28 - A book with a robot, cyborg or AI character

[Sara]

The Lunar Chronicles (first book Cinder by Marissa Meyer would be a great choice for anyone not naturally inclined to book with robots, etc. Unfortunately I've already read them so I'll be on the hunt for something else.

Listopia link: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

[Nancy]

I recommend the Lock In series by John Scalzi and the Murderbot series by Martha Wells - first book is All Systems Red. I will read the second Murderbot book for this prompt.

[SarahKat]

The Illuminae series has an AI character.
Machines Like Me is on my TBR

Also, if anyone uses graphic novels for their challenge, I highly recommend the Descender series, starting with Descender, Vol. 1: Tin Stars

[Nicole]

I've been meaning to read All Systems Red because so many people I know loved it, so I'll probably use that for this prompt!

[Sarah]

Sea of Rust and Gamechanger would both work for this prompt.

[Sarah]

Most of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books count and there's The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet too

[tea_for_two]

I second The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and its sequel A Closed and Common Orbit . They were two of my favorite books I read this year.

[Drakeryn]

Murderbot time!

A few other recs:
Neuromancer - classic cyberpunk
Silently and Very Fast - a smart house that becomes a smarter house. great if you want something character-driven and introspective
Railhead - YA sci-fi featuring (1) feisty heist sidekick robot; (2) genderfluid artist robot (my favorite); and (3) a lot of sentient trains, which probably also count as robots?

[Jai]

@Nancy All Systems Red was an excellent novella! @Sara I still have Cinder on my TBR wayyyyyy too long so I should probably read it.

Nancy wrote: "I recommend the Lock In series by John Scalzi and the Murderbot series by Martha Wells - first book is All Systems Red. I will read the ..."

[Aimee Dars]

Robopocalypse
Robogenesis

[[deleted user]]

Embassytown

[Johanna]

I know this will be my least favorite prompt. But I have hadCinder on my TBR list. I think this is the year to read it.

[Alicia]

Cinder
Scarlet
Winter
There is a 4th, but basically is a series that each is a retelling of Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, not sure the other two

[Sara]

Alicia wrote: "Cinder
Scarlet
Winter
There is a 4th, but basically is a series that each is a retelling of Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, not sure the other two"

Cress is book #3. It's Rapunzel. And Winter is Snow White :)

[Jenn]

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray features an Android.

From what I read, Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie would qualify for this?

[Alicia]

I just read Ready Player One and it has AIs in it.

[Jenni]

Pretty much any of the Culture series by Iain M. Banks would fit for this one, I think.

[K.L.]

Nancy wrote: "I recommend the Lock In series by John Scalzi and the Murderbot series by Martha Wells - first book is All Systems Red. I will read the ..."

I loved both of these series, and highly recommend them as well!

[Nadine in NY]

This is a gimme for me, of course, I'm just going to read the new MurderBot novel :-) Network Effect

I'm trying to think of good choices for people who don't usually read SFF. Cinder, obviously, but I know a lot of people in this group (like Sara!) have read that series already. There's a graphic novel sequel, if you haven't read that yet: Wires and Nerve - it's not super "graphic-novel-y" so don't worry too much about that - it's basically a novella with pictures, all about Iko, so it's perfect for this. I'm sure we can think of some other good choices for non-SFF fans!!

[Sara]

I'll put in another plug for Brightly Burning. I think it qualifies because there's an AI on board the ship.

[Nadine in NY]

aha! I found a list of "cyborg romances" (not a subgenre I ever expected to encounter). I have not read any of these, so I don't know what's good; some of these look a little iffy:
On a Cyborg Planet
Burning Up Flint
C791
Stranded with the Cyborg
Enhanced
Merry & Seduced (xmas cyborgs!)
Games of Command
Her Cyborg Awakes
Lyon's Price
Seeing Stars

[Sarah]

Jenn wrote: "Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray features an Android.

From what I read, Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie would qualify for this?"

I've read it - it definitely qualifies! (Also great suggestion, because I hadn't even thought of it!)

[Nadine in NY]

this book has been getting a lot of good reviews: Automatic Woman

[Nadine in NY]

has anyone read Alex + Ada, Vol. 1 or Defy the Stars? They look like they might work for Cinder fans?

[Jackie]

There's a mystery series that stars a sentient supercomputer, starting with You've Got Murder. I have to admit that I didn't love it, but for the right reader it'd be a good option.

[Lexi]

Nadine wrote: "This is a gimme for me, of course, I'm just going to read the new MurderBot novel :-) Network Effect

I'm trying to think of good choices for people who don't usually read SFF. [boo..."
As I was reading the list, this was the first one I knew what I would read. Cannot wait for the next Murderbot. I would also recommend [book:Illuminae|23395680] for people who do not read a lot of SF for the YA and romance aspect may make it more accessible for some. I also have given people A Closed and Common Orbit orbit out of order for those who would not like the episodic nature of the first one.

