Science fiction has always been a genre that explores the possibilities of the future, and perhaps no area of future technology is more fascinating than artificial intelligence (AI) and robots. Classic media like Blade Runner and modern TV shows like Westworld, have long explored what it means to create machines that can think, feel, and even rebel against their creators. With this list, I will highlight several novels featuring AI and robot themes, looking at some of the best examples of the genre and examining what they have to say about the future of technology and humanity.

6 Books About AI and Robots

Speak by Louisa Hall / Buy on Amazon US / Buy on Amazon UK / Bookshop.org

From a traumatized child talking to a software program to a genius imprisoned in 2040 for creating illegally lifelike dolls, Speak features stories from a number of narrators with one theme linking them together. Artificial Intelligence. These stories show humanity’s longing for communication, and technology’s place in serving this basic human desire.

Speak considers what it means to be human, and what it means to be less than fully alive.

Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan / Buy on Amazon US / Buy on Amazon UK / Bookshop.org

Altered Carbon is a science fiction novel by Richard K. Morgan, published in 2002. The book is set in a future where human consciousness can be digitized and transferred between bodies, or “sleeves.” This capability allows people to live indefinitely as long as they have the resources. The story follows Takeshi Kovacs, a former soldier who is hired by a wealthy man to solve his own murder. As Kovacs investigates, he becomes embroiled in a complex web of politics and intrigue, encountering powerful individuals with their own agendas and secrets.

The book explores themes such as the nature of identity, the relationship between mind and body, and the impact of technology on society. It features advanced AIs and robots, as well as genetically engineered humans. There is currently a Netflix adaptation of this story available to watch now.

The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson / Buy on Amazon US / Buy on Amazon UK / Bookshop.org

The Diamond Age is a science fiction novel by Neal Stephenson, published in 1995. I’ve talked about this book a number of times, even including it on a previous cyberpunk list. The book is set in a near-future world where nanotechnology has revolutionized society. It follows the story of a young girl named Nell who receives a stolen copy of an interactive book called “Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer.”

The Primer is a highly advanced computer system that uses nanotechnology to create a fully immersive learning experience. The Diamond Age explores themes like the relationship between technology and society, the nature of intelligence and learning, and the impact of cultural and social norms on individual development.

I, Robot by Issac Asimov / Buy on Amazon US / Buy on Amazon UK / Bookshop.org

I, Robot is a science fiction collection of short stories by Isaac Asimov, published in 1950. The book is set in the future and is centered around the fictional science of robotics.

The book consists of a series of interconnected short stories that follow the career of Susan Calvin, a roboticist who works for U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, Inc.

Each story explores an aspect of robotics and the three laws of robotics that Asimov introduced:

1. A robot may not injure a human being, or through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm

2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the first law

3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second laws.

The book’s approach to robotics has had a lasting impact on the field of robotics and artificial intelligence. A film starring Will Smith was released in 2004. I, Robot has been adapted into several films and other media and remains a classic of science fiction literature.

Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson / Buy on Amazon US / Buy on Amazon UK /

Robopocalypse was published in 2011 and is clearly inspired by the work of Isaac Asimov. This book is about an all-out war between humans and artificial intelligence known as Archos, which consists of a global network of machines. The Archos soon takes control over every form of technology, from transportation to utilities, defense, and communication.

The book gives us an interesting look into what leads up to the Archos takeover, with characters experiencing a series of strange sporadic glitches. This includes a loverbot acting strangely, menacing smart toys belonging to a young girl, and a military pacification unit going haywire.

The story in Robopocalypse is told from various points of view, with characters coming back into the forefront as the plot unfolds. The chapters are short and fast-paced, quickly pulling readers into the heart-pumping man vs machines epic.

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro / Buy on Amazon US / Buy on Amazon UK / Bookshop.org

Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun gives another take on artificial intelligence as it features an artificial friend observing the qualities of humans. Klara watches the behaviour of those who come into the store to browse, and of those who pass in the street outside. Her hope is that one day, a human will come to purchase her. What will Klara learn after being warned not to invest too much into the promise of humans?

Many AI and robot stories are told from the perspective of humans and depict humans being oppressed by machines. But this story looks at how the AI views the humans around them. This touching story comes from a Nobel Prize award winner, and it’s insanely thought-provoking.

• Featured image from Possessed Photography on Unsplash

Today I will explore what The Eden Project is all about, and in the interview segment, I enter the mind of author A.T Nartey and find out what compelled her to write such a story.

About The Eden Project

Buy on Amazon UK | Buy on Amazon US

Brianna is a loyal friend of Aniya, and there isn’t a thing she wouldn’t do for her. So when Aniya goes missing, its down to Brianna to search for answers. Her search leads her to a bunch of private YouTube videos that hold clues about what could have happened to her friend. Before Brianna can expose the truth, she is kidnapped and taken to a secret island where The Eden Project is underway. Will Brianna make it out and restore her friendship with Aniya?

