In the middle of the 21st century, an alien invasion wiped out humanity in under six months. Unable to stop the invaders, 27 scientists resolved to upload their minds into a mainframe to be placed in the bodies of robots.
Fast forward a millennium. Throughout the following centuries, robots have been created and have thrived. There are now over 2,000 of them, each with a unique blend of minds from the base 27, categorized/named based on their primary personality (ie a John might be 85% John’s original personality, 10% Charlie’s, and 5% Toby’s). Each acts as an individual, has a different role from their “siblings,” and follows a set of rules (not laws) that govern what has primarily been a peaceful existence.
The utopia of this new world harbors a deep secret; each robot wishes to be human. Tormented by the memories of the base human minds, each robot yearns for the sensations that only being flesh and blood can provide. Colors, tastes, smells etc. lack the zest they once had now that they are simply rendered as ones and zeroes. And that is where the geneticists come in. Despite it being outlawed, one robot believes she has solved the complications of creating a human body. Through trial and error, Eve14 represents the hope that robots have been waiting for, as the chance to reclaim their humanity is nigh. However, in order for the bodies to be viable they must have a functioning mind, one that has spent years learning and developing, one that is not so keen to be deleted and replaced by a robot’s mind.
Admittedly, I have only listened to the first book at the point of writing this review. It is enough, however, to have an informed opinion of the writing and narrating. J.S. Morin has crafted a world that just makes sense. The things the robots have done to preserve humanity’s history and culture are both logical and emotionally relevant. Great works of architecture that have been damaged since the alien war, or simply due to the passage of time, are restored. The world has been cultivated to prepare for mankind’s eventual return. The relatively loose guidelines society lives by works (mostly), without being unbelievably followed strictly by all. This series has serious potential. If it lives up to that potential then an edit to the star rating will be in order.
Paul Michael Garcia provides terrific narration. His storytelling is excellent, his intonation spot on, and his sense of pace impeccable. He delivers the dialogue smoothly, incorporating the emotions superbly for every line. His performance is absolutely wonderful.