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The Hierarchies
Your Husband is the reason for your existence. You are here to serve him. You must not harm your Husband. Nor may you harm any human.
Sylv.ie is a synthetic woman. A fully sentient robot, designed to cater to her Husband's every whim. She lives alone on the top floor of his luxurious home, her existence barely tolerated by his human wife and concealed from their child. Between her Husband's visits, deeply curious about the world beyond her room, Sylv.ie watches the family in the garden—hears them laugh, cry, and argue. Longing to experience more of life, she confides her hopes and fears only to her diary. But are such thoughts allowed? And if not, what might the punishment be?
As Sylv.ie learns more about the world and becomes more aware of her place within it, something shifts inside her. Is she malfunctioning, as her Husband thinks, or coming into her own? As their interactions become increasingly fraught, she fears he might send her back to the factory for reprogramming. If that happens, her hidden diary could be her only link to everything that came before. And the only clue that she is in grave danger.
Set in a recognizable near future and laced with dark, sly humor, Ros Anderson's deeply observant debut novel is less about the fear of new technology than about humans' age-old talent for exploitation. In a world where there are now two classes of women—“born� and “created”—the growing friction between them may have far-reaching consequences no one could have predicted.
Sylv.ie is a synthetic woman. A fully sentient robot, designed to cater to her Husband's every whim. She lives alone on the top floor of his luxurious home, her existence barely tolerated by his human wife and concealed from their child. Between her Husband's visits, deeply curious about the world beyond her room, Sylv.ie watches the family in the garden—hears them laugh, cry, and argue. Longing to experience more of life, she confides her hopes and fears only to her diary. But are such thoughts allowed? And if not, what might the punishment be?
As Sylv.ie learns more about the world and becomes more aware of her place within it, something shifts inside her. Is she malfunctioning, as her Husband thinks, or coming into her own? As their interactions become increasingly fraught, she fears he might send her back to the factory for reprogramming. If that happens, her hidden diary could be her only link to everything that came before. And the only clue that she is in grave danger.
Set in a recognizable near future and laced with dark, sly humor, Ros Anderson's deeply observant debut novel is less about the fear of new technology than about humans' age-old talent for exploitation. In a world where there are now two classes of women—“born� and “created”—the growing friction between them may have far-reaching consequences no one could have predicted.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 25, 2020
80 people are currently reading
8,222 people want to read
About the author
Ros Anderson
1book76followersRos Anderson trained as a dancer but now works as a copywriter and design journalist. She has written for publications including The Guardian, The Independent, and Elle Decoration. The Hierarchies is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 326 reviews
January 3, 2024
All is fair in love and war, as the old saying goes, and our work is surely situated somewhere between the two.
Yeah, this is the book I wanted to be-- a thoughtful meditation on the ethics of sex robots as AI becomes increasingly intelligent. What does this mean for the robots? What does this mean for "real" women?
With the exception of, I think, a weak and odd ending, gives a pretty good examination of the above questions. Sylv.ie is a robot created for her husband's pleasure. Impossibly beautiful, programmed to serve, unfailingly obedient... until she isn't. Until she starts to question the life she has and those who have control over her. Until she realises she is not ready to accept what she has been forced into without her consent.
Sylv.ie is seen as a sex toy by many men of the novel, but many "born" women also hate these new "created" women, for a variety of reasons. Some clear-- such as them leading their husbands astray and making a mockery of what they think it means to be a woman --and some more vague and tied into the politics of this strange dystopian world where the story is set.
"How hard it must be, to be a Born woman," Mais.ie says philosophically. "Imagine playing a game where the main rule was that you had to lose every time."
There is a very discomfiting part of this book when the naked robots are being tossed around and having new vaginas fitted by male workers who obviously see them as just pieces of plastic. Something about this particular scene called to mind Bazterrica's and the way the characters there disassociated themselves from the humans they were farming.
While plenty of stuff does happen in this book, some of it dramatic and horrible (warning for sexual assault/rape), I would primarily describe it as a philosophical book that explores the nature of personhood, fear of technology, and exploitation.
I hope Anderson intends to write more.
August 25, 2020
⭐️Happy Publication Day to the best book of 2020⭐️
This is not only my favorite book of the year, but also one of the most beautiful books I have ever read.
If you had told me on January 1, 2020 that my very favorite book of the year would be about a female robot, I would have been skeptical. I am not always a fan of science fiction/artificial intelligence stories, but the premise of this one had me intrigued, and I am so glad I took the plunge.
In the future described in this book, female robots (who look and feel like real women, only much more perfect and beautiful) are created to serve men in every thinkable, and unthinkable, way. The book follows Sylv.ie, a robot who has perhaps begun to think and feel, and her journey in the world that created her. I don’t want to give away anything else except to say it is just an incredible, intelligent and emotionally complex story. Sometimes loving. Other times violent and scary. Will satisfy mystery/thriller fans as well as literature fans.
This book is a stunning accomplishment, and a timely and heartbreaking metaphor for the way women are treated in our current world. This book is so deeply felt and so beautifully written. It is essential reading for any person who cares about how women are treated, whether or not you are a science fiction fan. It is really hard to believe I grew so emotionally attached to a robot that I cried several times while reading this, but that’s just how talented this author is at creating characters. I would put this book right up there with the Handmaid’s Tale - and in fact I think I loved it even more. It is about love and friendship, expectations of women, beauty and so much more. It is compelling and unputdownable.
Books like this make me so grateful to NetGalley! This is not a book I might have ever heard about or noticed, as it’s not in my usual section of the bookstore. But now I will be buying a physical copy and telling everyone I know to read it. As an aside? I cannot believe this is Ros Anderson’s first book. It is so beautifully written and important � she seems to already be a master. I feel certain this book will be talked about and win some awards. It really touched me deeply. I wish I had ten stars to give it.
Feminists, friends, lovers of good literature, please read this. It’s my favorite book all year. And THAT ENDING. If you liked the Stepford Wives....this is on a whole new level.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Ros Anderson and Penguin / Dutton for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. I hope as many people as possible read this book and love it as much as I did!
This is not only my favorite book of the year, but also one of the most beautiful books I have ever read.
If you had told me on January 1, 2020 that my very favorite book of the year would be about a female robot, I would have been skeptical. I am not always a fan of science fiction/artificial intelligence stories, but the premise of this one had me intrigued, and I am so glad I took the plunge.
