Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Atria/Emily Bestler Books (2020), 256 pages
Description
Decimated by plague, the human population is now a minority. Robots--complex AIs almost indistinguishable from humans--are the ruling majority. Nine months ago, in a controversial move, the robot government opened a series of preserves, designated areas where humans can choose to live without robot interference. Now the preserves face their first challenge: someone has been murdered. Chief of Police Jesse Laughton on the SoCar Preserve is assigned to the case. He fears the factions that were opposed to the preserves will use the crime as evidence that the new system does not work. As he digs for information, robots in the outside world start turning up dead from bad drug-like programs that may have originated on SoCar land. And when Laughton learns his murder victim was a hacker who wrote drug-programs, it appears that the two cases might be linked. Soon, it's clear that the entire preserve system is in danger of collapsing. Laughton's former partner, a robot named Kir, arrives to assist on the case, and they soon uncover shocking secrets revealing that life on the preserve is not as peaceful as its human residents claim. But in order to protect humanity's new way of life, Laughton must solve this murder before it's too late.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member nancyadair
Chief of Police Jesse Laughton and his old partner Kir, now of Health and Human Services, pair up to solve a murder on the Preserve that is soon linked to a series of other deaths. They work together seamlessly, each bringing special strengths to the relationship. They comfortably tease and kid
Even though one is a 'meathead' and the other Metal.
A plague has decimated the human species and Laughton is part of the remnant population. Kir is a humanoid AI, a man-created robot, part of the robot majority in control of governing. He respects humans for their ability to think outside their natures. He is one of the 'good' AIs.
Kir is unwanted on the Preserve, a reservation where humans can live in self-governing segregation.
For the sake of his wife and their daughter, Laughton became of Chief of Police of the Preserve. His wife is involved in the repopulation movement and the promotion of genetic diversity through a sex clinic. "A baby in every belly" is their motto.
Now, Laughton has the Preserve's first murder to solve. The victim was a Sim developer who created an illegal plug and play program for robot self-gratification. His program fries the circuitry of robots who indulge.
If Laughton can't solve the case soon, he will lose control of the Preserve to the robot government. And that would escalate the rise of hate groups from both humans and machines. The anti-orgo AI faction is chomping at the bit to take control of the non-productive humans with their violent natures. A peace-keeping force could become permanent.
The Preserve was a chilling read while in a pandemic lockdown. "If another plague is coming, it won't be a suit and a couple of doors that save me,"a doctor quips.
It was very unsettling to read that line.
Descriptions of empty cities are disturbingly reflective of our pandemic reality under lockdown. There are shortages of supplies like sugar and coffee. The images are chilling.
Kir grapples with existential thoughts about the purpose of his existence. What's the point of living forever, he wonders. Laughton's purpose is his daughter Rachel and her future. Kir envies him. His offers to care for Rachel for her lifetime, and her children's lifetime, comforts both Kir and Laughton.
Winter's novel is a crime thriller set in a near-future where the human race is decimated by a plague, leaving AI to dominate American society. Through this fictional lens we are confronted with the fundamental questions of how diverse communities can exist together. Historically, we have chosen segregation, reservations, and a power structure based on class and strength of numbers.
Laughton wonders if the Preserve is the right choice for humans. His relationship with Kir proves that AI and human can work together, complement each other with their strengths and weaknesses, and even love each other.
I have to wonder about our choices in the next months and years as we battle this complex and frightening virus that has altered our world. Will we continue our tribalism of hate? Or can we rise above our natures and embrace and nurture our better angels?
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
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each other, even worry about each other.Even though one is a 'meathead' and the other Metal.
A plague has decimated the human species and Laughton is part of the remnant population. Kir is a humanoid AI, a man-created robot, part of the robot majority in control of governing. He respects humans for their ability to think outside their natures. He is one of the 'good' AIs.
Kir is unwanted on the Preserve, a reservation where humans can live in self-governing segregation.
For the sake of his wife and their daughter, Laughton became of Chief of Police of the Preserve. His wife is involved in the repopulation movement and the promotion of genetic diversity through a sex clinic. "A baby in every belly" is their motto.
Now, Laughton has the Preserve's first murder to solve. The victim was a Sim developer who created an illegal plug and play program for robot self-gratification. His program fries the circuitry of robots who indulge.
If Laughton can't solve the case soon, he will lose control of the Preserve to the robot government. And that would escalate the rise of hate groups from both humans and machines. The anti-orgo AI faction is chomping at the bit to take control of the non-productive humans with their violent natures. A peace-keeping force could become permanent.
The Preserve was a chilling read while in a pandemic lockdown. "If another plague is coming, it won't be a suit and a couple of doors that save me,"a doctor quips.
It was very unsettling to read that line.
Descriptions of empty cities are disturbingly reflective of our pandemic reality under lockdown. There are shortages of supplies like sugar and coffee. The images are chilling.
Kir grapples with existential thoughts about the purpose of his existence. What's the point of living forever, he wonders. Laughton's purpose is his daughter Rachel and her future. Kir envies him. His offers to care for Rachel for her lifetime, and her children's lifetime, comforts both Kir and Laughton.
Winter's novel is a crime thriller set in a near-future where the human race is decimated by a plague, leaving AI to dominate American society. Through this fictional lens we are confronted with the fundamental questions of how diverse communities can exist together. Historically, we have chosen segregation, reservations, and a power structure based on class and strength of numbers.
