Interesting idea

Very Black Mirror-esque. Enjoyable listen with good narration. If you’re here because of the movie, great because the book can’t possibly let you down. If you haven’t seen it already and you’re considering watching the movie, do not bother, it just isn’t suited for film. I listened to this audiobook in one sitting, but needed breaks during the much shorter bore-fest of a movie.

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A nice short story premise spread a little thin.

As other reviews have mentioned, it's clear from the outset that there's a twist coming and it takes a bit too long to get to that reveal - it probably could have been a short story - but there is something disquieting about the tone that warrants the length. It expresses all the anxieties of a Marriage in a way that feels almost like an Ira Levin story. Something is just slightly off.

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Beautiful

Beautifully written, interesting premise, loved the performance, An audiobook I can easily listen too again.

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2 people found this helpful

Fantastic

Ian Reid is a master at writing tension. I believe this book is a lot deeper than it seems. Many think they have it figured out early, but I think there is a lot more than what is overtly stated in the book

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Iain Reid

this author is good stuff, read all of it, watch the film. Miss relationship.

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completely captivating

a slow burn that makes you question every single thought the character has. The tension is masterfully built upon and the delivery of the story allows for even more confusion, debate and heightening of the narrative twists.

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Foe.

The plot takes a bit of working out. Sill not sure if I fully understand the ending but it keeps you interested.

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A creepy and disturbing psychological sci-fi novel

This is a genuinely creepy and disturbing psychological sci-fi novel.

Set in the near future, Junior and Henrietta (Hen) live a dull but wholesome life on a remote farm.

Their lives are changed one day when a man arrives to tell them that Junior has been randomly long-listed to take part in a two-year space station mission orbiting the Earth. The man is called Terrance and he is from OuterMore, a shady aerospace company.

The visit unsettles the couple and brings tension to their relationship. Terrance is full of corporate bluster and faux reassurances. He convinces the couple that this is a prized opportunity and that they are both lucky.
After two years Terrance returns to confirm that Junior has been selected for the mission but during the mission Junior will be replaced in the home by biomechanical duplicate. This will be some kind of advanced robot/clone which will be indistinguishable from Junior. Cheesy Terrance moves in with the couple and monitors Junior, noting his routines, mannerisms and collecting vast quantities of data so that he can be properly replicated.
He also spends much time interviewing Hen and Junior becomes jealous and suspicious that maybe it is Terrance who will replace him.

Well I won't spoil the conclusion here but there are TWO wonderful twists, one I did see coming bur the other I didn't.
This is a clever, well planned story, it is both dark and weird and written from the perspective of Junior. It covers many issues about how well we know ourselves and each other and relationships in the setting of advanced artificial intelligence. It may leave you feeling a little melancholy.
A film adaptation of the book is planned and if you watch 'I'm Thinking of Ending Things' (based on another Iain Reid novel) it will give you a great insight into Reid imagination.

Jacques Roy's delivery of the story is spot on In terms of pace and tone and adds to the atmosphere.

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thin stuff in more ways than one

Ho-hum.

The supposed 'twist' is impossible to ignore after the first few chapters. The rest of the book then turns into a pedantic slog to get to the reveal. it's all too obvious and on the nose. the meditations about identity don't really rise above boiler plate.

hard to understand how anyone thought this surprising or original.

the narration is nicely judged though.

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Not much to it

Bought this on the back of a glowing promo in the Sunday Independent and it did not really get going..

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1 person found this helpful