Robota [ハードカバー]

The story, crafted by Chiang and written by Card, flows off the pages. Each page left me wanting more. The story starts out rather conventionally with a hero without memory trying to recover his past, but from there the plot takes some interesting turns. The introduction of bizarre 'smart' dinosaurs about mid-way into the book was especially tantalizing. And the really neat part about Robota is that the robots are not dumb carbon copied machines but robots with distinct personalities. How cool. In fact, most of the characters are atypical and well portrayed. The tortured past of the hunter warrior named Juomes, is very sad and even the villain Kaantur is sympathetic - that's a testament to Card's writing skills that he can redeem a vile character like Kaantur.

To the casual reader these characters may at first seem like cookie cutter types but the story uncovers hidden motives and dark secrets that make them interesting and real. Be forewarned though that there is a lot of information in this book so a second read may be necessary (and well worth it). The only fault, if it can even be considered one, is that this book should have been twice as long!

This is an exceptional book - pure eye candy for the mind and thought provoking for readers who want more depth in what they read. Check it out!

Robota is about an amnesiac, Caps, and his quest to find Font Prime, the ruler of the merciless robots who are searching out the remnants of biological life. However, humans are not the only biological species on Robota. Hunter Beasts (large, evolved, Monky/human hybrid creatures), monkeys, Jodphors (dinosaur creatures), and other fantastic creatures are all sentient. Even some of the robots are sentient. I thought this was very cool. There is a war going on between the biological and mechanical species of the planet. It makes for a really good story with plenty of twists.

My only problem with the book is the lack of depth at times. Robota often created more questions than answers. Why didnt they explain cubing more fully? What is the jewel? Tell me more about Beryls sister, Juomess family, the last human city, etc. However, I feel that this is one of the writer's intents. My imagination ran wild. I just wish Chiang and Card would explain a few more things. Hopefully, there will be a sequel because Robota ended too soon.

The book instantly grabs you with the awesome cover art. As you begin to flip the thick pages, you realize that you are holding an incredibly original story. Furthermore, you are sure to be amazed by the great pictures drawn by Chiang. The material quality of the book itself makes the purchase that much easier. This may sounds stupid to some, but I love the thick pages and large hardback binding. It made the book feel different and special.

I highly recommend it for fans of science fiction, art, and fantasy. Orson Scott Card is one of the only science fiction writers whose work I read. Frank Herbert is the other. I consider both to be masterful writers. Trust me, Robota is incredible.

I'm not generally a fan of this genre, but when a friend showed me the book I was totally won over! The artwork and story really captivated me and, as Robert Zemekis said on the back-cover quote: "...Robota transported me to places I could never go in real life." I especially loved the interesting creatures and personalitites. They aren't your usual rubber-stamped variety, but wonderfully rich. Juomes the hunter beast and Beryl were especially intriguing. This book left me wanting more!
I'm glad to hear that Chiang and Card are developing the story in other media. If those projects turn out as great as this, I'll be the first in line! I strongly recommend this book!