Machines Like Me cover art

Machines Like Me

A Novel

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Machines Like Me

Written by: Ian McEwan
Narrated by: Steven Crossley
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About this listen

New from Ian McEwan, Booker Prize-winner and international best-selling author of Atonement and The Children Act

Machines Like Me occurs in an alternative 1980s London. Britain has lost the Falklands War, Margaret Thatcher battles Tony Benn for power, and Alan Turing achieves a breakthrough in artificial intelligence.

In a world not quite like this one, two lovers will be tested beyond their understanding. Charlie, drifting through life and dodging full-time employment, is in love with Miranda, a bright student who lives with a terrible secret. When Charlie comes into money, he buys Adam, one of the first batch of synthetic humans. With Miranda's assistance, he co-designs Adam's personality. This near-perfect human is beautiful, strong, and clever - a love triangle soon forms. These three beings will confront a profound moral dilemma.

Ian McEwan's subversive and entertaining new novel poses fundamental questions: What makes us human? Our outward deeds or our inner lives? Could a machine understand the human heart? This provocative and thrilling tale warns against the power to invent things beyond our control.

©2019 Ian McEwan (P)2019 Recorded Books Alternate History Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Science Fiction Computer Science Heartfelt Artificial Intelligence
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The story that supports the ‘sci-fi’ parts is so engaging, the characters so well developed you forget the genre completely.

So engaging a story about a machine!

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I couldn't stop listening, and I thought I was enjoying it, but I am not sure. The revisionist history was distracting and not really relevant. I am not sure why the author decided to put all the work and detail into changing history.

The presence of the android / robot (I don't think I am spoiling anything) is very interesting and has some great story lines. Humans interaction with robots and the quandary of not fully understanding where life begins and ends is fascinating.

Overall, I guess it was better than okay, but not great.

I don't know - I am not sure how to rate

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Thoroughly engrossing story and the narrator was perfect.I have always enjoyed reading Ian McEwens books and was spell bound to hear this book read to me.

Gobsmacked

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I like Ian McEwan, and this book was very good. I almost think it tried to tackle too many issues at once though... artificial intelligence, justice vs truth, what is humanity at it’s core? What is vengence worth? Sometimes it felt like the narrator was reading a laundry list of things which are different in Mr McEwan’s altered reality world... the narrator ‘s voice could get a bit grating. I didn’t relate that well to the main character, though maybe that was the point? Aimless, drifting without much ambition or commitment to anything... kind of creepy, actually. Overall very good, makes for great discussion.

Justice vs morality?

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I was really intrigued by the ideas behind this one. I had heard a CBC interview with the author and as this subject matter was outside my norms I ordered the audio version.
I just found the characters did not develop for me plus the story seemed not to flow. I liked the audio reading and would still recommend you try it.
I might well choose another of his books to get a deeper sense for his writing.

Just OK

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I was drawn to this book by the premise of an engaging narrative about AI gone wrong in an alternative history. What I got was kind of lazy and mostly boring account that depicted unlikable characters. The plot was not terrible but, again, failed in believability at times. Finally, the narration, while competent, didn't match the character's voice in age or composure limiting the credibility of the story further.

Fails in execution

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