In Robopocalypse, Daniel H. Wilson tells the story of a future in which the robots, controlled by a central super-intellegent artificial intelligence, kill almost all humans and take over the world. Robopocalypse ended with the humans victorious and the robot army defeated--or so we thought. In Robogenesis, we follow the survivors of the New War, including humans, humans who have been modified by robot technology, robots who are independent and autonomous (having been disconnected from the central AI), and the bodies of humans who were killed but who host parasitic robot-like structures. I know, this last one sounds weird. It is.
The defeated AI from Robopocalypse now is rallying the troops against another powerful AI. Are the humans and autonomous robots to believe it when it says it was fighting on the right side all along, plotting not to exterminate the humans but to save them? The new AI power, after all, has designs to obliterate all life on earth.
The story of Robogenesis jumps around from group to group, ultimately bringing them together. The vignettes of robot life, and of the lives of advanced humans and their interactions are what really make Robogenesis interesting. As one of the narrators observes, "The line between man and machine is blurring." Wilson's imagination runs wild as he creates this new world of robot-driven creation. Not only do the humans adapt robot tech, but some of the high-functioning robot intelligences actual create new, autonomous creations.
Unfortunately, the story starts to feel disjointed and overlong amid these vignettes and explorations of rob tech. Still, Robogenesis is a fun read with interesting tech, exciting action, and continues the story from Robopocalypse nicely. Fans who enjoyed Robopocalypse will love Robogenesis, and will be eager for the inevitable sequel.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
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