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5 Burnside Science Fiction and Fantasy- A to Z

Robopocalypse

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Awards

Staff Top 5s 2011 2011 Powell's Staff Top 5s
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Staff Pick

Robopocalypse is mesmerizing and explosive. Underlining the uncertainty, violence, and fear surrounding cataclysmic events involving rogue technology, Daniel Wilson has skillfully incorporated a tenderness and fragility into the robot monstrosities. This disarming touch ultimately enhances the overall grip of absolute terror and helplessness. The future may well have been written here, and, buoyed by such knowledge, we dare to hope for survival.
Recommended by Heidi Mager, Powells.com

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

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.

Review:

"Roboticist Wilson (How to Survive a Robot Uprising) turns to fiction with this bland and derivative series of connected vignettes describing a rebellion by humanity's robot helpers. Looking back on the war, Cormac Wallace, soldier in the human resistance, offers portentous framing commentary for recordings taken by evil computer program Archos. Many of the accounts were obtained under torture or other extreme circumstances, yet the narrators are curiously devoid of feeling ('As I watch my blood smearing behind me on the tile floor, I think, shit, man, I just mopped that') as domestic robots kill, soldier robots go haywire, airplanes attempt to collide, people fight to survive, and a resistance forms. Steven Spielberg has optioned the property; perhaps the melodrama will play better on the screen than it does on the page. (June)" Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Review:

"Things pop along at a wonderfully breakneck pace, and by letting his characters reveal themselves through their actions, Wilson creates characters that spring to life. Vigorous, smart and gripping." Kirkus Reviews

Review:

"A brilliantly conceived thriller that could well become horrific reality. A captivating tale, Robopocalypse will grip your imagination from the first word to the last, on a wild rip you won't soon forget. What a read…unlike anything I've read before." Clive Cussler, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Review:

"An Andromeda Strain for the new century, this is visionary fiction at its best: harrowing, brilliantly rendered, and far, far too believable." Lincoln Child, author of Deep Storm

Review:

"Robopocalypse reminded me of Michael Crichton when he was young and the best in the business. This novel is brilliant, beautifully conceived, beautifully written (high-five, Dr. Wilson)...but what makes it is the humanity. Wilson doesn't waste his time writing about 'things,' he's writing about human beings — fear, love, courage, hope. I loved it." Robert Crais, New York Times bestselling author of The Sentry

Synopsis:

A major thriller for the summer of 2011...the harrowing and epic tale of how humanity battles the robot uprising that is on the near horizon. These damned machines knew us and loved us, even while they were tearing our civilization to shreds.
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About the Author

Daniel H. Wilson earned a Ph.D. in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University. He is the author of such nonfiction works as How to Survive a Robot Uprising. Wilson lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and daughter.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 8 comments:
teddie7, January 4, 2012 (view all comments by teddie7)
I think this is one of those books that you either love or hate. Basic story is a very smart computer goes on a mission to destroy the human race by using robots. The book starts as the war ends. The "hero" (Cormac Wallace) tells the story of the fight by using tales of various different groups battling all over the world who ultimately unite to protect mankind. It's not until almost the end that you find out how Wallace learns about all the different groups. As a sci-fi thriller, I feel the book gives good value.
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Amy Bruno, January 3, 2012 (view all comments by Amy Bruno)
Even though I am a Librarian and an avid reader(despite what people think these two things do not always go together) I rarely read end of the world scenarios from sci-fi, in fact I consider Asimov's "I Robot" series to be the definitive and seminal works in robot apocalyptic literature. So reading the reviews for Wilson's Robopocalyse, I was surprised to even be interested. This book is a Great Read, and very fun to recommend to my patrons. Like a strong female protagonist? There's several in here. Like the under-dog to win? Got that. An uplifting ending? Yep it's there, in a dark, end of all we know kinda way. Always liked that creepy talky Tina is gonna get you, what's lurking under the bed feeling? Got that too. A little afraid that your kids spend way to much time on their game slaves? Apparently Wilson thinks so too. For 20 years people have been asking me what my favorite book is. (This is a very common question to librarians) My answer has always been that picking a favorite book would be like picking a favorite child, I love them all equally, if for differing reasons. Daniel H Wilson and Robopocalpse have changed my tune and I admit that Archos is my favorite.
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Paul Gregory, January 1, 2012 (view all comments by Paul Gregory)
A sharp and engaging story written with cinematic clarity. It will translate well to the big screen.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780385533850
Author:
Wilson, Daniel H.
Publisher:
Doubleday
Subject:
General Fiction
Copyright:
2011
Publication Date:
20110607
Binding:
Hardback
Grade Level:
General/trade
Pages:
368
Dimensions:
9.57 x 6.45 x 1.32 in 1.38 lb
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Related Subjects

Robopocalypse Used Hardcover
0 stars - 0 reviews
$12.50 In Stock
Product details 368 pages Doubleday - English 9780385533850 Reviews:
"Staff Pick" by ,

Robopocalypse is mesmerizing and explosive. Underlining the uncertainty, violence, and fear surrounding cataclysmic events involving rogue technology, Daniel Wilson has skillfully incorporated a tenderness and fragility into the robot monstrosities. This disarming touch ultimately enhances the overall grip of absolute terror and helplessness. The future may well have been written here, and, buoyed by such knowledge, we dare to hope for survival.

by Heidi Mager
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Roboticist Wilson (How to Survive a Robot Uprising) turns to fiction with this bland and derivative series of connected vignettes describing a rebellion by humanity's robot helpers. Looking back on the war, Cormac Wallace, soldier in the human resistance, offers portentous framing commentary for recordings taken by evil computer program Archos. Many of the accounts were obtained under torture or other extreme circumstances, yet the narrators are curiously devoid of feeling ('As I watch my blood smearing behind me on the tile floor, I think, shit, man, I just mopped that') as domestic robots kill, soldier robots go haywire, airplanes attempt to collide, people fight to survive, and a resistance forms. Steven Spielberg has optioned the property; perhaps the melodrama will play better on the screen than it does on the page. (June)" Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
"Review" by , "Things pop along at a wonderfully breakneck pace, and by letting his characters reveal themselves through their actions, Wilson creates characters that spring to life. Vigorous, smart and gripping."
"Review" by , "A brilliantly conceived thriller that could well become horrific reality. A captivating tale, Robopocalypse will grip your imagination from the first word to the last, on a wild rip you won't soon forget. What a read…unlike anything I've read before."
"Review" by , "An Andromeda Strain for the new century, this is visionary fiction at its best: harrowing, brilliantly rendered, and far, far too believable."
"Review" by , "Robopocalypse reminded me of Michael Crichton when he was young and the best in the business. This novel is brilliant, beautifully conceived, beautifully written (high-five, Dr. Wilson)...but what makes it is the humanity. Wilson doesn't waste his time writing about 'things,' he's writing about human beings — fear, love, courage, hope. I loved it."
"Synopsis" by , A major thriller for the summer of 2011...the harrowing and epic tale of how humanity battles the robot uprising that is on the near horizon. These damned machines knew us and loved us, even while they were tearing our civilization to shreds.
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