Hello, I am looking for well written novels that have an A.I. as a main character. It doesn't need to be the main character per say, but it needs to get plenty of focus. I'd rather it be a longer read, but a short novel (200 pages) is fine. I would like something before the android/robot phase (Examples: Do Androids Dream of Electric sheep or Asimov's series' because they are a bit too human).
The only no-gos for me are young adult (unless you feel it really is more adult and has been categorized wrongly)
Some examples I've read and enjoyed:
I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream
Karla and the Sun (has a body, but the way she sees, moves, and thinks, is unique and different enough from a human)
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Illuminae Files (book 1 only)- AIDAN's portions only since they were such a huge portion of the first book and the graphical story telling demonstrated how he "saw" things. Sadly the YA themes ruined the rest but AIDAN was well done.
Ghostwritten-One of the main characters is a A.I I liked but I wish the portion it had was longer.
Wish I had more but that's why I'm asking. lol
Thank you!
by InternationalPay6024
4 Comments
Try the Culture series by Iain M. Banks, there are loads of AI characters. My personal favorite is the ship mind from Falling Outside the Normal Moral Constraints in Surface Detail.
this is an **incredibly short 28 page read** but i’m recommending it in case you don’t get a lot of replies/recs, and because this is in my top 10 reads of all time.
[**Slow Time Between The Stars** by John Scalzi](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/151908304)
the only reason i even read this last year is because i was struggling reading and was trying to meet my goodreads book challenge, so i was picking up anything that was super short.
imagine my surprise when i finished this one and was like HOLY SHIT. i cannot overstate how incredible this book is. i had never read anything by scalzi before, and wasn’t expecting much but this is in my top 10 reads of all time.
the only thing i will say is do NOT listen to this by audiobook because it’s terrible.
when i read this it was free on kindle unlimited. i immediately bought it after reading it.
PLEASE give this short story a chance!!
Check out Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
A Close and Common Orbit – Becky Chambers.