T5W is a weekly book meme created by Lainey from Gingereadslainey and hosted by Sam from Thought On Tomes with a different bookish topic each week. You can check out the GoodReads group here.
Topic: Book List for Class on Robots and AI
Since my research focus in university is in robotics, I thought it’d be interesting to go make a list of books that feature robots. Then I realized that I haven’t actually read that many books featuring robots so instead this is a list of 5 books on robots and AI.
1. Autonomous by Annalee Newitz
Autonomous is an interesting sci-fi novel that simultaneously discusses the treatments of humans vs sentient robots that are effectively their own person, and the dangers of Big Pharma. Newitz’s interpretation of a sentient robot’s ability to perceive human gender and gender norms was fascinating.
2. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
This is the only one on this list I haven’t actually read, but is a list of books featuring robots a real like if it doesn’t include this book? I have watched the original Blade Runner, which is based on this, so hopefully that’s close enough.
3. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
One of my favorite sci-fi novels of all times! The subtle yet important characteristic differences between Breq, Justice of Toren, and the individual Justice of Toren ancillaries was so impressive to read. I know a lot of people consider the language of this book confusing, but I think if you read it as the author’s attempt to translate dialogue into English where not every word has a one-to-one, it makes much more sense.
4. The Lifecycle of Software Objects by Ted Chiang
This is a short story that talks about raising your own pet sentient AI. Basically, how would a sentient Neopet feel if you spent five years then abandon it entirely? The ending is rather sad, but I suppose their treatment was realistic.
5. All Systems Red by Martha Wells
This one’s probably the fluffiest of the list. While every other book poses questions for the reader to think about as they read, I read this one simply as a book about a Murderbot that would rather watch TV than kill people. Overall, very cute and I’m curious whether future books get more serious.