An interview with A.T Nartey, the author of The Eden Project

Gary: Can you tell me a little about your backstory? Where are you from? What was it like growing up?

A.T Nartey: I was born and bred in London. I spent most of my former years moving around between North and South London with my big family. Growing up I would spend hours reading, writing, and drawing as books and art were my first loves.

Despite this, when I turned eighteen, I had to decide between a career in the arts or becoming an accountant like my father. Finance won out because at the time, I was driven by the idea of making money, and I embarked on a journey learning about business and taxation. As you can imagine I was only content working in accounting for a few years before my creativity started calling to me again. Now I’m never too far away from my laptop writing a book.

G: When did you first know you wanted to write?

A.T Nartey: I didn’t know it at the time, but I think I always wanted to write. The first time it ever occurred to me was in year six when we had to write a short story for our school project. My teacher at the time was very impressed. Only it took a long time for me to realize that you could actually have a career as a writer. In my teens, I was introduced to the world of Harry Potter which really spurred me on. But it didn’t occur to me until my late twenties when I wrote my first full-length novel. 

G: You mentioned Harry Potter, but where else would you say your influences come from as a writer?

A.T Nartey: I find inspiration from all around me and from the ether, I would like to think. In recent years I have found inspiration from dealing with a mental affliction that I endured in my adult years. My experiences color my stories. 

G: Tell us about The Eden Project. What’s it all about and where did the ideas come from?

A.T Nartey: The book is about best friends Brianna and Aniya. Set in Detroit where women and girls have been going missing for years. When Aniya suddenly goes missing too; Brianna is determined to find her even if it costs her her life.

The book is dear to my heart because it’s based on real-life issues. Mainly, on the large number of women and girls going missing in communities all around the world. For The Eden Project, I decided to set it in Detroit because 70% of the missing cases were of black women and girls who disproportionately go missing than any other community in the rest of the US.

At the time I didn’t realize the problem was just as bad here in the UK too because it is rarely reported on. And I’m sure it is reflected in the global statistics. I also layered in issues of colourism in the black community because still in the twentieth century we are dealing with women being mistreated based purely on the shade of their skin and this is often done within our own communities which I think is deplorable.

G: It’s extremely commendable to shed light on such sensitive real-world issues. And this adds much depth to the writing in The Eden Project. What was it like drafting the project for the first time?

A.T Nartey: Writing The Eden Project was a dream. From the day of its conception, it took two weeks to plot it and four months to write. Thankfully, the story just flowed.

G: When it flows that easily, it means you have a real strong grasp of the story. In terms of characters, which ones did you enjoy writing, and which ones did you find difficult?

A.T Nartey: I really enjoyed writing from Brianna, the protagonist’s perspective. She is so messy and acts before thinking. It was fun to see the messes she got herself into. Thankfully, none of the other characters were difficult to write. I wish all my books could work out so smoothly.

G: What were the biggest challenges you faced while writing this story?

A.T Nartey: Definitely thinking outside the box. The majority of the book is set in a futuristic utopian setting, so I had to think up what kind of world that would be and what technological advancements would exist there.

G: Speaking of the technology, tell us about some of the science fiction elements in the story and how it relates to the overall narrative. Without giving too much away.

A.T Nartey: Brianna finds herself on a utopian island. Everything is futuristic and automated. From the background of the walls to the way you order clothes has something to do with advanced technology.

G: It’s an interesting take on futurist technology, and it will draw many parallels to real life for many readers. How intense is your outlining process?

A.T Nartey: I am an outliner. With previous books, I used to outline heavily until I had almost 20k of just outline. But for The Eden Project, I broke with tradition and plotted lightly and pantsied the rest. I think I will do this more often in the future.

G: How long did it take you to draft and edit this work overall?

A.T Nartey: It took me four months to draft The Eden Project and two months to edit. I tend to write quite clean drafts so editing is minimal. I also paid a professional editor to go in and polish it up.

G: The cover artwork is really nice, how did that come about?

A.T Nartey: I frequent Twitter. Luckily, around the time I became interested in finding a cover designer there was a tweet of cover artists displaying their work. I saw one artist whose work really caught my eye and I booked him straight away. 

As an indie author, I have full control and access to my work. If it succeeds, or if it fails, it’s all down to me. – A.T Nartey

G: What’s a good thing about being an indie author?

A.T Nartey: As an indie author, I have full control and access to my work. If it succeeds, or if it fails, it’s all down to me. It requires you to think outside the box, be proactive and be your best self. I do hope to be a hybrid author one day, but for now, I am languishing in being my own boss.

G: On the flipside, what’s a bad thing about being an indie author?

