Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
As Graham lifts the bolt, the cow turns to him and asks if he will Turing test him before pulling the trigger. The cow is a Bête, an animal with a AI chip in its brain that means it can converse and think. The law is just about to change, so that the killing of these beasts is now murder.
And so begins a raft of changes in Graham's life, as his farm fails and he hits the road just to survive. The rise of the animal rights movement has empowered the animals in England, and given them some political power. As he drifts in and out of of a dramatically different society, he never really escapes from his past actions. And one day that very past confronts him, and offers him a choice.
Possibly the strangest book I have read in a while, it is a blend of a dystopian future, with a cyber culture sub text. The society was fairly well advanced until the rise of these AI enhances creatures. As I read it I felt that I was reading a modern version of Animal Farm, but rather than a communist overthrow of a farm, this was the rise of the AI animal. Weird and disturbing at times, this was a genuinely original dystopian novel.
And so begins a raft of changes in Graham's life, as his farm fails and he hits the road just to survive. The rise of the animal rights movement has empowered the animals in England, and given them some political power. As he drifts in and out of of a dramatically different society, he never really escapes from his past actions. And one day that very past confronts him, and offers him a choice.
Possibly the strangest book I have read in a while, it is a blend of a dystopian future, with a cyber culture sub text. The society was fairly well advanced until the rise of these AI enhances creatures. As I read it I felt that I was reading a modern version of Animal Farm, but rather than a communist overthrow of a farm, this was the rise of the AI animal. Weird and disturbing at times, this was a genuinely original dystopian novel.
At first I thought I hated this but got well into it. Some unexpectedly beautiful writing about the natural world amongst a dystopian reality that feels not too far fetched (what does these days) got a bit weird towards the end but I enjoyed it. I think? I thought about this book a lot when I was not reading it.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A novel with glimmers of greatness, a fantastic premise but ultimately tries and fails to explore too many concepts. Clickbate-scifi 80% of the time but if the book was like the last chapter it would have been a solid read. In summary, a disappointing quick read.
This is a well written, witty, well characterised, vivid and thought provoking science fiction novel about ethics and the “what if” scenario of animals being empowered to have a voice in society.
If you want to read a fast paced, original, unpredictable story that explores a potential future once speaking animals can influence our behaviour, this book is for you.
It really was quite special.
If you want to read a fast paced, original, unpredictable story that explores a potential future once speaking animals can influence our behaviour, this book is for you.
It really was quite special.
Stiekem had ik dit boek al 6 jaar geleden moeten lezen.... Ik heb in ieder geval niks gemist.
"As I raised the bolt-gun to its head the cow said: 'Won't you at least Turing-test me, Graham?'
'Don't call me Graham,' I told it. 'My wife calls me Graham. My mum calls me Graham. Nobody else.'
'Oh, Mister Penhaligon,' the cow said, sarcastically. We'll have to assume, for the moment, that cows are capable of sarcasm. 'It won't much delay you. And if I fail, then surely, surely, go ahead: bye-bye-bos-taurus. But!'
'You're not helping your case,' I said, 'by enunciating so clearly. You don't sound like a cow.'
'Moo,' said the cow, arching one hairless eyebrow."
3,5 ster - De eerste pagina van het boek blijft toch wel het grappigst.
'Don't call me Graham,' I told it. 'My wife calls me Graham. My mum calls me Graham. Nobody else.'
'Oh, Mister Penhaligon,' the cow said, sarcastically. We'll have to assume, for the moment, that cows are capable of sarcasm. 'It won't much delay you. And if I fail, then surely, surely, go ahead: bye-bye-bos-taurus. But!'
'You're not helping your case,' I said, 'by enunciating so clearly. You don't sound like a cow.'
'Moo,' said the cow, arching one hairless eyebrow."
3,5 ster - De eerste pagina van het boek blijft toch wel het grappigst.
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The knowledge and techniques Adam Roberts displays in his 15th novel, Bête, are as admirable as they are varied. https://theforgottengeek.wordpress.com/2015/06/11/bete-by-adam-roberts/
A really interesting concept that went off on too much of a tangent for me. It was good, as opposed to great, and I have to say t drifted apart a bit in the last part, and I didn't really understand the ending.