Robots of Gotham by Todd McAulty

A near future USA in a world where machine intelligences have taken over much of the United States as well as the rest of the world is the setting for Robots of Gotham by Todd McAulty. An outstanding debut novel with a well-realized and frighteningly believable world.

The story is told through the eyes of Canadian businessman Barry Simcoe who arrives in Chicago to conduct some business when he finds that the war in Chicago isn’t quite as over as he thought it was. Barry finds himself saving a wounded diplomat robot and befriending a Russian doctor, a Chicago realtor, a Venezuelan soldier and a near-starving dog. If that’s not enough, he stumbles upon a plot that could mean the end of humanity.

If this sounds like a lot going on, it is. But McAulty skillfully plays the story out so that it never feels overwhelming. Barry makes for a great protagonist as he is smart and uncommonly brave. McAulty has created a rich, complex world and he has filled it with compelling characters and a fascinating plot.

The robot and machine characters are painted with the same care as the human characters, giving them depth, wit and purpose -- on both sides of the conflict. The story picks you up from the opening chapter and carries you relentlessly forward until the very end. There are enough twists and surprises to keep you engaged all along the way.

I loved the characters in this book and the world it is set in. The action is exciting and believable. This deserves to be one of the biggest hits of the summer and it is going to make my list for one of the top books of the year. I can’t wait to see where McAulty goes next. One of my favorite reads. Any fan of science fiction, thrillers, or just good writing should pick this up. Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.

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