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Machine (2012)

by Jennifer Pelland(Favorite Author)

3.85 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1937009130 (ISBN13: 9781937009137)

languge

English

genre

Science Fiction

publisher

Apex Publications

review 1: A well-written and captivating tale set in the not-too-distant future (2090s). Celia, who is afflicted with a rare genetic problem that will fry her brain, opts to have her consciousness downloaded into an android replica of her body while her organic body is held in stasis, thus giving medical research time to find a cure for her. The procedure is highly controversial, with conservatives and mostly the religious right making the country a hostile and dangerous place for those who have chosen to live in android bodies.
review 2: If the author had set aside her ideology and just focused on story, this would be a five star book, but unfortunately, despite being hard to put down, the story suffers under the weight of the preachy tone. Questions could have been ask... moreed and left up to readers to decide how they come down on the issue. But that doesn't happen here enough. And that's too bad, because there's a rollicking good Science Fiction tale underneath, one I found it hard to tear my eyes away from. But just when I was getting wrapped up again, the sledgehammer slung through with another ideological sermon and ruined the moment. I dislike ideological blathering in the guise of fiction, whether the ideology matches my own or not. In spite of that, the book is a fascinating tale set in a fascinating, well built world with a well drawn lead and some nicely handled, though thinly drawn supporting characters. The plot and pacing are almost spot on, except for the above mentioned preaching issue. The book just carries you along, infusing you with a desire to find out what happens next. The tale of a woman diagnosed with a rare, bad version of Alzheimers who takes advantage of future tech to have her "brain and memories" transferred into a biorobotic body until a cure can be found, while he fleshly body lies in stasis, Machine asks some truly fascinating questions about science. How far should it go and at what cost? Just because we have the technology, does that make it right to use it? Are there other questions we should ask? It's compelling and emotional and fascinating. Too bad the ideological lectures got in the way. None of those political things is essential to the story which already has so many deep questions to ask and does just by its plot and circumstances. The politics distract focus and would not be missed if they weren't there. Still, Pelland shows great talent as a writer and storyteller and I have no problem understanding why it found a willing publisher. There were probably several. less

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