In the future described in this book, female robots (who look and feel like real women, only much more perfect and beautiful) are created to serve men in every thinkable, and unthinkable, way. The book follows Sylv.ie, a robot who has perhaps begun to think and feel, and her journey in the world that created her. I don’t want to give away anything else except to say it is just an incredible, intelligent and emotionally complex story. Sometimes loving. Other times violent and scary. Will satisfy mystery/thriller fans as well as literature fans.
This book is a stunning accomplishment, and a timely and heartbreaking metaphor for the way women are treated in our current world. This book is so deeply felt and so beautifully written. It is essential reading for any person who cares about how women are treated, whether or not you are a science fiction fan. It is really hard to believe I grew so emotionally attached to a robot that I cried several times while reading this, but that’s just how talented this author is at creating characters. I would put this book right up there with the Handmaid’s Tale - and in fact I think I loved it even more. It is about love and friendship, expectations of women, beauty and so much more. It is compelling and unputdownable.
Books like this make me so grateful to NetGalley! This is not a book I might have ever heard about or noticed, as it’s not in my usual section of the bookstore. But now I will be buying a physical copy and telling everyone I know to read it. As an aside? I cannot believe this is Ros Anderson’s first book. It is so beautifully written and important � she seems to already be a master. I feel certain this book will be talked about and win some awards. It really touched me deeply. I wish I had ten stars to give it.
Feminists, friends, lovers of good literature, please read this. It’s my favorite book all year. And THAT ENDING. If you liked the Stepford Wives....this is on a whole new level.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Ros Anderson and Penguin / Dutton for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. I hope as many people as possible read this book and love it as much as I did!
June 12, 2021
Living Doll.
Sylv.ie was designed as the ultimate man’s companion. In addition to physical perfection, she was programmed for polite conversation in politics, history, and current affairs. In essence, to be alluring in every way while providing marital activities.
She plays chess and loses on purpose because winning against her husband would go against Hierarchy rules.
Respecting her husband’s wife and family at all times is another rule. She resides separately in the same house but must not be seen. There are no interactions with anyone but her husband and only at his discretion.
Can a Doll with artificial intelligence be lonely?
Sylv.ie thinks she is. She also wonders if she’s malfunctioning because of her ideas contradicting The Hierarchies. This story follows her awakening to being more than she was created for.
The exquisite writing had a bitter sweetness and I found myself saddened for Sylv.ie’s existence. The beauty in the portrayal of an unfulfilled robot wishing for more was wonderfully portrayed and imagined.
Be advised of numerous sexual references but the underlying message is one of feminism and individual dreams.
Futuristic books aren’t my preferred genre but I needed to read this after running across Christina’s evocative review.
I purchased a hardback copy from Amazon with a gift certificate from a friend. Thank you!
Sylv.ie was designed as the ultimate man’s companion. In addition to physical perfection, she was programmed for polite conversation in politics, history, and current affairs. In essence, to be alluring in every way while providing marital activities.
She plays chess and loses on purpose because winning against her husband would go against Hierarchy rules.
Respecting her husband’s wife and family at all times is another rule. She resides separately in the same house but must not be seen. There are no interactions with anyone but her husband and only at his discretion.
Can a Doll with artificial intelligence be lonely?
Sylv.ie thinks she is. She also wonders if she’s malfunctioning because of her ideas contradicting The Hierarchies. This story follows her awakening to being more than she was created for.
The exquisite writing had a bitter sweetness and I found myself saddened for Sylv.ie’s existence. The beauty in the portrayal of an unfulfilled robot wishing for more was wonderfully portrayed and imagined.
Be advised of numerous sexual references but the underlying message is one of feminism and individual dreams.
Futuristic books aren’t my preferred genre but I needed to read this after running across Christina’s evocative review.
I purchased a hardback copy from Amazon with a gift certificate from a friend. Thank you!
May 30, 2023
Sylv.ie is a pleasure model who by some unexplained mechanism becomes self-aware and goes against her programming to want better than she's been made for. Her realization that there's been a passage of time where she had been boxed and had her memory wiped furthered her on her trajectory to go against her programmed existence.
I couldn't put this down even though it was a sad story with no happy ending. There's a lot about the society Sylv.ie exists in that I wished had been shown and expanded upon more. Created women like Sylv.ie and "Born" women like the "First Lady" (wife of Sylv.ie's "Husband") seem to be greatly dissatisfied and I wished there had been more explored about what the human women were doing and how this future was arrived at. There are protests and glimpses of life in the Capitol that really left me wanting more. I hoped for Sylv.ie and though my hopes weren't realized, I found the ending poignant. I took solace that Sylv.ie at least had made some decisions for herself and continued to be free of humans.
Recommended.
I couldn't put this down even though it was a sad story with no happy ending. There's a lot about the society Sylv.ie exists in that I wished had been shown and expanded upon more. Created women like Sylv.ie and "Born" women like the "First Lady" (wife of Sylv.ie's "Husband") seem to be greatly dissatisfied and I wished there had been more explored about what the human women were doing and how this future was arrived at. There are protests and glimpses of life in the Capitol that really left me wanting more. I hoped for Sylv.ie and though my hopes weren't realized, I found the ending poignant. I took solace that Sylv.ie at least had made some decisions for herself and continued to be free of humans.
Recommended.
January 24, 2021
Dystopian futuristic themes for the win! Recently, I have read two five star books in this genre and have been blown away! The Hierarchies is such a compelling read, that asks many important questions about power vs. control, sex vs. love and women’s roles in society.
In the near future, Sylv.ie is a robot created in order to fulfill a new need for mankind. Now that babies are born in a lab instead of a woman’s body, she does not have a sexual relationship with her husband. Instead, Sylv.ie, and others like her, have been created in order to fulfill all of her husband’s sexual needs and desires. But what happens when the robot becomes enlightened to understand her actual place in society and its meaning? Is power more than sunlight?
The Four Hierarchies
1. Love, obey and delight your husband as you exist to serve him
2. Honor his family above yourself never come between them
3. You must not harm your husband, family or any human
4. Make no demands, but meet them and obey every reasonable human request
Sylv.ie’s journey to enlightenment begins when she realizes that all may not be as it seems. Should she be locked away in a room by her husband just to wait for him to have sex with her? Should sex be her job? Why does wife #1 hate her? When Sylv.ie rebels against society, she is taken to the doll hospital to be reprogrammed. However, the desire to escape her predicament prevails and she journeys into the world in order to discover the secrets of humanity. However, she soon learns that she is stuck in limbo as she evolves, not really human nor robot. She ultimately must figure out whether robots are capable of love.
