the discussion if they're a couple days late. If a lot of people finish it early, though, we'll post the discussion a bit earlier, too :)

[Tom]

Allison wrote: "Hey Tom,

We post a discussion topic on the 15th for full spoiler talk. We've found that spreading it out prolongs the conversation and gets more readership as people don't feel they've "missed" th..."

Thanks. I appreciate the explanation even though it is frustrating trying to talk about a book without saying anything about the book.

[Anna, Circadian heretic]

Tom wrote: "I appreciate the explanation even though it is frustrating trying to talk about a book without saying anything about the book."

Yes, it is. But it's also frustrating for those who haven't even started yet to see everyone talking about about all the things, when they have no idea what's going on.

Since whining earlier today, I've read a few more chapters, and I seem to like it much more now. Maybe I got all the whine out, and am now able to enjoy the book.

[Jamesboggie]

This book is bleak and brutal. It reminds me of Robopocalypse and Software, but darker than either. I like the way the action is written though.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Tom wrote: "Allison wrote: "Hey Tom,

We post a discussion topic on the 15th for full spoiler talk. We've found that spreading it out prolongs the conversation and gets more readership as people don't feel the..."

Hang in!! I can't wait to hear what you have to say. Anna and I are working on a proposed change, too, that we hope to run by the group soon for feedback!

[Anthony]

Just read the first chapter, and I’m enjoying it. It’s refreshing to read a first-person narrative, with a voice that feels (irony intended) alive. I’ve been reading a lot of 3rd person narratives recently. I’m *very* curious to see what plot could be emerging. I don’t read blurbs and book covers too much, because I am vehemently anti-spoiler. Glad to have the group reading this, since I’m not sure it’s something I would have found on my own.

[Cheryl]

I'm liking it just as much as I expected to, so far.

I love the binary chapter numbers.... I showed the table of contents to my nerd adult son and he admired them, even said "beautiful," but did fuss that the early ones didn't have placeholder zeroes on left, so they'd all have the same number of digits. I'm not nerdy at all, but I do see his point... I wonder if the author or editor thought ppl would not catch on if they didn't start with a simple "1" - ?

[Anna, Circadian heretic]

Cheryl wrote: "but did fuss that the early ones didn't have placeholder zeroes on left, so they'd all have the same number of digits"

Yes! That bothers me SO much! :D

[Bruce]

I'm not complaining, but I did find the binary world interesting. I would think the future belongs to quantum computers, not binary computers. Especially with all the supercomputers in the book, I would think they would be quantum and not digital.

Serious Quantum Computers are Finally Here

[Anthony]

Looking forward to being able to discuss this with folks. I just finished it and posted my review.

[Jamesboggie]

I just finished it as well. I am eager for the full discussion thread.

[Anna, Circadian heretic]

Jamesboggie wrote: "I am eager for the full discussion thread."

You're in luck, it opened today!

[Anthony]

Jamesboggie wrote: "I just finished it as well. I am eager for the full discussion thread."

It’s up and in full swing. Join in!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Mm...Iunno, friends...this is definitely not Wall-e. And I feel like I'm going to drown in a sea of infodumps and redundancy. Did it grab you right off or is it one of those "give it 100 pages" things?

[Anthony]

It grabbed me right off. It’s definitely not highbrow, though.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

It's not the tone that's bothering me, it's the pacing.

[Jamesboggie]

Allison, it took me a while to appreciate it too. There is no plot early in the book. The plot starts when Brittle talks to Doc. Until then, I questioned all of the exposition like you seem to be doing.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Jamesboggie wrote: "Allison, it took me a while to appreciate it too. There is no plot early in the book. The plot starts when Brittle talks to Doc. Until then, I questioned all of the exposition like you seem to be d..."

Thanks, James! I'll try to get to that, then.

[Bruce]

Jamesboggie wrote: "Allison, it took me a while to appreciate it too. There is no plot early in the book. The plot starts when Brittle talks to Doc. Until then, I questioned all of the exposition like you seem to be d..."

It took me a while to get into it also.

[Colin]

A couple of chapters in and enjoying the setting. Good, fast paced action writing. The text definitely appeals to my tastes, but I could see how those not interested in apocalyptic robotic situations would be turned off. Especially during the history sections on AI, etc.

Now, let us all take a moment to be terrified by Boston Dynamics walking, door-opening dog robot that will eventually lead to our destruction. :D

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Colin wrote: "A couple of chapters in and enjoying the setting. Good, fast paced action writing. The text definitely appeals to my tastes, but I could see how those not interested in apocalyptic robotic situatio..."

I say thank you to every Alexa or Google Home I meet.

Just in case ;-)

[Colin]

Allison wrote: "Colin wrote: "A couple of chapters in and enjoying the setting. Good, fast paced action writing. The text definitely appeals to my tastes, but I could see how those not interested in apocalyptic ro..."

A wise choice!

[Rachel]

We got the Alexa Dot. It has been unplugged for a long time....it gets creepy....

[Cheryl]

There is a glossary in the back (at least of the ebook).

[Chris]

Rachel wrote: "We got the Alexa Dot. It has been unplugged for a long time....it gets creepy...."

Recently I had to turn off my GPS's voice recognition because my audiobooks' narrators can trigger it. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing... or at least an annoying thing.