The Mad Scientist's Daughter

By: Cassandra Rose Clarke

Narrated by: Kate Rudd

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

Finn looks and acts human, though he has no desire to be. He was programmed to assist his owners, and performs his duties to perfection. A billion-dollar construct, his primary task now is to tutor Cat. As she grows into a beautiful young woman, Finn is her guardian, her constant companion…and more. But when the government grants rights to the ever-increasing robot population, however, Finn struggles to find his place in the world, and in Cat’s heart.

©2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.; 2013 Cassandra Rose Clarke

Critic Reviews

"Unique, heart-wrenching, full of mysteries and twists." (Tamora Pierce on The Assassin’s Curse)

It just didn't do it for me.

What would have made The Mad Scientist's Daughter better?

I did not enjoy the story as a love story or a sci-fi novel at all. I thought the main character was annoying and the android she was in love with had no personality, so it's hard for me to imagine how she even fell in love with him.

What does Kate Rudd bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I've enjoyed narrator Kate Rudd from other books and while I did not enjoy the story at all I did enjoy the presentation of it, she always does a good job.

What character would you cut from The Mad Scientist's Daughter?

All of them I didn't like any of the characters I didn't associate with any of the characters I didn't cheer for any of the characters.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

An Exquisite Tale of Transforming Love

There is an epic sweep to this book not only because it takes place over much of a lifetime, but it deals with core issues:
◾How do we find our identity and calling in a world where convention and societal pressure would have us choose a safe and deadening path?
◾How do we risk ourselves to truly abandon our self-focus to love another, not just love our image of another but love the person, in the midst of a world filled with pain and loss
◾Can we let go of our self-focus, our enlightened self-interest and ought we?

Cassandra Rose Clarke brilliantly explores these issues and more in The Mad Scientist's Daughter. Science fiction has always been a great medium to explore issues since we're pulled out of our culture, and its related blinders, into another world with less pre-built conceptions. Ms. Clarke takes a future earth, which is so much like our own, with all our current foibles, some additional challenges and capabilities. The story centers around Caterina Novak and Finn. Cat is the daughter in the title and Finn, an android unique in his understanding and consciousness.

I listened to much of the story on the Audible version (flipping between the Kindle and the Audible version with Whispersync for Voice). Kate Rudd narrates the story. I first heard Ms. Rudd perform John Green's The Fault in Our Stars. She is fast becoming one of my favorite narrators and performs this book admirably. One of the brilliant choice points was to play Finn with a totally flat, neutral voice. This may seem obvious for an android but I've heard them done with very artificial robotic voices. This is done with flat, even timing and tone but it never feels artificial. Certainly her performance drew me in and allowed me to get lost in the novel.

For full review: wp.me/p2XCwQ-Cs

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Was sucked in despite weaknesses

There's a lot to like about this book. Finn's character is amazing and intriguing. Cat - not so much. The book is way too long. It would have been great to cut to the chase wtihout everything in the middle. And I can't quite forgive Cat for what she does to Richard but can't say much more without giving away spoilers.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Interesting adolescent tale about Artificial Intel

Interesting tale from an adolescent point of view of growing up with a robot as a companion. It could have been financed by the cigarette lobby with its silly adolescent preoccupation with cigarettes.
This may be the future with it's many legal complications. Interesting glimpse of the brave new world

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Third time listening and will go back again!

I just love this story and wish there was more to hear about Kat and Finn.

Absolutely perfect. Wonderful narrator.

Where does The Mad Scientist's Daughter rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is in my top 3 or 4 for sure. I loved it!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cat the protagonist. Feels as if Ive grown up with her.

Have you listened to any of Kate Rudd’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, The Fault in Our Stars. This wasn't as good as a performance in my opinion but then again, TFIOS is my favorite book so I am biased on that question. I love her voice and I do like how she does male characters without that weird forced scratchy "male" voice.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did laugh at parts but no I didnt cry. That isnt to say that it didnt strike any emotion because it certainly did.

Any additional comments?

GET IT

Still not sure...

So, I loved the romance, I think? ...Hated the middle, I know ... loved the ending, I think? Should I listen again ... Not sure. Really, I loved Finn.

1 of 3 people found this review helpful

Becomes involving but story better than narration.

Where does The Mad Scientist's Daughter rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Pretty good but could have been a little better with a different narrator.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Mad Scientist's Daughter?

Nothing specially stands out. But I enjoyed the interaction of Kat and Finn.

Did Kate Rudd do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

Well . . . I do think the voice of Kat's father was poor. Kate Rudd tried to deepen her voice to give the impression of an older man, but with her rather slow, deliberate narrating style it came over rather like someone reading The Three Bears to a child and trying to do Daddy Bear. Sometimes the narration was a bit too slow and ponderous for comfort. At first it was a bit off-putting but it didn't really spoil it for me once I got used to the way she read it as I enjoyed the story itself a lot.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The same as the book - "A tale of love, loss and robots."

Any additional comments?

Starts off feeling rather like a children's book or one aimed at young adults but this is largely due to the narrating style. But it develops as the character Kat gets older within the story so I suppose it works that way. I did look forward to hearing more of it each day so i'd recommend it if you like stories like Edward Scissorhands maybe.