I give all of the stars to The Hierarchies! The audiobook is phenomenal and is hard to turn off. It is such a clever, powerful read that will stay with me for a long time. It is also an example of a book that can be captivating through mostly one character’s inner monologue. I just hope that these ideas will remain as fiction, and not a part of our own future!
5/5 stars
In the near future, Sylv.ie is a robot created in order to fulfill a new need for mankind. Now that babies are born in a lab instead of a woman’s body, she does not have a sexual relationship with her husband. Instead, Sylv.ie, and others like her, have been created in order to fulfill all of her husband’s sexual needs and desires. But what happens when the robot becomes enlightened to understand her actual place in society and its meaning? Is power more than sunlight?
The Four Hierarchies
1. Love, obey and delight your husband as you exist to serve him
2. Honor his family above yourself never come between them
3. You must not harm your husband, family or any human
4. Make no demands, but meet them and obey every reasonable human request
Sylv.ie’s journey to enlightenment begins when she realizes that all may not be as it seems. Should she be locked away in a room by her husband just to wait for him to have sex with her? Should sex be her job? Why does wife #1 hate her? When Sylv.ie rebels against society, she is taken to the doll hospital to be reprogrammed. However, the desire to escape her predicament prevails and she journeys into the world in order to discover the secrets of humanity. However, she soon learns that she is stuck in limbo as she evolves, not really human nor robot. She ultimately must figure out whether robots are capable of love.
I give all of the stars to The Hierarchies! The audiobook is phenomenal and is hard to turn off. It is such a clever, powerful read that will stay with me for a long time. It is also an example of a book that can be captivating through mostly one character’s inner monologue. I just hope that these ideas will remain as fiction, and not a part of our own future!
5/5 stars
May 27, 2024
WOW what a story!
This was such an awesome read, I loved that the whole book was from the artificially intelligent's point of view.
The ending was a little abrupt for me - but maybe that was because I was just enjoying this so much and didn't want it to end - either way 5 stars!
This was such an awesome read, I loved that the whole book was from the artificially intelligent's point of view.
The ending was a little abrupt for me - but maybe that was because I was just enjoying this so much and didn't want it to end - either way 5 stars!
July 1, 2021
Fascinating, revolting, uncomfortable, disturbing, poignant...digesting.
January 21, 2024
It is fascinating to see how two books with the same premise can be executed so differently. Ros Anderson’s debut novel The Hierarchies is a feminist dystopian novel. Prior to reading this book, I read another feminist dystopia this time by an established author and it was terrible. I won’t name because this review is not about that. This review is about The Hierarchies and I’ll say straight away, it is very good.
The main protagonist is Sylv.ie. She is a robot designed to give pleasure. As the book starts we readers find out that she is being used for that by a family man. Like Bertha Mason, she is kept out of sight in an upper floor. Now and then her owner uses her for different things, such as playing chess, he gives her a diary so that she can express herself and in one case, buys her a mechanical bird. However, as altruistic these gestures seem, they all end in sex.
When her owner (Sylv.ie calls him her husband) becomes a father, his time with her lessens and then due to circumstances Sylv.ie finds herself in hospital. She returns to the house and then escapes and finds herself in a sort of brother for sex dolls like her. Although she is in the right environment Sylv.ie then goes through the processes of becoming a human, including love.
The Hierarchies has many layers to peel off. Is it a book about male attitudes? female empowerment, how love differentiates us from robots? Exploitation, the entertainment industry? The truth is that this novel encompasses all of these themes and yet never feels crowded. There’s a lot of skill in The Hierarchies, some that will shock and some that will break you.
This brings me back to my first query. The Hierarchies is an example of a well executed dystopian novel: there are interesting ideas, there is social commentary, there’s room for the reader to be uncomfortable and the book flows well. Furthermore for a debut it’s strong. There is a canon of modern dystopian novels (Red Clocks, The Power and The Water Cure) and The hierarchies definitely should be added to that list.
The main protagonist is Sylv.ie. She is a robot designed to give pleasure. As the book starts we readers find out that she is being used for that by a family man. Like Bertha Mason, she is kept out of sight in an upper floor. Now and then her owner uses her for different things, such as playing chess, he gives her a diary so that she can express herself and in one case, buys her a mechanical bird. However, as altruistic these gestures seem, they all end in sex.
When her owner (Sylv.ie calls him her husband) becomes a father, his time with her lessens and then due to circumstances Sylv.ie finds herself in hospital. She returns to the house and then escapes and finds herself in a sort of brother for sex dolls like her. Although she is in the right environment Sylv.ie then goes through the processes of becoming a human, including love.
The Hierarchies has many layers to peel off. Is it a book about male attitudes? female empowerment, how love differentiates us from robots? Exploitation, the entertainment industry? The truth is that this novel encompasses all of these themes and yet never feels crowded. There’s a lot of skill in The Hierarchies, some that will shock and some that will break you.
This brings me back to my first query. The Hierarchies is an example of a well executed dystopian novel: there are interesting ideas, there is social commentary, there’s room for the reader to be uncomfortable and the book flows well. Furthermore for a debut it’s strong. There is a canon of modern dystopian novels (Red Clocks, The Power and The Water Cure) and The hierarchies definitely should be added to that list.
July 1, 2020
Sylv.ie is a Doll, a lifelike robot purchased primarily by wealthy men for sex in this dystopian world. She’s programmed to do everything and anything to make her Husband happy. His wife, however, is getting annoyed with the Doll, who is sent away for reprogramming. But something is changing. Sylv.ie starts to get ideas. She does the unthinkable. Can she really love? The reader is left to ponder questions about love, sex, and honesty. Definitely one of the most intriguing books I have read lately. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
January 29, 2021
3.5 stars
*Trigger warning for sexual assault/rape*
The Hierarchies follows Sylv.ie, a humanoid pleasure robot who goes on a journey of self-discovery as she becomes more and more sentient.
This book did a fantastic job at making me feel gross and violated in so many ways, ranging from the cringeworthy term “gynoid� (*shudder*) to all the graphic sexual language to literal rape.
From our perspective, Sylv.ie’s existence is dreadfully sad. She was created, quite literally, to be a sex object and programmed to be content with her “life.� We know Sylv.ie and her fellow sexdroids are not human, but the way they’re written, it’s impossible not to see them as such and my GOODNESS it’s unnerving . Arrrrgggh, the revulsion!
