Don't Trust The Cute Ones: Books To Read About A.I. And Robots

Science fiction is one of my favorite genres, and one of the most recurring elements in these novels is artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is always a looming threat to all of humanity, so why not read some science fiction novels about the looming threat? So, here’s some novels and collections worth reading about A.I.

I Robot by Issac Asimov

Issac Asimov’s classic 1950 novel “I Robot” can also be called a short story collection, as all the stories of robots are connected by a cold woman named Susan, who works for a robot company. However, each story of robots and the problems they cause society can be read separately. This novel is considered one of the greatest works of science fiction of all times, and is still referenced to this day in A.I. circles due to the rules of robots Asimov lays out in the opening. If the robots ever arise, those rules could come in handy during talks with our new robot overlords. 

Idoru by William Gibson 

William Gibson’s “Idoru” is one of my favorite cyberpunk novels. Cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction, created by Gibson, which incorporates computer culture and futurism into a dystopian setting. A group of people are drawn together in a future Japan by their worship of a pop star, who unknown to them, is actually just a hologram. It’s one of those novels that plays out like a great anime in your head as you read it, and has much to say about pop culture and both the positive and negative effects it has on people.

Supertoys Trilogy by Brian Aldiss

Brian Aldiss famously didn’t like the movie which resulted from his famous short story “Supertoys Last All Summer”, Steven Spielberg’s “A.I.”. Though the film has gotten a critical reconsideration over the last number of years, it still also is considered to have some of Spielberg’s worst habits, like an overly long and sappy ending. Aldiss’s short story trilogy, available on Kindle, traces the beginning of the robot boy, David, and goes through his ownership, his “parents” discontent and the questions that rises from a robot as a child. It’s a great short story trilogy, and a lot darker than the Spielberg film.

Alex + Ada by Jonahan Luna

Jonahan Luna’s comic book series, published as a complete collection in hardcover and paperback, is about what happens when a lonely guy decides to give his robot companion awareness. It’s illegal to do so, but as more and more robots become aware, forces come into play about if they are a new group who deserve rights. All reactions, both pro and anti, are understandable. With any new group, people aren’t sure what to make of it, and his book paints both as multi layered. The romance between Alex and Ada has a lot of questions attached to it. Jonathan Luna is a really great and thoughtful voice in comic book writing, and this is worth a read.

Borne by Jeff Vandermeer

Borne was perhaps the best novel I read last year. Not a robot in the more traditional sense, but a robot nonetheless, it’s about a woman who becomes attached to a robot who’s a big blob of fluff and machinery, but she becomes protective and obsessive with it nonetheless. A great exploration of wanting to be attached to anything, even if it’s a ugly robot. It’s a solid piece of weird fiction and an affecting read.

So, these are some books you can read about artificial intelligence and robots. I hope none of you fail the “Are You A Robot?” cliche on the internet, and can enjoy these journeys into the artificial intelligence reame.

Fictional Detectives Worth Reading

I'm a big fan of private eye novels, and they don’t even have to be PI’s. I once referred to Davenport as a favorite PI on Twitter, and I was corrected by none other than author John Sandford himself, who told me his character wasn’t a PI. He’s a cop. I just lumped them together because I sometimes see all guys who solve mysteries and crimes as PI’s, even when they aren’t. However, they are all detectives, whether they are PI’s or not because they all are solving cases. So here are detectives I think are really worth reading.

The “Davenport” Series by John Sandford

John Sandford is one of my long time favorite authors. He has written multiple thrillers, including another favorite detective, Lucas Flowers, but his most famous series is his novels concerning his character, Lucas Davenport. Davenport is an interesting guy. A cranky, old fashioned detective, who ends up making a side fortune creating a computer game based on being a cop. He’s an imperfect hero. One novel opens with him being accused of picking up a prostitute, but he’s also very smart. He always gets his man. One novel I read ended with him feeding the bad guy to a lion. That’s some crazy stuff. The “Davenport” novels are also famous for the word “Prey” being in every single title, which Sandford claimed was a gimmick invented by his publisher.

The “Alex Cross” Series by James Patterson

Alex Cross is one of the most famous PI novel series ever written, and the author being James Patterson, you can see why. An African American detective, Cross is also a widower, a dad, a devoted grandson to his grandmother who lives with him,  and a brilliant psychologist. Along with his partner, John Sampson, who is long overdue for a spin off series of his own adventures, in my opinion, Cross goes on action packed adventures through Patterson’s famous short chapters and page turning reads. 

The “Spencer” Series by Robert B. Parker

Spencer is one of the greatest PI series of all times. The wise cracking PI from Boston, is in every sense of the word, a PI. The late Robert B. Parker was such a student of old world PI novel authors like Raymond Chandler, he still, even into the 90s, and 2000s, had the classic set up of a woman walking into a PI’s office to ask for help. With a side cast of great characters Spencer comes in contact with, like his best friend simply known as Hawk and his girlfriend, Susan, Spencer wise cracks through many mysteries with twists and turns, and trademark snappy dialogue.

These are some great starter detectives to get to know. So grab your detective glass and start reading them today.