[Theresa]

Jackie wrote: "There's a mystery series that stars a sentient supercomputer, starting with You've Got Murder. I have to admit that I didn't love it, but for the right reader it'd be a good option."

That was fun when I read it years ago. There are 2 more in the series I believe.

[Piajensen13]

I read We are Legion We are Bob (Bobiverse) by Dennis E. Taylor for the 2019 challenge. It's fun and full of AI copies of the same Bob.

[Ellie]

Although it gets a bit far-fetched at the end, Emily Eternal might be a good one for people wanting something set on a recognisable Earth. I used it for set on a campus this year.

Happiness for Humans is also sci-fi-lite, although I didn't like the human characters so much. The AIs were fun though.

I might get on and continue the Murderbot series but this is a super easy one for me.

[Brandon]

The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov

The detective is given a robot partner to solve a case in this sci-fi story.

[Sara]

Sara wrote: "I'll put in another plug for Brightly Burning. I think it qualifies because there's an AI on board the ship."

And Alexa Donne's new book, The Stars We Steal comes out early next year. It's a retelling of Persuasion by Jane Austen, set in the future aboard a spaceship (which I believe has an AI, though I haven't read it yet myself). I really, really LOVED Brightly Burning which was a retelling of Jane Eyre. I think it's a good choice for anyone who isn't inclined towards these kinds of books.

[Jen K]

For a YA option, I suggest Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. It's like a Top Gun on another planet with more training, flight battles and character development than sci-fi. It's a quick and fun read.

[Kenya]

Yay, looks like I have a blatant excuse for adding Transformers: Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron (Transformers to my challenge list this year. XD I may be just a little obsessed...

Seriously, as a robot fan, this prompt makes me happy. Also, most of the "Star Wars" novels will fit this prompt, as will All Systems Red and its sequels (new book in the series this year!) and the Lock In books.

For those who want a YA read, The Wild Robot is adorable. And there are some cute children's books featuring robots, such as Little Robot, Little Bot and Sparrow, and Robot in Love.

[Milena]

And of course there's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, if anyone wants to go the classic route.

[Suzanne]

This book came out just a few weeks ago: I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story which is more to my taste than fantasy/science fiction.

[Alison]

Kenya wrote: "For those who want a YA read, The Wild Robot is adorable."

Um, this DOES look adorable, and it's available to me through libby, so this is definitely going to be my pick! Thanks!

[Lilith]

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy features Marvin the robot.
A fantastic book for those of us who don't love SFF, but do love to laugh and love sarcastic British humor! I plan to go forward in the series. Marvin will make further appearances.

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads)]

For anyone who just wants a really quick read for this one (or who enjoys sweet middle grade graphic novels anyway), Zita the Spacegirl makes more than one robot friend over the course of the book/series.

[Nadine in NY]

Zita the Spacegirl is amazing!!

[Sandra]

Suzanne wrote: "This book came out just a few weeks ago: I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story which is more to my taste than fantasy/science fiction."

C-3PO is my favourite Star Wars character so I definitely want to read this book!

[Caitlin]

Do you think Sphere would count as the AI part of this? That's been on my list. Someone else recommended Sleeping Giants to me.

[Colleen]

What about Machines Like Me ? I thunk that would work .

[Colleen]

Caitlin wrote: "Do you think Sphere would count as the AI part of this? That's been on my list. Someone else recommended Sleeping Giants to me."

That whole series is amazing !

[Rachel]

What about something like No One Here Is Lonely? It seems like the main male character is a version of AI.

[Sheri]

I really loved Annalee Newitz’ Autonomous, deals with the concepts of autonomy through ai.

Also I’d agree with others, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, murderbot diaries, we are legion, we are bob books, Lock In books by Scalzi are all good options.


I love robots, cyborgs and ai so I love this one, haha.

[Karin]

There is also the classic, I, Robot

[Katy]

Caitlin wrote: "Do you think Sphere would count as the AI part of this? That's been on my list. Someone else recommended Sleeping Giants to me."

Sphere. Hmm. I would say so. There's obviously some kind of intelligence in that sphere.

[Anne]

I cannot recommend the Scythe series high enough. This is the only series my son will read.

[Rose]

Any chance Ender’s Game would fit? So not my genre and trying to use tbr books

[Karin]

Rose wrote: "Any chance Ender’s Game would fit? So not my genre and trying to use tbr books"

No, they are children and not cyborgs or robots, etc. Too bad, because it's a good book. I did a quick scroll through your books and didn't see anything. You have some excellent books there!

BUT, scrolling down your to read books, The Stone Angel will work for set in Canada (but you probably already know that!) and Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win World War II will work for women in STEM (I just finished that and thought it quite good)...

Also, for titles with over 20 letters, which you have plenty, I see you have one I liked, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper.

I am quite sure there is something out there more literary or else funny, but my brain is frozen on this. Scifi, yet, but at least something written in away more inclined to your tastes.

WAIT--there are some computerized prosthetic limbs out now, but they aren't truly cyborg, but might be close enough if you can find something on them.