Official Review: Robots and Mad Scientists

Post by **CherylTegan7** » 07 Apr 2020, 22:49

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Robots and Mad Scientists" by James Smith⁰.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Robots and Mad Scientists by James Smith is a collection of Science Fiction short stories. Broken into two parts, the first half deals with main characters who are robots, the other half deals with main characters who are mad scientists. Most of the robots seem almost human or are made to look like them, and not all the mad scientists are completely mad, or certainly not bad people.

In the robot half we see robots who make decisions for humans, ones who fight wars for us, ones who clean up our time travel messes, AIs that help humans, a robot president, a robot secret agent, and more. The mad scientist half gives us many scientists who use technology to travel into the past. Some relive old memories and would rather stay there, some wish to experience history, but end up becoming part of it, some are from a bland future and wish to live in a more active past, while some are host to alien microbes and do their bidding.

What I like most about this collection of stories is the human nature of both halves. I didn’t expect that from the robot half and was pleasantly surprised. I really liked the way the author wove history (even naming a few famous people) into the narrative, making time travelers (some robot, some people) out to be well known people from history. A few of the stories really struck a chord with me. Like artificially intelligent slot machines that used cheat codes to try to give some of their favorite customers wins, even though they risked getting shut down. And a man who invents memory technology, then realizes how much better his past was when compared to his gambling, mafia problem present. Or a family who just wants to spend time together, risks everything to find a time period where they can just ‘be’. I also like the positive way some of the robots and humans interact, like they’re real friends.

If there’s anything that can been done better, it’s the depth. I know short stories can only do so much, but at least a few of them would’ve read better with more tension and a stronger writing style. There were also several errors (more than ten), though they were small and didn’t take away much from the read. My main problem is a technical issue and may just be because I’m reading the Kindle version on my phone. The novel has a lot of spacing issues and the page numbers are way off. The pages are 2-9269. I will say that many, if not most of these short stories involved time travel. While it didn’t get old, a tad more variety in this area may have made the novel more interesting.

I give this novel 3 out of 4 stars. What it lacks in really strong writing, it makes up for in life lessons and glimpses of would-be futures that really make you think. There are a few mentions of religion and politics, but nothing that would put most (if any) readers off. There’s nothing graphic, nor bad language, so anyone who likes Science Fiction and time travel should dive right in.

******
Robots and Mad Scientists
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spencermack · Post by **spencermack** » 21 Apr 2020, 00:25

If a story lacks good writing, I don't care how good the life lessons are. The writer's job is to communicate to the reader. Entice, inspire, but most importantly keep them engaged! If that is done in a sloppy fashion it needs adjusting. Thanks for the review!

Stephanie Elizabeth · Post by **Stephanie Elizabeth** » 21 Apr 2020, 07:14

This has quite a unique premise and I am interested to read the book from the robots' perspective. There is an eye-catching cover as well! Thanks for the wonderful review.

Jacktone Ogada · Post by **Jacktone Ogada** » 22 Apr 2020, 01:40

I can't imagine a world controlled by robot, I mean, do every of our tasks. The world would be a total mess. Anyway, great review though with a typo.

Magnify3 · Post by **Magnify3** » 23 Apr 2020, 03:19

The last time I took note of robots and mad scientists was on the many cartoons that I watched back in the day. Thevrobots always wanted to takeover the world. The robots in this book seem different. Thanks for the detailed review!

Magnify3 · Post by **Magnify3** » 23 Apr 2020, 03:20

The last time I took note of robots and mad scientists was on the many cartoons that I watched back in the day. The robots always wanted to takeover the world. The robots in this book seem different. Thanks for the detailed review!

Post by **CherylTegan7** » 23 Apr 2020, 18:22

spencermack wrote: ↑21 Apr 2020, 00:25 If a story lacks good writing, I don't care how good the life lessons are. The writer's job is to communicate to the reader. Entice, inspire, but most importantly keep them engaged! If that is done in a sloppy fashion it needs adjusting. Thanks for the review!

I definitely wouldn't call the writing sloppy, just simple at times and not particularly strong. Some readers can look past that, some can't. Sorry it won't be enticing you to read, but thanks for commenting!

Post by **CherylTegan7** » 23 Apr 2020, 18:25

Stephanie Elizabeth wrote: ↑21 Apr 2020, 07:14 This has quite a unique premise and I am interested to read the book from the robots' perspective. There is an eye-catching cover as well! Thanks for the wonderful review.

Yeah, the cover's funny and the premises in the stories are pretty great. If you do read, I hope you enjoy! Thanks for commenting.

Post by **CherylTegan7** » 23 Apr 2020, 18:32

Magnify3 wrote: ↑23 Apr 2020, 03:19 The last time I took note of robots and mad scientists was on the many cartoons that I watched back in the day. Thevrobots always wanted to takeover the world. The robots in this book seem different. Thanks for the detailed review!

Yeah, these robots are very different, most acting in a very human way. Thanks for commenting!

Post by **CherylTegan7** » 23 Apr 2020, 18:32

Magnify3 wrote: ↑23 Apr 2020, 03:20 The last time I took note of robots and mad scientists was on the many cartoons that I watched back in the day. The robots always wanted to takeover the world. The robots in this book seem different. Thanks for the detailed review!

And thanks again

Post by **CherylTegan7** » 23 Apr 2020, 18:36

Jacktone Ogada wrote: ↑22 Apr 2020, 01:40 I can't imagine a world controlled by robot, I mean, do every of our tasks. The world would be a total mess. Anyway, great review though with a typo.

Not necessarily. Depends on how they're programmed and if they eventually decide to rise up. And no matter how many times I edit, I always miss one. Sorry. But thanks for commenting!

Nath_chuks · Post by **Nath_chuks** » 24 Apr 2020, 14:35

The time traveling aspect and artificially intelligent slot machine and other inventions you mentioned got me. Great review, guess I would add this book to my list.

Nujudee · Post by **Nujudee** » 24 Apr 2020, 18:38

Impressive review.
I love the amazing writing style and plot the author introduced.

Post by **CherylTegan7** » 24 Apr 2020, 22:33

Nath_chuks wrote: ↑24 Apr 2020, 14:35 The time traveling aspect and artificially intelligent slot machine and other inventions you mentioned got me. Great review, guess I would add this book to my list.

If only I could find and befriend one of these slot machines $$ And yeah, the time traveling ones sometimes add great historical aspects and figures. If you do get a chance to read, I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for commenting!