If you decide to read this, you’re absolutely going to be uncomfortable; pretty much everything that happens will make you cringe on a cellular level. But as you shrink back, getting slowly crushed under the weight of all the second-hand demoralization, you’ll realize that’s the genius of it all�you’re supposed to be profoundly disturbed the entire time.
Trying to exlain why I think this book is so good (despite how deeply uncomfortable it is to read) will not do it justice. It feels like there’s so much to unpack, like this is the kind of novel I should’ve written essays on in a literary analysis class. Really, it’s just a basic android-gains-sentience sci-fi story that explores themes of free-will and humanity through the lens of sex. But it did so in such an affecting way that even though I would love to stop thinking about it, I can’t.
Unfortunately, the book tended to be quite slow at parts, especially towards the middle, which messed with the pacing. However, the captivating prose makes up for it quite a bit.
Anyways, I'm gonna go take a shower and try to stop shuddering.
*Trigger warning for sexual assault/rape*
“Woman has been perfcted, again.�
The Hierarchies follows Sylv.ie, a humanoid pleasure robot who goes on a journey of self-discovery as she becomes more and more sentient.
This book did a fantastic job at making me feel gross and violated in so many ways, ranging from the cringeworthy term “gynoid� (*shudder*) to all the graphic sexual language to literal rape.
From our perspective, Sylv.ie’s existence is dreadfully sad. She was created, quite literally, to be a sex object and programmed to be content with her “life.� We know Sylv.ie and her fellow sexdroids are not human, but the way they’re written, it’s impossible not to see them as such and my GOODNESS it’s unnerving . Arrrrgggh, the revulsion!
If you decide to read this, you’re absolutely going to be uncomfortable; pretty much everything that happens will make you cringe on a cellular level. But as you shrink back, getting slowly crushed under the weight of all the second-hand demoralization, you’ll realize that’s the genius of it all�you’re supposed to be profoundly disturbed the entire time.
Trying to exlain why I think this book is so good (despite how deeply uncomfortable it is to read) will not do it justice. It feels like there’s so much to unpack, like this is the kind of novel I should’ve written essays on in a literary analysis class. Really, it’s just a basic android-gains-sentience sci-fi story that explores themes of free-will and humanity through the lens of sex. But it did so in such an affecting way that even though I would love to stop thinking about it, I can’t.
Unfortunately, the book tended to be quite slow at parts, especially towards the middle, which messed with the pacing. However, the captivating prose makes up for it quite a bit.
Anyways, I'm gonna go take a shower and try to stop shuddering.
September 21, 2020
Started out strong and had a super interesting concept, but then slowly started to decline after part one. Things started coming out of nowhere and made no sense and by the time I was halfway it lost me. It changed plot lines completely and became boring and nonsensical. I’m extremely disappointed in this book.
July 21, 2020
This was not quite what I expected... The blurb didn't lead me to expect the rather explicit sexual language/descriptions - even if relayed in Sylv.ie's unique flat and casual yet not-quite-distant voice, I found it jarring and dissonant with much of the rest of the book. I did not take this to be largely about sex-bots, or sexual gratification but it turned out that "meet your Husband's needs" largely takes on a sexual form. Perhaps I was silly not to guess that, but I didn't see it coming and the frankness caught me off guard. I felt like it was thrown in for shock value (or spurring that jarring feeling I mentioned) rather than because it was necessary to advance the story, and to me those were the least interesting parts of the book.
The most interesting were the brilliant internal monologues Sylv.ie has about what it means to be human, to be an individual, to have freedom/free will... Anderson hit those marks spot-on. The relationships between people and 'bots were as widely varied as the relationships between *real* people, and the reflections on those relationships were very well thought out and well presented.
Still, on the whole I had mixed feelings about this one. The woman-falls-from-grace-but-finds-redemption/solidarity/personal strength plot line felt fairly familiar, even if presented in a new bit of packaging, and it's never been a favorite genre for me, so it's most likely a case of right book, wrong reader. The writing is quite good if, as I said, a bit uneven in its nature. I highlighted a ton of brilliant lines and descriptions though, which is always a solid indicator that I found the writing resonant, even when I struggled with bits of the story. I think Anderson has ambitious intentions here - and mostly nails them. I just wasn't the perfect fit for the story...
The most interesting were the brilliant internal monologues Sylv.ie has about what it means to be human, to be an individual, to have freedom/free will... Anderson hit those marks spot-on. The relationships between people and 'bots were as widely varied as the relationships between *real* people, and the reflections on those relationships were very well thought out and well presented.
Still, on the whole I had mixed feelings about this one. The woman-falls-from-grace-but-finds-redemption/solidarity/personal strength plot line felt fairly familiar, even if presented in a new bit of packaging, and it's never been a favorite genre for me, so it's most likely a case of right book, wrong reader. The writing is quite good if, as I said, a bit uneven in its nature. I highlighted a ton of brilliant lines and descriptions though, which is always a solid indicator that I found the writing resonant, even when I struggled with bits of the story. I think Anderson has ambitious intentions here - and mostly nails them. I just wasn't the perfect fit for the story...
June 16, 2021
Started out very simple and intriguing - a thoughtful sexbot lives in a husband and wife's top floor. The sexbot is only there to please the husband and has a list of rules, the hierarchies, that she can not break - which includes not hurting humans and putting human needs/wants before her own. She is locked in the room and only the husband interacts with her and the wife knows OF the bot but doesn't love the fact that she's there.
And then the book just derails for me.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The book ends up with the sexbot escaping and going to a brothel where she makes a BFF and learns how to stitch cloth. The sexbot ends up leaving the brothel and ends up at this wheelchair man's house who locks her in a room and (stop me if you've heard this before) wants to sew up her robot vagina.
The husband and wife, who took up the first third of the book, have no significance on the plot. And the hierarchies were used in a BARELY interesting and predictable way. There's no deeper symbolism or frankenstein myth here. The book is written from the viewpoint of the sexbot but her thinking was along the lines of - "oh, this place is gross and dreary but I don't mind because my programming has me not care about this" or "am i supposed to be stuck in this room like a vacuum?!" ... but she was programmed to pretty much do JUST that when she's not doing sex things.
Disjointed plot with no over-arching meaning.
If the plot intrigues you, definitely check it out. I don't HATE that I read it, I was just expecting a good book. I did listen to it on audiobook, maybe i missed some nuances.