A.T Nartey: I have thought about this long and hard. The bad thing about being an indie author is the amount of money it takes to make a book its best. If I could afford a developmental editor, a line editor, a copy editor, and a proof-reader I would. However, it’s a lot of money to hire just one.

The difference between traditionally published books and self-published books is normally the number of eyes that’s been on the book to kick it into shape. I would like to be able to work closely with an editor so I can learn my weaknesses and know how to better develop books. Other than that, marketing is also something you will have to do by yourself. The way you can protect yourself from disappointment is to not expect big things with your first book. Be consistent and keep putting out quality work and I’m sure you will be able to appeal to your audience. A good cover is also important.

As someone who hopes to be a hybrid author one day, I fear others trying to dampen down my stories to make them palatable to other audiences. – A.T Nartey

G: As a black author, do you feel any added pressure when publishing your work?

A.T Nartey: 100%. There have been great changes in the industry. More BIOPIC writers are now being published, which is great. But I still learn of ways the industry is policing nonconformist literature by withholding the stamp of marketability.

As someone who hopes to be a hybrid author one day, I fear others trying to dampen down my stories to make them palatable to other audiences. This is why it’s so great to be a self-published author, you can keep your voice. Going forward I hope to write to black audiences and reflect on things that plague our communities and I am not apologetic if it doesn’t appeal to everyone.

G: Do you see attitudes towards black authors changing?

A.T Nartey: Yes, in some ways and then no in others. I believe that the change is happening because black readers are picking up black books. There is a big audience of black readers that have been previously overlooked. When I am trawling through Instagram and Twitter, I am pleasantly surprised by how many people are eager for books written by black authors.

However, for example, the romance books which seemed to do best are those with interracial relationships. There is nothing wrong with interracial relationships, but why do the black-on-black stories never do as well? I do think that things are changing however, in a few more years with the increase of black writers I believe things will change for the better.

G: Thanks for shedding light on that. Back to you, what can we expect from you in the future?

A.T Nartey: I have completed my second book The Trellence. I am in two minds whether to self-publish it or go through the traditional route. If I self-publish it, it will be out by the end of the year and if I find an agent. Keep your eyes peeled. On top of that, I have started writing my third book, which I intend to be a fantasy series of three books.

G: That sounds exciting, I can’t wait to hear more. Do you see yourself sticking with science fiction and fantasy, or will you expand to more genres in the future?

A.T Nartey: I think I will stick to writing fantasy, scifi and urban fantasy for now. I can’t speak for the future but all the ideas I have fall into these genres.

G: Thanks for answering my questions. I can’t wait to purchase your future work.

Where to Follow A.T Nartey

– A.T Nartey Website
– A.T Nartey Twitter
– A.T Nartey IG
– A.T Nartey on Goodreads

What made me decide on REAMDE was the feedback I was seeing on the book. Many people love it, but there are also loyal Stephenson fans that felt that it was far removed from Stephenson’s other works because it was more thriller and less philosophy. Based on these evaluations, I decided I would read REAMDE because if it was less philosophical then it would be easier to follow and that would surely cause me to struggle less with it’s length.

Well, I still struggled with the length of the book. It took me a month and a half to finish this bad boy. But I can say honestly that I was never tired of the story once. I was locked in enough to care about the outcome, and that gave me the willpower to consume all the info-dumps sprinkled throughout the book. So my struggles stemmed only from me being a slow reader.

REAMDE is a techno-thriller with a huge cast of unique characters, and it’s these characters that carry this book, much more than the plot—which is slightly wacky when you try to summarise it.

Richard Forthrast is a former drug smuggler who later founded a video games company that created a popular MMO called T’Rain. Zula is Richard’s niece by adoption. Zula is an Eritrean refugee born into hardship who was adopted by Richard’s sister. When Zula visits Richard, she brings along her boyfriend Peter who has kept his life as a hacker secret from her. Peter borrows a USB drive from Richard to handover a file full of credit card details to a third-party buyer. But unbeknownst to Richard and Peter, the drive is infected with a virus called REAMDE (a mispelling of README). The virus holds the file on the USB drive for ransom until a sum of money is paid to the virus’ creator inside the game world of T’Rain.

This creates an issue for the third-party buyer, because he’s buying the credit card numbers on behalf of the Russian mafia. When the Russians find out there is a problem obtaining the cards, they hold Peter, and Zula hostage to find a way to obtain the file. Eventually, their solution becomes to fly their private jet to China and hunt down the virus’ creator and deal with him face-to-face. In doing so, they run into a black terrorist who runs a team of Jihadists. Things take a huge turn for the worst at this point.

As you can tell by this summary, this book has elements of litRPG, hacking, Russian mafias and terrorism. Later on, we also get MI6 spies and FBI agents added to the mix; creating an insanely varied cast of characters that all get caught up in this wild plot. And it’s a plot that could have easily fallen apart if it wasn’t written by Neal Stephenson.

