Sometime in the twenty-third century, humanity went extinctleaving only androids behind. Freya Nakamichi 47 is a femmebot, one of the last of her kind still functioning. With no humans left to pay for the pleasures she provides, she agrees to transport a mysterious package from Mercury to Mars. Unfortunately for Freya, she has just made herself a moving target for some very powerful, very determined humanoids who will stop at nothing to possess the contents of the package.
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Publisher:
New York : Ace Books, c2008.
Edition:
First edition
ISBN:
9780441015948
0441015948
0441015948
Branch Call Number:
SCIENCE FICTION STROSS C
Characteristics:
323 pages ; 24 cm.
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Add a CommentHumanity's extinction leaves femmebot Freya Nakamichi 47, a concubine android designed for human clients, sadly out of work. In the centuries after humanity's end, android society develops an all-too familiar class system: "slave-chipped" lower-class droids work for a wealthy minority of "aristo" droids, who continue their human creators' dreams of space exploration. Super-sexy Freya struggles to remain a free agent, and -- fleeing the unwanted attention of a powerful aristo -- accepts work ferrying a mysterious package between Mercury and Mars. Author Charles Stross (a two-time Hugo winner) received a 2009 Hugo nomination for this old-school, adults-only (warning: explicit android sex), pulpy SF/space mystery praised by Booklist as "one of the most stylishly imaginative robot tales ever penned."
A homage to Robert Heinlein's novel Friday, updating and expanding it, but still the same in style and substance. Very funny references to robot religion, including how they perceive us as their god like 'Creators.'
This is definitely not one of Stross's better books. If you are new to Charles Stross, don't start here. The characters are not as interesting as in several of his other books, and you won't find the usual number of fascinating SF concepts packed into this one, either. Start with "Accelerando," "Glasshouse," or (with Cory Doctorow) "Rapture of the Nerds" instead.
Over exposition, too much backstory
As this was my first Stross novel, I have to say overall, I didn't enjoy this book. The plot was all over the place. It was difficult to get an idea what was going on half the time. Don't let the sexy cover fool you. Give this one a pass.
I usually enjoy Stross's books, but this one is an exception. It's missing the creativity of his other stories: the world doesn't get too much detail and the characters are weak. Even the timing of the plot is poor.
Avoid this one.
The best homage to Robert Heinlein ever published...
Freya = Friday ... and I'm sure you'll find so much more