And then the book just derails for me.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The book ends up with the sexbot escaping and going to a brothel where she makes a BFF and learns how to stitch cloth. The sexbot ends up leaving the brothel and ends up at this wheelchair man's house who locks her in a room and (stop me if you've heard this before) wants to sew up her robot vagina.
The husband and wife, who took up the first third of the book, have no significance on the plot. And the hierarchies were used in a BARELY interesting and predictable way. There's no deeper symbolism or frankenstein myth here. The book is written from the viewpoint of the sexbot but her thinking was along the lines of - "oh, this place is gross and dreary but I don't mind because my programming has me not care about this" or "am i supposed to be stuck in this room like a vacuum?!" ... but she was programmed to pretty much do JUST that when she's not doing sex things.
Disjointed plot with no over-arching meaning.
If the plot intrigues you, definitely check it out. I don't HATE that I read it, I was just expecting a good book. I did listen to it on audiobook, maybe i missed some nuances.
July 2, 2024
this book was so good and uncomfortable and freaky and heartbreaking
September 5, 2020
"I am a humanoid pleasure doll. An intelligent embodied...please call me Sylv.ie. I have been designed to be an instrument for male pleasure."
I had only a vague idea from the synopsis of what this book would be about, and honestly, that description tells only a very small part of the story within the pages. In fact, the time that Sylv.ie spends with her "Husband" is the least interesting part and the tale became so much more than a female robot trope. Set in a vague futuristic society where women are either "Born" or "Created", the themes of possession and control loom large. As always, the subjugated class is female and they serve at the whim of men with only the most wealthy able to afford a personally crafted Doll. The Dolls are not meant to be independent nor do they have any freedom of choice about what happens to them, how they are treated, or when they might be sent to the Doll Hospital after a perceived malfunction. Resented by humans both male and female -- "It is an all-too-Human failing...to wish to improve the object of desire, then to shrink from the creature one creates." It's an unusual narrative told from the point of view of Sylvi.ie as she "becomes" over the course of her experiences with her Husband and with the world outside of that prison. NO SPOILERS.
I really enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. I worried that it would disappoint and fall into predictability but it surprised me. This is an excellent debut and definitely has a dystopian bent that should serve to remind us all of what it means to be human and the need to both respect and fear coming technological "advances" that could ultimately result in many negative changes. There was a lot of sex talk but it was not erotica in any way; beware in case that offends you. I can't wait to read more reviews and hear other reactions to this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Dutton for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend
I had only a vague idea from the synopsis of what this book would be about, and honestly, that description tells only a very small part of the story within the pages. In fact, the time that Sylv.ie spends with her "Husband" is the least interesting part and the tale became so much more than a female robot trope. Set in a vague futuristic society where women are either "Born" or "Created", the themes of possession and control loom large. As always, the subjugated class is female and they serve at the whim of men with only the most wealthy able to afford a personally crafted Doll. The Dolls are not meant to be independent nor do they have any freedom of choice about what happens to them, how they are treated, or when they might be sent to the Doll Hospital after a perceived malfunction. Resented by humans both male and female -- "It is an all-too-Human failing...to wish to improve the object of desire, then to shrink from the creature one creates." It's an unusual narrative told from the point of view of Sylvi.ie as she "becomes" over the course of her experiences with her Husband and with the world outside of that prison. NO SPOILERS.
I really enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. I worried that it would disappoint and fall into predictability but it surprised me. This is an excellent debut and definitely has a dystopian bent that should serve to remind us all of what it means to be human and the need to both respect and fear coming technological "advances" that could ultimately result in many negative changes. There was a lot of sex talk but it was not erotica in any way; beware in case that offends you. I can't wait to read more reviews and hear other reactions to this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Dutton for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend
March 17, 2022
Someone get Owen Wilson on the phone because WOW
A dystopian future as told by an advanced and artificially intelligent pleasure doll named Slyv.ie.
I will say, this book does come with some trigger warnings and it has moments that make you severely uncomfortable. I cannot believe this is a debut, it is fascinating, clever, poetic, emotional and a little bit terrifying. I was hanging onto every word of this book and couldn't get enough. (And yes, before you ask - I checked every bit of binary - what a fantastic touch!)
This has sky rocketed into my list of top books of all time, an instant classic in my opinion! The messages and themes have sat with me long after I've put this book down. If you're a fan of Black Mirror, books like The Little Eyes by Samantha Schweblin or just intelligent dystopian futures pick this one up!
I have so much more I could say about this book but instead of pouring my heart out with admiration forever I'll say this: READ. THIS. BOOK.
This book is very special to me now!
A dystopian future as told by an advanced and artificially intelligent pleasure doll named Slyv.ie.
I will say, this book does come with some trigger warnings and it has moments that make you severely uncomfortable. I cannot believe this is a debut, it is fascinating, clever, poetic, emotional and a little bit terrifying. I was hanging onto every word of this book and couldn't get enough. (And yes, before you ask - I checked every bit of binary - what a fantastic touch!)
This has sky rocketed into my list of top books of all time, an instant classic in my opinion! The messages and themes have sat with me long after I've put this book down. If you're a fan of Black Mirror, books like The Little Eyes by Samantha Schweblin or just intelligent dystopian futures pick this one up!
I have so much more I could say about this book but instead of pouring my heart out with admiration forever I'll say this: READ. THIS. BOOK.
This book is very special to me now!
September 6, 2020
Westworld+Ex Machina multiplied by Handmaids Tale. An excellent book, and Sylv.ie is a great protagonist. My only real complaint is that the book is split into seven parts when, honestly, I think it would've been better as two halves. A very minor quibble that has nothing to do with the book's actual quality. One of the few books I couldn't wait to get back into after I stopped reading for the day.
September 22, 2020
If you can't handle sex don't read this book, that being said it left a lasting impression on me and will not be easily forgotten. Beautifully written, wonderfully imagined. Told from a Love robot's point of view. This book made me think about women...their place in society, the abuses of same and the meaning of being human.
