Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2020 Challenge - Regular
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28 - A book with a robot, cyborg or 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




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?

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 ..."


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

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 :)

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

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

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
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

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


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.

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


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.

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

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.


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.



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

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.


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


That whole series is amazing !


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.

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

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.
Books mentioned in this topic
Made to Kill (other topics)Machines like Me (other topics)
Machinehood (other topics)
Hench (other topics)
Click Here For Murder (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Donna Andrews (other topics)Frédéric Beigbeder (other topics)
Neal Shusterman (other topics)
Brandon Sanderson (other topics)
Andromeda Romano-Lax (other topics)
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