Although there are many things that Stephenson gets right with this novel, there are also things that I felt were missing. This is largely to do with the way the book comes to its conclusion. Stephenson made us exert so much energy on the intense build up, only to conclude at an ending that feels rushed.

REAMDE is billed as a techno-thriller, but an argument can be made that calling this a thriller was simply a way to cop out from giving us a more substantial ending. This is because throughout this book we’re treated to Stephenson’s signature info-dumps that explain the world of T’Rain and what’s possible in the game world. Only for it all to be completely meaningless at the end of the book. With this being Stephenson, he could have easily tied the game world to the outcome of the plot in a more meaningful way, but instead it felt as though he realized he was nearing the 1000 page mark and wanted to wrap things up with a long shoot-out because he realised there wasn’t enough space left for anything more meaningful.

REAMDE is full of insanely long—and sometimes over the top—action scenes. One of these action scenes is about a third of the books length alone —or at least it felt that way. It’s literally the longest chapter I’ve ever read. I feel that Stephenson could have given us a more satisfying ending had he been willing to comb through some of the earlier chapters and shaved off some of the filler. But this is up for debate, as there are fans of Stephenson that would argue that his filler is always imaginative—even if irrelevant to the books outcome—and I would be inclined to agree. I feel that the info-dumps in this book are fascinating, it’s just the fact that we may have been robbed of a satisfying outcome because of them. Instead we get a generic thriller ending, and a happy epilogue that answers none of the questions left in our heads.

But even with all my gripes about REAMDE, I cannot deny that I feel accomplished at having finished it. Stephenson did a fantastic job at keeping me entertained throughout this beast of a book, and even if I was unhappy about its ending, I must give him his credit nonetheless.

Buy on Amazon UK | Buy on Amazon US

If you’ve been intimidated by the look of some of Stephenson’s more notable works, then REAMDE might be the perfect entryway into his catalogue—outside of Snow Crash—because the content is definitely easier to digest than—let’s say—Cryptonomicon. Now that REAMDE is behind me, I feel like I’m ready to tackle some of Stephenson’s denser works.

World Building with minimal info dumps

World building is a huge factor when it comes to Science fiction. All sci-fi and fantasy novelists are world building by default when you think about it, because they need to demonstrate the boundaries of the technologies, species or magics they are introducing into the story. Unfortunately, this is an area where Science fiction novels can fall flat completely. Many readers are put off by the Science fiction genre because they believe them to be full of complex jargon that means nothing to the storytelling. This is of course true in many cases, but a good writer understands that the story is the heart of the novel, and the world is just the medium in which the story takes place.

As readers we need to understand the dynamics of the world or universe that the writer is presenting, but it needs to be presented to us in a way that won’t cut into the storytelling. The worst thing an author can do is divert us away from the story and its characters to explain the laws of their world. There are many ways the information we need about the world can be presented to us without ever straying too far from the story. Using dialogue is probably the most preferred method, but even that must be done in a way that’s progressive to the scene taking place. Simply forcing dialogue between characters to explain the world isn’t any better than diverting away from the storytelling completely.

Experiencing the universe in first-person

We have no problems with stories being told in third-person, but when it comes to Sci-fi and Fantasy, nothing is more exciting that experiencing the world through the characters perspective. Whether the character is also experiencing this world for the first time or whether they’re a veteran in the world, first-person just helps to keep the readers intrigue when learning the components of the world.

Also, depending on the nature of the story it’s usually exciting to think that this imagined world continues to spin even if the characters aren’t there to instigate it, and first-person does a great job fulfilling that illusion. Of course, if the author is telling an epic story where the future of the world is literally going to be decided by the main characters then that illusion is futile. It’s also worth noting that the characters must be relatable if we’re experiencing the world through their perspective.

The believability

It’s impossible for every Sci-fi book to be realistic, but some of the best science fiction stories are the ones that make you think the components of the world could actually be reality someday. For instance, one of our favourite video games is Metal Gear Solid and one of the reoccurring themes throughout the series is that armies are trying to innovate on weaponry. This leads to giant walking tanks (called Metal Gears) to be constructed. The Metal Gear Solid games are heavy on Science fiction and fantasy, but regardless it leaves you thinking about the possibility that one day there may actually be giant mechs walking around patrolling warzones.

It’s not geeky to ponder on these things, and it’s always a treat when you manage to read a Science fiction story that has realistic possibilities.

What makes great Science Fiction to you?

We feel like this is a discussion that needs to be had with many readers, so let’s keep the ideas on what makes great Science fiction swirling around. Be sure to leave a comment below, or Tweet us your thoughts. Hearing from other readers is our favourite thing, besides reading.

-featured image by Ben Griffiths