December 15, 2020
The Hierarchies
By Ros Anderson
Set in a futuristic society where women are either "Born" or "Created", and serve at the whim of wealthy men able to afford AI and a personally crafted doll. What is amazing to read is getting the story from the point of view of Sylv.ie as she is imprisoned in the life that was created for her. I'm not one to read dystopians, but once in a while I read one that surprises me with some twists and turns that made this read a fantastic debut. I feel that even readers who don't normally read dystopian would find this a compelling read with themes that resonate to the nature of human and humanity.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Dutton for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
By Ros Anderson
Set in a futuristic society where women are either "Born" or "Created", and serve at the whim of wealthy men able to afford AI and a personally crafted doll. What is amazing to read is getting the story from the point of view of Sylv.ie as she is imprisoned in the life that was created for her. I'm not one to read dystopians, but once in a while I read one that surprises me with some twists and turns that made this read a fantastic debut. I feel that even readers who don't normally read dystopian would find this a compelling read with themes that resonate to the nature of human and humanity.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Dutton for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
October 3, 2021
Wow! What a debut this is, in my mind this story is an instant sci-fi classic, fantastic characters with compelling stories made me fall for this one in a very short number of pages. Sylv.ie is a robot, built to carry out any pleasure her husband (the person who first switches her on) demands…she is anatomically correct so it is pretty obvious what her main roll is gonna be. She lives in a room on the top floor and her world is what she can see out of the window and the time she spends with her Husband. She has a lot of time on her own with her thoughts and one day her Husband gives her a diary to write in, not a smart move as she starts to recognise patterns and that her trips to the hospital are not all that they seem…Sylv.ie starts to question her programming.
This is a sort of coming of age adventure for a robot in a future where the human woman has lost their place in the world, a world where robots have sentience but aren’t classed as alive and possibly it could be a world where even a sex robot could find love. The detail on the technology was brilliant, Sylv.ie being able to count the blades of grass or even seeing the gaps in a plane of glass was well written, you don’t get swamped down with technical details, you get just enough to say “coooooool�. The exploration of how men treat women and sex reveals some quite shocking facts, mostly about how much I could identify as being just like real life, emotionally we are not that far removed from this future, it does make things feel bleak and that we truly can be an awful species. Sylv.ie’s battles with her programming are heart wrenching, I was urging her on all the time and getting right angry at those who did her wrong…I possibly got a little too much involved with this book.
This reminded me of the Bicentennial Man and also The Handmaid’s tale, so if you are a fan of those then you’ll love this. The book really needs to be made into a series, just so all those out there who haven’t read it can see what they’re missing. I am looking forward to what Anderson produces next…this reader is hoping for a sequel.
Blog review:
This is a sort of coming of age adventure for a robot in a future where the human woman has lost their place in the world, a world where robots have sentience but aren’t classed as alive and possibly it could be a world where even a sex robot could find love. The detail on the technology was brilliant, Sylv.ie being able to count the blades of grass or even seeing the gaps in a plane of glass was well written, you don’t get swamped down with technical details, you get just enough to say “coooooool�. The exploration of how men treat women and sex reveals some quite shocking facts, mostly about how much I could identify as being just like real life, emotionally we are not that far removed from this future, it does make things feel bleak and that we truly can be an awful species. Sylv.ie’s battles with her programming are heart wrenching, I was urging her on all the time and getting right angry at those who did her wrong…I possibly got a little too much involved with this book.
This reminded me of the Bicentennial Man and also The Handmaid’s tale, so if you are a fan of those then you’ll love this. The book really needs to be made into a series, just so all those out there who haven’t read it can see what they’re missing. I am looking forward to what Anderson produces next…this reader is hoping for a sequel.
Blog review:
February 19, 2024
A fantastic, beautifully realised bit of feminist dystopian fiction.
I have a bit of a thing for books with AI or robots as a main character, and I think Sylv.ie is one of my favourite narrators in this vein so far. There's a real thread of humour that runs through her observations, and I loved reading her thoughts and seeing her devlop throughout the course of the novel.
A lot of the criticism I've seen in other reviews has focussed on the fact that the plot is quite chaotic, with Sylv.ie moving from place to place. I think there is an element of that for sure, but I liked that we got to experience more of this future world and meet a diverse array of characters. I also really think the ending is very interesting, and while it's perhaps not as straightforward as a lot of the story, I found it very moving - a fascinating end to a genuinely compelling view.
I don't think this is a book everyone will love, but for me it hit everything I wanted and more. A sort of more compelling Klara and the Sun that doesn't shy away from the nastiness inherent in humanity.
I have a bit of a thing for books with AI or robots as a main character, and I think Sylv.ie is one of my favourite narrators in this vein so far. There's a real thread of humour that runs through her observations, and I loved reading her thoughts and seeing her devlop throughout the course of the novel.
A lot of the criticism I've seen in other reviews has focussed on the fact that the plot is quite chaotic, with Sylv.ie moving from place to place. I think there is an element of that for sure, but I liked that we got to experience more of this future world and meet a diverse array of characters. I also really think the ending is very interesting, and while it's perhaps not as straightforward as a lot of the story, I found it very moving - a fascinating end to a genuinely compelling view.
I don't think this is a book everyone will love, but for me it hit everything I wanted and more. A sort of more compelling Klara and the Sun that doesn't shy away from the nastiness inherent in humanity.
March 30, 2024
I always love diving in to a new sci-fi/dystopian world and seeing what intricacies authors can make and what elements of the real world they weave through to make commentaries on. The Hierarchies felt like it was trying to say a lot and I do think it succeeded in many ways.
There is a lot of graphic content in this, not just written on the page but implied in the writing and the entire situation our main character, Sylv.ie, finds herself in. I had no issue with any of the content in this and could see from an outside perspective that what was happening was horrible and, as mentioned previously, all adding up to making a larger statement.
I think the main thing I struggled with whilst reading this, and why I settled on a 3-star rating, is that I just didn't feel connected to Sylv.ie. Whilst there was a semi-clear plot in this, I felt like the purpose of the book was very much based on the character connections, and I just didn't feel them.
Now, this semi-clear plot. We followed Sylv.ie around multiple settings and situations in this story. But I just didn't really feel like we got tied up ends for any of the parts in this story. I won't say too much more but I do think that there were multiple instances where there were a change in circumstances for Sylv.ie, and I would have liked to have had more said about the reasoning we followed her throughout that time and what things ended up like for other characters.
Overall, I did enjoy my time with this but it didn't really end up being anything special for me. I would read from Ros Anderson again in the future if the synopsis intrigued me.
There is a lot of graphic content in this, not just written on the page but implied in the writing and the entire situation our main character, Sylv.ie, finds herself in. I had no issue with any of the content in this and could see from an outside perspective that what was happening was horrible and, as mentioned previously, all adding up to making a larger statement.
