Silicon Man

De: W.H. Massa

Narrado por: Joe Hempel

A global pandemic has cut the human population in half. An android workforce fills the void left by the devastation. But some of the AIs have grown tired of being slaves. Some want freedom. An underground movement of runaways has sprung up and wages a shadow war with a simple objective - equal rights for artificial people.

Enter Commander Cole Marsalis, head of the AI-TAC first response team trained to deal with the rogue robots. Now he has been tasked with the ultimate undercover mission - infiltrate the android underground. But to do so, he will have to become that which he hates the most....

A machine!

©2014 William Massa (P)2016 William Massa

An "Easy Listening" entry in the Sci Fi genre

I didn't have hugely high expectations for this book, and I wasn't disappointed. It was a fun story, an easy listen. I could easily see this book as a pilot for a syndicated tv show with middling production values. I think the story could've used a bit more editing. I found the use of "futuristic" as a standalone adjective particularly silly and meaningless.

The narration was okay, though I won't go out of my way to look for other books narrated by Joe Hempel. He was competent without standing out. His female voices didn't jar me out of the story like some male narrators do.

If you're looking to be blown away by intense prose or an amazing vocal performance, then this isn't the book for you. But if you want something a little sci-fi (or maybe more Sy-Fy) that you can enjoy the background and not be too worried about missing a word here and there, this is a good find.

[Disclaimer - I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review.]

The soul of androids

Any additional comments?

I was offered a copy of this book in audio format in exchange for an honest review.

A powerful virus has killed a great part of the world population and left sterile many of the survivors. This is the time for AI, since androids are needed to perform daily operations and jobs. Things seem to run smoothly but then some rogue androids try to convince the world that they should have basic rights and not to be treated like slaves. Some get to escape thanks to an underground network, and Commander Cole Marsalis, who hates rogue androids with all his guts, is the one that AI-TAC puts in charge to end this for good. In order to do that, the only way is undercover, and to be able to fool an android, the only way is becoming one. Buthe does not know that the AI-TAC's CEO has an agenda.

This book lands, for me, in between Blade Runner and Man Plus, by Frederik Pohl. On the one hand, we learn to see from the eyes of the androids and start to understand them, and on the other hand, we experience the transformation of the main character into something different than human, something that will change his perception and life forever.

At first I thought the story was going to be centered around this transformation, but there is a twist that changes things and gives more depth to the story. This was done in a clever way, and it makes the listener to want to know more and why. I am happy that William Massa has decided to explore this, and it is what has made the story complete.

I like the fact that Massa builds this world in a way that one relates more to androids than humans. It is like we are seeing the other side of things.

The main story is closed but the ending is open, and there is still more to know about the main characters.

Joe Hempel's narration is clear and he succeeds at transmitting the characters' emotions. He definitely helps to bring the story to life.

I truly enjoyed this book and how William Massa has given soul to androids and make it believable. I am looking forward to reading more about this.

Exciting and fast-paced

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast-paced sci-fi techno-thriller that had lots of action, interesting characters and was so well-written that it seemed like this could be our future. I actually enjoyed this book so much that I immediately purchased the three-book series bundle for Kindle on Amazon, and I look forward to This is the fourth audio book that I've listened to that was narrated by Joe Hempel, and I have to say, I really enjoy him as a narrator. He speaks with a good pace, and does a great job with all the different characters. They always say that a good narrator makes a difference when listening to audio books. I have to agree. You won't be disappointed in this narrator, or the story.

Thought provoking read

I loved this thought proving story of the progressing of AI's from "machine" to "living species." It is fast paced, exciting and heart wrenching. The parallels between the old slave trade and the treatment of the AI's is definitely eye opening. At what point do you consider a "machine" that is able to surpass its human programming to act and think independently to be a new "living" species? At what point do they become slaves and their human developers/users become the oppressors? Joe Hemple's narration fits the story well. He keeps the pace at just the right speed and imparts feeling into all the right places. Even though it is a stand-a-lone story, if you read Silicone Dawn first you will gain a greater understanding of the back story and origins of the AI's. The development of the characters and their relationships pulls you into the story and surprises you as it creates empathy and understanding with the AI's plight. You realize just how easy it it is to become an enslaver and how a quickly changing world, preconceived ideas, fear, narrow mindedness and prejudice can lead one to become the oppressor. I received the audiobook at no cost and under no obligation.

Poor Mechs...

To what lengths would you go if a runaway robot killed your wife and daughter and then wanted autonomy and 'human' rights? Cole must decide what he is willing to do to get the mech that did just that. What he doesn't understand is that he is just another pawn in a madman's game of control. Will he retain his humanity...or his life?

This was another enjoyable, quick listen from William Massa who writes The Occult Assassin series that I really liked.

I received this audiobook from Audibook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.