Laughton wonders if the Preserve is the right choice for humans. His relationship with Kir proves that AI and human can work together, complement each other with their strengths and weaknesses, and even love each other.
I have to wonder about our choices in the next months and years as we battle this complex and frightening virus that has altered our world. Will we continue our tribalism of hate? Or can we rise above our natures and embrace and nurture our better angels?
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
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LibraryThing member modioperandi
Received this book from goodreads giveaway - Thanks goodreads & Atria/Emily Bestler Books for my ARC.
I am digging into this near(ish)-future sci-fi murder mystery. So far so good. I will be reporting soon with a full review!_2020.06.11
Update: Finished the book. 2020.09.08
So The Preserve is about a
This is a great summer read. I read it real slow as I had other books on my TBR pile and this dosn't come out till later in the year. I blasted through the last half of it once I freed up over the Labor Day weekend. The book is really good. Its a great classic sci-fi, heavy on the tropes - but in a good way - used the known tropes well and with skill, kinda story. It will keep you turning pages and is very satisfying to read. It's murder mystery meets sci-fi. It has that Ray Bradbury Martian Chronicles thing where its easy to see a message about mistreatment and oppression. It has a message and tone and themes but does not dig too deeply. Primarily this is fun genre fiction and The Preserve is really great in this zone. Bring on the genre. Bring on the tropes.
This is good fun scifi that does not dig too deep but does dig deep enough to read on a sweltering day with a few drinks and allows you to walkaway satisfied. It has that good old fashioned 'Shoot. That was pretty good. I am glad I read that. It was a fun read.' sort of feeling that I have not had in a while.
I am digging into this near(ish)-future sci-fi murder mystery. So far so good. I will be reporting soon with a full review!_2020.06.11
Update: Finished the book. 2020.09.08
So The Preserve is about a
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future where earth is dominated by robots. So to revise the above not so ear future. Far future. But that is minor. It is a far future scifi murder mystery. Humanity is on the edge and subservient to said robots. The Preserve of the title is among or is the last place for humans and this condition will not last for long and a recent murder must be solved or, it seems, the AI will take over humanities last place. Jesse Laughton must solve the murders before the AIs take over.This is a great summer read. I read it real slow as I had other books on my TBR pile and this dosn't come out till later in the year. I blasted through the last half of it once I freed up over the Labor Day weekend. The book is really good. Its a great classic sci-fi, heavy on the tropes - but in a good way - used the known tropes well and with skill, kinda story. It will keep you turning pages and is very satisfying to read. It's murder mystery meets sci-fi. It has that Ray Bradbury Martian Chronicles thing where its easy to see a message about mistreatment and oppression. It has a message and tone and themes but does not dig too deeply. Primarily this is fun genre fiction and The Preserve is really great in this zone. Bring on the genre. Bring on the tropes.
This is good fun scifi that does not dig too deep but does dig deep enough to read on a sweltering day with a few drinks and allows you to walkaway satisfied. It has that good old fashioned 'Shoot. That was pretty good. I am glad I read that. It was a fun read.' sort of feeling that I have not had in a while.
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LibraryThing member Dokfintong
It's a mystery
This book is mystery in more than one way. Firstly it's a whodunit: Who killed Carl Smythe? Chief of Police Jesse Laughton used to be a cop in Baltimore where he investigated lots of murders, but since moving to the Preserve his daily work seems to be corralling drunks. This is the
The murder gets solved, more or less, but other mysteries do not. Mysteries like why there is a preserve at all. Why the Preserve is not set up to be either economically and technically self-sufficient or formally subsidized? The big mystery though is mentally ill robots. Robots who are sentimental about humans. Robots who are contemptuous of humans. Robots who like humans. Robots who drug themselves with altered reality apps. Robots who court death when the apps are bad.
None of this is explained adequately and I am unsatisfied.
I received a review copy of "The Preserve" by Ariel S. Winter from the publisher Atria Books through NetGalley.com.
This book is mystery in more than one way. Firstly it's a whodunit: Who killed Carl Smythe? Chief of Police Jesse Laughton used to be a cop in Baltimore where he investigated lots of murders, but since moving to the Preserve his daily work seems to be corralling drunks. This is the
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first murder in the Preserve's short history, and it causes a big problem because it looks as if Carl Smythe was writing and smuggling contraband programs that have started killing the robots who have built the Preserve for the human remnants.The murder gets solved, more or less, but other mysteries do not. Mysteries like why there is a preserve at all. Why the Preserve is not set up to be either economically and technically self-sufficient or formally subsidized? The big mystery though is mentally ill robots. Robots who are sentimental about humans. Robots who are contemptuous of humans. Robots who like humans. Robots who drug themselves with altered reality apps. Robots who court death when the apps are bad.
None of this is explained adequately and I am unsatisfied.
I received a review copy of "The Preserve" by Ariel S. Winter from the publisher Atria Books through NetGalley.com.
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LibraryThing member zjakkelien
It's not bad. I liked the world building, the relationship between the main character and his robot partner, and some of the 'meaning-of-life' considerations. On the other hand, there were bits and pieces in there that weren't adding anything, like the grandmother falling. Jesse's pain was never
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explained. The detective story was average, and overall I was only moderately invested. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
256 p.; 8.25 inches
ISBN
1476797889 / 9781476797885