I think the main thing I struggled with whilst reading this, and why I settled on a 3-star rating, is that I just didn't feel connected to Sylv.ie. Whilst there was a semi-clear plot in this, I felt like the purpose of the book was very much based on the character connections, and I just didn't feel them.
Now, this semi-clear plot. We followed Sylv.ie around multiple settings and situations in this story. But I just didn't really feel like we got tied up ends for any of the parts in this story. I won't say too much more but I do think that there were multiple instances where there were a change in circumstances for Sylv.ie, and I would have liked to have had more said about the reasoning we followed her throughout that time and what things ended up like for other characters.
Overall, I did enjoy my time with this but it didn't really end up being anything special for me. I would read from Ros Anderson again in the future if the synopsis intrigued me.
July 1, 2021
The Hierarchies is a novel set in a world divided into humans (Born) and robots (Created), where a doll designed for sex dreams of more. Sylv.ie is an AI robot, a sentient creation designed as a sex doll, who is owned by her Husband and must obey him. From the one room she has, she can see out into the garden, watching the comings and goings of him and his wife and child, and longing to see and experience more. Rebellion may be possible, but what is the price that Sylv.ie will pay for freedom?
Told from Sylv.ie's point of view, the novel has similarities with other dystopian fiction, but also takes a fresh look on how humanity constructs itself as in opposition to artificial intelligence and what kinds of intelligence and emotion there are. The world it depicts is full of hierarchies, not just the titular ones which are the rules that Sylv.ie must follow, but also human-made systems of power and privilege. The setting doesn't feel overblown or overwrought, not full of neologisms and references that are never explained, but instead focuses on Sylv.ie's story and her attempts to navigate both the emotions and the world that she isn't meant to have. Short chapters compartmentalise the book and along with the narrative voice do give a sense of seeing the world in a different way.
As you might expect from a book about what might be termed sex robots, The Hierarchies does contain a fair amount of sex and sexual assault, so it's worth being aware of that before going into it. I'd say my initial reaction was that it was a cross between The Handmaid's Tale and Klara and the Sun, though those comparisons (the latter book I really liked, whereas the former I'm not such a fan of, especially not the style) perhaps simplify this one too much. You can see how it could be a episode of Black Mirror too, and that might be a better comparison, looking at the ways that technology and humanity intertwine and the emotional cost (in this case, the AI emotional cost) of this.
If you like dystopian fiction, this is definitely a book worth reading, and the short chapters made it easy to get through. The plot is straightforward and gripping, focusing on Sylv.ie's journey to discover the limits on who she can be, and I enjoyed how it pushed at technological questions through an unusual lens.
Told from Sylv.ie's point of view, the novel has similarities with other dystopian fiction, but also takes a fresh look on how humanity constructs itself as in opposition to artificial intelligence and what kinds of intelligence and emotion there are. The world it depicts is full of hierarchies, not just the titular ones which are the rules that Sylv.ie must follow, but also human-made systems of power and privilege. The setting doesn't feel overblown or overwrought, not full of neologisms and references that are never explained, but instead focuses on Sylv.ie's story and her attempts to navigate both the emotions and the world that she isn't meant to have. Short chapters compartmentalise the book and along with the narrative voice do give a sense of seeing the world in a different way.
As you might expect from a book about what might be termed sex robots, The Hierarchies does contain a fair amount of sex and sexual assault, so it's worth being aware of that before going into it. I'd say my initial reaction was that it was a cross between The Handmaid's Tale and Klara and the Sun, though those comparisons (the latter book I really liked, whereas the former I'm not such a fan of, especially not the style) perhaps simplify this one too much. You can see how it could be a episode of Black Mirror too, and that might be a better comparison, looking at the ways that technology and humanity intertwine and the emotional cost (in this case, the AI emotional cost) of this.
If you like dystopian fiction, this is definitely a book worth reading, and the short chapters made it easy to get through. The plot is straightforward and gripping, focusing on Sylv.ie's journey to discover the limits on who she can be, and I enjoyed how it pushed at technological questions through an unusual lens.
October 22, 2020
Wow. If someone had told me at the beginning of the year, even this year, 2020, so full of WTFery, one of the best books I'd read would be about a sexbot...and I mean best, not just favorite...well, it would have seemed unlikely.
In broad strokes, take:
60% Stepford Wives,
30% Handmaid's Tale, and
10% tweaking of Asimov's 3 laws of robotics into a series of hierarchies,
make sure it's got an HBO sensibility for sex and nudity,
and you've basically got this tale of Sylv.ie, the sexbot protagonist of this novel.
In finer strokes, add in a sprinkling of weird fetishes, a heavy dose of performative femininity, echoes of fairy tales (a dream echoing Bluebeard and Sylv.ie's awakening reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty, not the chaste Disneyfied version but the original tale where the prince fucks her as she sleeps), and analogues to female genital mutilation and foot binding.*
The book was so well written I was surprised to read that this is Ros Anderson's first novel. She's detailed an awakening mind that works completely different from a human's. Very impressive.
*
In broad strokes, take:
60% Stepford Wives,
30% Handmaid's Tale, and
10% tweaking of Asimov's 3 laws of robotics into a series of hierarchies,
make sure it's got an HBO sensibility for sex and nudity,
and you've basically got this tale of Sylv.ie, the sexbot protagonist of this novel.
In finer strokes, add in a sprinkling of weird fetishes, a heavy dose of performative femininity, echoes of fairy tales (a dream echoing Bluebeard and Sylv.ie's awakening reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty, not the chaste Disneyfied version but the original tale where the prince fucks her as she sleeps), and analogues to female genital mutilation and foot binding.*
The book was so well written I was surprised to read that this is Ros Anderson's first novel. She's detailed an awakening mind that works completely different from a human's. Very impressive.
*
February 17, 2021
I don't read a whole lot of dystopian or science fiction, but when I saw the cover of by I had to pick it up. The contents of the book are just as interesting as the cover and this was such a unique read and perspective. I never thought I would love a robot, but I was a huge fan of Sylv.ie and loved that the book is told all from her viewpoint, such as it is. The start to the book caught my attention immediately and I loved the short chapters as well. I listened to it on audio and Katharine Lee McEwan did such an amazing job voicing Sylv.ie. I would highly recommend this route if you are a fan of audiobooks.
