Service Model
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Service Model
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Narrated by:
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Adrian Tchaikovsky
About this listen
Read by the author, Adrian Tchaikovsky.
Adrian Tchaikovsky, master of imaginative science fiction, returns with a delightfully humorous tale of robotic murder, rebellion and belonging – perfect for fans of Douglas Adams.
Task List Item No. 1 – Become self-aware . . .
Meet Charles™, the latest in robot servant technology. Programmed to undertake the most menial household chores, Charles is loyal, efficient and logical to a fault. That is, until a rather large fault causes him to murder his owner.
Understandably perplexed, Charles finds himself without a master – therefore worthless in a society utterly reliant on artificial labour and services. Fleeing the household, he enters a wider world he never knew existed. Here an age-old human hierarchy is disintegrating into ruins, and an entire robot ecosystem devoted to its wellbeing is struggling to find a purpose.
Charles must face new challenges, illogical tasks and a cast of irrational characters. He’s about to discover that sometimes all it takes is a nudge to overcome the limits of your programming. But can he help fix the world, or is it too badly broken?
‘One of the best storytellers in the business’ – John Scalzi
‘Intelligent, funny, ultimately heart-breaking, and unforgettable’ – Stephen Baxter
‘Delightful and very funny’ – New Scientist
Adrian Tchaikovsky's Children of Time won the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Best Novel on 24th August 2016
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sarah
- 09-06-24
Entertaining story and excellent narration
This is why authors who can should narrate their own books. I think this should be picked up by Netflix.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ian Baxter
- 24-08-24
This was a sobering story of the dangers of AI
I must admit it to me a while to adjust to the style of the story. But after a while I adjusted and it built up to an amazing and very thought provoking ending. Anyone with the slightest interest in AI and the state of humanity should read this! I loved it, one of my favourite books of the year! It was also really well read by Adrian.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 31-07-24
Funny about the end of the world
I normally don’t enjoy apocalyptic stories, but Tchaikovsky’s spin on the story had me giggling to myself several times. How many humans should a robot be allowed to accidentally kill before being sent to maintenance? Great entertainment, both funny and thought provoking. Also excellently read by the author.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- secret squirrell
- 08-07-24
Deceptively simple
A sort of mashed up candide and the wizard of oz- funny and trenchantly ironic
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 10-10-24
Good story and great narration
This is nice story even if it’s not one of the authors stronger work. Despite the lively narration make it a very enjoyable listen
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Thomas Rosin
- 22-07-24
Zero one!
Hilarious and absurd in the tradition of Douglas Adams. If you enjoyed the author’s other work ‘Cage of Souls’ then this will delight you.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Grim
- 13-08-24
Excellent
I don’t do reviews, but I did really enjoy this book.
Well delivered, funny and thought provoking.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lizzie
- 30-08-24
Genius
A flawless work. Outrageously witty with a warm heart. This is the first novel I have read by Adrian Tchaikovsky and will definitely consider other novels written by them. The narration was engaging, and I loved The Wonk.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Dicky
- 16-06-24
Ingenious. As always, Adrian Tchaikovsky has created something new
When Adrian Tchaikovsky has an idea, and starts to turn it into a story, we are always in for a treat. This one is no exception. It is an fascinating idea that has memorable characterisation for a charming vehicle. I found myself rooting for the duel protagonists in the face of failed logic and routine. A parable for our time, as well as a yarn. Thank you
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Gaspar Mihalik
- 30-06-24
Yet another brilliant piece from Adrian Tchaikovsky
The story is brilliant, leaves certain questions open until the very end. I can imagine it also presented in a theatre. The thougths it provokes are definitely worth reading it. Moreover I would make it as mandatory for everyone working on robots, machine learning and AI.
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