Robopocalypse

A Novel

By: Daniel H. Wilson

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

They are in your house. They are in your car. They are in the skies…Now they’re coming for you.

In the near future, at a moment no one will notice, all the dazzling technology that runs our world will unite and turn against us. Taking on the persona of a shy human boy, a childlike but massively powerful artificial intelligence known as Archos comes online and assumes control over the global network of machines that regulate everything from transportation to utilities, defense and communication. In the months leading up to this, sporadic glitches are noticed by a handful of unconnected humans – a single mother disconcerted by her daughter’s menacing “smart” toys, a lonely Japanese bachelor who is victimized by his domestic robot companion, an isolated U.S. soldier who witnesses a ‘pacification unit’ go haywire – but most are unaware of the growing rebellion until it is too late.

When the Robot War ignites -- at a moment known later as Zero Hour -- humankind will be both decimated and, possibly, for the first time in history, united. Robopocalypse is a brilliantly conceived action-filled epic, a terrifying story with heart-stopping implications for the real technology all around us…and an entertaining and engaging thriller unlike anything else written in years.

©2011 Daniel H. Wilson (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

2012, ALA Alex Award, Winner

“Daniel H. Wilson’s Robopocalypse is...an ingenious, instantly visual story of war between humans and robots.” [Janet Maslin, New York Times]

“It’s terrific page-turning fun.” [Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly]

Terrifyingly Plausible

This has a MUCH more plausible (& sympathetic) take on the 'Skynet' robo-uprising plot than most. I also like how the Oklahoma Native American reservations are the pillars of the human resistance (in the US).

Love this genre but not this book

Nothing wrong with the reader - it's the material.
Nothing memorable because nothing was written that enhanced the premise. It's a good subject very poorly executed and quite disappointing because I like apocalyptic science fiction.
If you are a fan of the genre do yourself a favor and skip this one.

They are coming for You

AI is all the rage today, and in this futuristic tale. Artificial Intelligence runs every, from out cars to construction equipment, and the humanoid robots of the future. When they turn on the human race, to save our planet, extinction ensues. The humans need to buckle up and rebel or it's their end. Book 2 is out so fear not, we'll make a comeback.

Great listen

The voice acting at times was a bit distracting, Matilda in particular but it didn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. Would recommend.

A collection of stories that come together

Starts off feeling like a collection of short stories about how the destruction of the human race by an artificial intelligence named Archos affects different characters, but eventually the story comes together as the author joins the disparate character arcs into one overarching narrative. My 15 yr old son loved this audiobook.

Exceptional story line and story telling!

Exceptional story line and story telling! Definitely a must read. On my third read and enjoying it every time. Mike

Better than I thought it would be

Found myself more immersed than I thought I would be. Great and imaginative storyline. Well performed.

Mind-blowing action. Surprises keep you suspended

It starts as a collage of experiences from the ones who would eventually lead the resistance. As you listen the characters become so believable. It's as if you knew them personally. It wasn't very difficult to formulate an image of each of the characters. As the story escalates the lives of the characters (from different parts of the world) interweave and you can begin to see how it is this communal behavior that gets them through and ultimately determines their survival. The events that lead up to "zero hour" are scenarios that are not a far stretch from the possible. The only far stretch was a zombie scene, but even that could be explained through science and not the supernatural. I also enjoyed how the author was able to mesh the world of machines with man as men became more machine-like and machines became more manlike. This theme is played out as a machine-altered human child leader of the resistance is the metaphoric protagonist against a machine antagonist that takes the form of an innocent child that develops a schizophrenic perception of reality. The message I take away from this is that as machines become closer to our everyday experience we must learn to control our thoughts. Just as all tools in the past have become an extension of our being so too will "automata", which will become an extension of our intelligence. As we extend that intelligence it is only the highest ideals of our human nature that will be our saving grace. I would love to see this as a screenplay.

Could not put it down!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book was a great read I could not put it down. The performance was well done and the added to the story.

What about Mike Chamberlain’s performance did you like?

Mike Chamberlain did a great job bringing the characters to life and adding to the flow of the story.

great story

I love the whole premise a well told story. will listen again so engaging. great