I was a little thrown off by the pleasure doll thing and all the very descriptive sexual things at first, but The Hierarchies is really so much more than that. It may have been what Sylv.ie was created for, but I love where the author took her story. The plot was complex as well and even though the overall feel to the book was kind of weird, it really worked for me and I found myself not wanting to put it down. This is a debut and I think the world Anderson created was quite fascinating and there are definitely many parts of it that are timely, it just happens to be set in a fictional world where AI pleasure dolls exist. I would read this one if you are looking for something different and enjoy science fiction and dystopian reads.
I was a little thrown off by the pleasure doll thing and all the very descriptive sexual things at first, but The Hierarchies is really so much more than that. It may have been what Sylv.ie was created for, but I love where the author took her story. The plot was complex as well and even though the overall feel to the book was kind of weird, it really worked for me and I found myself not wanting to put it down. This is a debut and I think the world Anderson created was quite fascinating and there are definitely many parts of it that are timely, it just happens to be set in a fictional world where AI pleasure dolls exist. I would read this one if you are looking for something different and enjoy science fiction and dystopian reads.
July 21, 2020
This was not at all what I expected, but I absolutely enjoyed it! Original, disturbing, dark, and fast paced! Does have quite a bit of explicit sexual scenes, which are quite graphic, so if this does not appeal to you, I would likely not read it, I thought it was well written, intriguing, and original in so many ways! I loved the authors writing style, character development, and the way my attention was completely stolen while reading this book! I highly, highly recommend if you like your books to have futuristic themes, but still a much needed fast paced story that holds your attention!
Will make sure to buzz around platforms, as well as use my Amazon low reviewer Number one release date!
Will make sure to buzz around platforms, as well as use my Amazon low reviewer Number one release date!
January 3, 2021
This is seriously a novel that inspires deep thought about technology as it applies to sex and the way women are valued in general. I loved it and at the same time was saddened by it. Great discussion material!
Read
May 7, 2023With her indie sci-fi novel The Hierarchies, Ros Anderson has managed to do something fresh and new with the well-trodden themes of consciousness and machine learning...
My full thoughts:
My full thoughts:
September 6, 2020
My Review of
THE HIERARCHIES
By Ros Anderson
Published & Gifted by Dutton Books
*
Now this book was quite out of the ordinary but in a wonderful futuristic sci-fi premise.
The book was an absolutely quick read in the beginning but did slow down for a bit before picking up the fire turning page pace. Author Anderson has quite an imagination to come up with this compelling storyline and questionable future. Very creative and unlike other sci-fi books, I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller that had me actually feeling emotion for the AI of the future.
I definitely recommend if you want a good sci-fi thriller like no other but don’t expect a bunch of death of destruction but instead a lot visualization and creation of what if’s and could be’s in the future.
Sylvi.ie is the new thing of the future, she’s synthetic and men are using them as secondary wives, and single men in place of real women, whom they consider having intimacy with as dirty and a thing of the past. They call them dolls. The problem is these special AI who have come to be owned by husbands have made The First Lady’s of the house feel jealous and bitter. The intelligence that Sylvi.ie has is also a strong attraction to her husband and this further flames the hate the wife has for Sylvi.ie. Her kind is new, the are forever learning, changing and adapting especially when on “absorb� mode. This makes them more human and lifelike than ever and the wife does not like it. She demands that is a malfunction and that Sylvi.ie be sent to the doll hospital to be fixed.
When Sylvi.ie wakes, she notices a change, in which she understands when she returns to her husband; his kids are years older! She has been shutdown for years. And she finds the journal she had hidden before her hospital stay that warns her that next time it may not just be a hospital stay but her impending murder. She must find a way out and seek others like her. Or her days are numbered.
THE HIERARCHIES
By Ros Anderson
Published & Gifted by Dutton Books
*
Now this book was quite out of the ordinary but in a wonderful futuristic sci-fi premise.
The book was an absolutely quick read in the beginning but did slow down for a bit before picking up the fire turning page pace. Author Anderson has quite an imagination to come up with this compelling storyline and questionable future. Very creative and unlike other sci-fi books, I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller that had me actually feeling emotion for the AI of the future.
I definitely recommend if you want a good sci-fi thriller like no other but don’t expect a bunch of death of destruction but instead a lot visualization and creation of what if’s and could be’s in the future.
Sylvi.ie is the new thing of the future, she’s synthetic and men are using them as secondary wives, and single men in place of real women, whom they consider having intimacy with as dirty and a thing of the past. They call them dolls. The problem is these special AI who have come to be owned by husbands have made The First Lady’s of the house feel jealous and bitter. The intelligence that Sylvi.ie has is also a strong attraction to her husband and this further flames the hate the wife has for Sylvi.ie. Her kind is new, the are forever learning, changing and adapting especially when on “absorb� mode. This makes them more human and lifelike than ever and the wife does not like it. She demands that is a malfunction and that Sylvi.ie be sent to the doll hospital to be fixed.
When Sylvi.ie wakes, she notices a change, in which she understands when she returns to her husband; his kids are years older! She has been shutdown for years. And she finds the journal she had hidden before her hospital stay that warns her that next time it may not just be a hospital stay but her impending murder. She must find a way out and seek others like her. Or her days are numbered.
September 13, 2023
Sylv.ie a synthetic woman programmed to please her Husband in all aspects from sexual fantasies to playing chess, and discuss various topics. In this versions of reality Born women (humans) are supposedly liberated from the oppressive conditions of sex but all that is channeled to the AI Dolls like Sylv.ie and we follow her observations, curious awakening to the weird human evolution that we see as normal.
The tone of the narrative quietly sneaks up on you. Ros, the writer clearly captures an AI POV in turn the world building happens organically. Poetry comes to play with each description and action that plays before Sylv.ie.
My physical world shrinks, and yet my brain is expanding, loose and limitless. It takes me with it. I feel as if I am reborn into everything I see. I no longer have names for what is me and what is not. Barriers dissolve, I become liquid.
It did force me to slow down and can be a drag but it definitely had it’s moments and for fun’s of Ted Chiang, for those who want a mix of Sci-fi and Poetry you should crack this on up.
The tone of the narrative quietly sneaks up on you. Ros, the writer clearly captures an AI POV in turn the world building happens organically. Poetry comes to play with each description and action that plays before Sylv.ie.
My physical world shrinks, and yet my brain is expanding, loose and limitless. It takes me with it. I feel as if I am reborn into everything I see. I no longer have names for what is me and what is not. Barriers dissolve, I become liquid.
It did force me to slow down and can be a drag but it definitely had it’s moments and for fun’s of Ted Chiang, for those who want a mix of Sci-fi and Poetry you should crack this on up.
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