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]

Story was predictable

Did not like knowing ending for the start and the way characters were piece medaled into story.

Nobody Knows Nothing, For Sure

There were plenty of off the wall sayings for me to pick as the title for this, such as: Leave enough ticks on a dog and pretty soon there ain't no dog left or A mechanic is just an engineer in blue jeans or It's the Cowboy Way.

This is Wilson's first novel, not his first book. He has written books on robotics. He has a PhD in Robotics among other degree's. When it comes to robots the guy knows what he is talking about, his writing in this novel can be sophomoric and I agree with the reviewer that complained about the present tense form.

Putting the bad writing aside, the use of present tense, the lack of character development, etc, I still liked the book. Like B.V. Larson's Swarm, the concept and chapter by chapter development kept me interested. I am a sucker for A-I, Robots or Vulcan type characters. There is solid Science Fiction in almost each and every chapter and those of us who have been reading Sci-Fi for a while have grown used to putting up with lower writing skills to get the science we crave. Another good thing about Wilson, is that even though he knows the in's and outs of robotics, he does not bore us with all the technical jargon.

Like Stephen Baxter and Ben Bova, I believe that Wilson has a big career in writing if he wants. He will need to get some help with his writing skills, but he won't be the first writer to improve his skills as he matures. Hell, the guy was born two years after I graduated High School.

The narrator is not terrible. He has a nasal quality to his voice and he does not do voices well, but maybe he can hone his skills also.

Retread of an old story

Although it has been done before (and much much better) I enjoyed the story found it entertaining and it kept my interest. The reader did a fair job but his UK accents are pretty bad and almost every American sounds like they spent varying lengths of time in Texas.

The real problem is the format. Mr. Wilson wanted to pull of a World War Z but just didn't have the chops. The story is supposed to be made up of interviews as well as "found footage" conversations and communications recorded surreptitiously by CCTV and various electronic devices under control of the Robots. Although the reader gives the characters voices that are easy to tell apart they STILL sound exactly the same. There is WAY too much description, environmental detail and analysis. It didn't take long for it to be apparent that the robots spared only the gifted storytellers.

It would have been better third person omniscient.

Terminator Rise of the Machines of Sorts

I gotta say off the bat that this is a book i can tell wouldn't cut it in print for me. The format is patched together from different sources and voices. But in audio format it's not bad. The parallels to the Terminator are there, sure. After all, it is a tale of the same ilk. But overall it was entertaining and the thought process of how the machines think and the environmental goals of the takeover give it a little twist. I wouldn't chase it down or relisten to it much, but it was better than some I've fallen into recently.

A Future all too possible

I bought this with apprehension. So many books try to capture the reality of the situation. This book however made it seem very plausable. Excellent performance makes this a darn good listen.

Robopocalypse is a must read (or listen)

I was hooked by Comac Wallace and his narrative excerpts of accounts on humanities struggle with Rob, as the machines are called in the robot war depicted in this book. Then I heard that it would become a movie by Spielberg and Dreamworks and knew I had a hit book in my hands. Just an hour into this excellent listen and the narrative of the "Big Happy" loosing his mind and attacking an average ice cream and yogurt jerk made me me cringe and laugh. I immediately starting telling my friends about this book. It is an excellent read. Daniel Wilsons intimate knowledge of robotics (He has a PhD in Robotics) gives a first rate sci fi adventure full of all the cool stuff we sci fi heads are looking for. Savor the book, dont waste a chapter and get it now you wont be dissapointed.

Enjoyable listen, good book

What made the experience of listening to Robopocalypse the most enjoyable?

Very good narration and story

What other book might you compare Robopocalypse to and why?

I would compare it to I Robot.

What about Mike Chamberlain’s performance did you like?

Nice diverse and distinct characters. This seems like a tough book to perform and he did an excellent job

Who was the most memorable character of Robopocalypse and why?

Matilda kinda stays with you after finishing the book, although almost all the main characters are memorable.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this book. It jumps around a lot and it takes a while to find its narrative footing, but after a while its difficult to put down. It starts out a little slow and confusing, but really builds up and becomes engrossing. I'm glad I stuck with it. I did wish it flowed a bit better though. It was a little choppy.

All the Previous Robo Sci-Fi Novels Come Together

At first it was hard to listen to the novel and not think of all the previous sci-fi novels/movies that have came before it. However, it did develop into a plot of its own as you became more intimate with the characters. In the end, it quickly had to cover ground and close the story, leaving a few questions without answers.

Worth every penny

Any additional comments?

comparing this book to others in the same genre would be difficult, the way the author wrote the story is amazing. so many books run either run a straight line or will tell two parts of the same story overlapping each other. this story is told as it already happened, which doesn't seem like a big deal but it is a really unique way of telling the story; IMO.

Interesting but empty

This book was recommended by my brother, and though it was interesting, I wasn't blown away. There are some good characters, but nothing really grabbed my attention and made me feel like I had to keep listening. I also felt the beginning shoots the end in the foot.