Review: The Hierarchies by Ros Anderson, 2020

The Hierarchies by Ros Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of "The Hierarchies" by Ros Anderson

In a world saturated with science fiction narratives, Ros Anderson's "The Hierarchies" stands out as a compelling exploration of technology's intersection with human nature. The novel masterfully blends the wonder of technological advancements with the grounded realities of human desires and flaws. Through the eyes of Sylv.ie, a humanoid pleasure doll, Anderson delves deep into themes of free will, consent, exploitation, and the often cruel tendencies of humanity.

Anderson's prose is deceptively simple, painting vivid images that come alive in the reader's mind. The pacing is impeccable, with each chapter serving a purpose, driving the narrative forward and compelling readers to turn the page. While it took me a few chapters to immerse myself fully, the journey was worth every moment of reflection and re-reading.

The character dynamics, especially between men and women, are both intriguing and unsettling. Women, whether born or created, are portrayed with depth and complexity, leaving room for interpretation and introspection. In contrast, the men, irrespective of their societal standing, are depicted with a base cruelty that intensifies with age and waning potency.

Drawing parallels to the TV series "Humans," "The Hierarchies" offers a fresh perspective on the age-old debate of sentience and the ethical implications of creating life. While comparisons to iconic works like Asimov's Robot series might be tempting, Anderson's novel deserves to be celebrated in its own right, reflecting the unique cultural and technological nuances of our time.

I would wholeheartedly recommend "The Hierarchies" to any sci-fi enthusiast and believe it holds particular resonance for women and feminists. However, given its mature themes, it might not be suitable for younger readers.

Rating: 4.95/5 stars

View all my reviews

Head On (Lock In #2) by John Scalzi, 2018

Head On (Lock In #2) by John Scalzi, 2018

While Head On is a sequel to Scalzi’s earlier science fiction novel, Lock In , it’s a stand alone mystery story. Still, I would suggest starting with Lock In so you can get to know the world and characters before diving into Head On.

FBI Agent Chris Shane is watching a live game of hilketa, where players operating robotic bodies (“threeps”) attempt to behead each other on the playing field. The game is a showcase for potential investors in the league, so the stakes are high. Then, one of the players dies in the middle of the game, a first for hilketa. Is it simply an accident or is more at work? As Chris and Leslie investigate, coincidences pile up and more dead bodies soon appear.

With Lock In and Head On, Scalzi imagines a near future where one percent of the population has Hayden’s syndrome, which lives them conscious but locked into their non-responsive bodies. Through a series of tech and research initiatives, Hadens now interact with the world through neural interfaces, either digitally online or with robotic bodies to navigate the physical world.

The premise is fascinating, combining interesting science fiction concepts with themes relating to disability rights. Many people tend to look on the Hadens as less than human, overtly or subtly mistreating them for it. This is clear in Chris’s everyday interactions. Chris has been a Haden since birth and tends to find gender insiginicant to life; subsequently, Scalzi writes the books without ever gendering Chris. For the audio book, there are two different versions with male and female narrators, respectively.

Although Head On is largely a stand alone with an independent mystery, the world has changed from book one to book two. Laws have been passed slashing or eliminating government benefits to Hadens, leaving many struggling as a result. While Chris’s wealth provides some insulation, Chris is more than aware (and unhappy with) the suffering of the larger Haden community.

Obviously, fictional sports is the name of the game in Head On. Hilketa is an interesting concept seeming sort of like a cross between a traditional team game like football or hurling and those robotic fights I’m always seeing footage of. Only, in this world, those robots are directly linked into and piloted by people’s consciousnesses. I’m not super into sports. 

Like anything else by Scalzi, Head On is fast paced and fun, full of snarky dialog. Sometimes I find his writing style a bit tiring or too much on the snark, but that isn’t the case for either Lock In or Head On. 

My rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 out of 5 stars) - I liked it.

"The Status Civilization" by Robert Sheckley, 1960

"The Status Civilization" by Robert Sheckley, 1960

Robert Sheckley deftly manipulates — in a mere (but dense) 127 pages — a plot straight from the pulps involving prison planets and gladiatorial fights against terrifying robots into a scathing and artfully constructed work of satire.

Due to the almost novella length of The Status Civilization do not expect any unnecessary declamations on technology or the nature of the world or government or endless interior character monologues for Sheckley clearly prefers — and revels in — the shorter form.

Told with energy and wit The Status Civilization (1960) is a fast and enjoyable read.  Highly recommended for all fans of 50s/early 60s science fiction dystopia (you get two dystopic worlds in this novel)  — especially of the satirical bent.

You may read this book free now online via ProjectGutenberg:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20919

My Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 out of 5 stars) - I really liked it.


Book Description found on book jacket:

Will Barrent had no memory of his crime . . . but he found himself shipped across space to a brutal prison-planet. On Omega, his only chance to advance himself -- and stay alive -- is to commit an endless series of violent crimes. The average inmate's life expectancy from time of arrival is three years. Can Barrett survive, escape, and return to Earth to clear his name?

Plot Summary as found on wikipedia.org:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Status_Civilization