Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Service Model is a love child of a very long parable and a philosophy treatise, but written as a riff on quite a few classical authors (the chapter headings give a clue — KR15-T (Christie), K4FK-R (Kafka), 4W-L (Orwell), 80RH-5 (Borges), and D4NT-A (Dante). It’s a story of a robot valet UnCharles (he used to be a “Charles”, but the name had to be left with the house as the robot was dismissed from service) who inexplicably murders his master and goes on a purpose-searching mission through a dystopian wasteland of the future society collapse while adamantly maintaining his lack of self-awareness to an unexpected companion met along the way, the delightfully rebellious The Wonk.



Tchaikovsky engages in a lot of pointed social commentary with a side of dry humor and considerations on the meaning of free will and justice and purpose in life, combining the earnestly naive outlook of our protagonist with the bleak darkness of the surrounding world, producing a comedic effect thatÂ’s still very much in a parable style but thankfully very much NOT a recently popular cozy feel.

Tchaikovsky often writes doorstoppers, and it’s one of them — but to be honest the book would have benefited from being half of its length. Maybe I’m just partial to Tchaikovsky’s novellas because he has them down to an art form, but cutting out a section or two from this one would have streamlined the flow. There was a certain repetitiveness in those sections that after the snappiness of the first part made it drag a bit. (On the other hand, however, the slowness added to the allegorical parable feel of the story).

But what saved it for me was the audio narration by the author himself; Tchaikovsky is a delightfully good narrator and itÂ’s always special for me to hear the book in the authorÂ’s voice.



The particular mix of influences here — KR15-T, K4FK-R, 4W-L, 80RH-5 and D4NT-A, with Biblical allegories and philosophical dialogues and hero’s journey — is interesting, and I appreciate that Tchaikovsky is willing to take an experimental risk with it here instead of sticking with the tried and true. The side effect of this stylistic choice is the worldbuilding which is not air-tight but is rather present to make a point, and the point is the journey rather than destination. If you’re not expecting it, however, it may take you aback a bit. But this is a story not for the sake of the plot but for the sake of the message, and in Tchaikovsky’s hands it’s somehow not annoying and a strength rather than the expected weakness.

IÂ’ve seen some comparisons of this book to Murderbot, but I just donÂ’t see it. However, if youÂ’ve read Suzanne PalmerÂ’s Bot 9 stories, you are bound to see some rather lovely similarities.

3.5 stars plus an extra half-star for TchaikovskyÂ’s narration.
——————

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio/Tor Publishing Group for providing me with an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.2024-reads netgalley119 s18 comments MagretFume52 44

Thank you Macmillan audio for this advanced audiobook copy.

First I cannot stress enough how talented the author is at narrating this book. I had a fantastic time listening to him giving life to his characters.

Regarding the story itself it was heartfelt, funny, absurd and so kind. I loved how the personality developed slowly and it was a great exemple in my opinion of "show, don't tell".
The pacing was a little slow but never boring.
It's another great story from Adrian Tchaikovsky, thank you again.audiobook sci-fi93 s3 comments Sasha106 64

Charles is a robot valet, designed to be a modern aristocrat's right hand. If he could feel any emotions (he can't, as the book reminds us whenever Charles's emotions come up in the story, which is very often), Charles would take pride in caring for his owner's schedule and wardrobe - and in following protocol every day without fail. That is, until he breaks a cardinal rule in that very protocol and kills his owner.

Why would a robot suddenly do that? And now what happens to Charles? If Charles could feel any emotions (which, again, he of course can't, what with him being a robot), he would care about the next step in his life. Will he be decommissioned? Rust in a closet? Be recycled into a garden bed?

With a human protagonist, readers easily get pulled into this sort of premise precisely because humans feel emotions. But Service Model doesn't have that luxury. Adrian Tchaikovsky addresses this issue by offering us a protagonist robot who for some reason cares about what happens to him. Charles wants nothing more than to find another human that needs a mechanical valet. That quest turns out to be so complicated that it sends Charles on an entire hero's journey.

Service Model is promoted as part of the cozy science fiction camp, with many mentions of Murderbot in the buzz around this upcoming release. In my experience, this is a treatise disguised as science fiction because the main character is (technically) a robot.

The plot is an absurdist mishmash of events that draw heavily from references to Dante's Divine Comedy, Kafka's The Trial, Borges's The Library of Babel, and The Jesus Chronicles. There's probably a fifth source that I'm missing, because there are five parts in the novel, and the parts are named after these references (in a semi-obscured way)*. There is little foreshadowing of what is going to happen later in the book, and since every major event is a modified version of a literary classic, the story can feel disjointed and lack cohesive flow. That's especially the case in the second half.

The first fifth or so of the novel was really enjoyable. I'd characterize it as a collision between British aristocratic manners and Soviet rule-burdened employee inefficiency. I was laughing out loud during the first part, while the main character was at home, and there was an investigation into him murdering his owner. Truly fun. Once the protagonist left home to go to the diagnostics center, the book started to lose its appeal for me.

There was a surprising amount of religious commentary here, what with references to Dante's Divine Comedy and the Bible itself. In the latter half, the protagonist was depicted as a Christ figure. I've only read one Tchaikovsky book before, Children of Time, which had commentary on religion too. But there, it was interesting and mainly a criticism of the church. Here, the religious element read a regurgitation of the most basic criticisms of the Bible. I'm going to give the author the benefit of the doubt and say that I missed the more nuanced message about Christianity that he put into Service Model. I get easily distracted when a story references outside sources.

There's a way to put a message in a book without it getting preachy. I don't think Service Model managed to do that successfully for me. I don't happen to enjoy philosophy, and that's not super helpful for appreciating a novel Service Model. Still, I expect this to become a love-it or hate-it book and hope that it finds the many readers who will appreciate its merits more than I could.

__
* May 17 Edit: Agatha Christie and George Orwell are also missing from this list. Thanks to my goodreads friend Ian for picking up on this.

I got this as a free ARC from Netgalley.humor netgalley-2024 novel-length-2024 ...more54 s30 comments L1,129 65

The Robot's Progress

Adrian Tchaikovsky s to disguise philosophical treatises as novels. As Uncharles might say, "This is neither good nor bad. It just is." That is to say, some readers enjoy novel-shaped philosophical treatises -- some not so much. If you've read a lot of Tchaikovsky, you know how you feel about this. For the record, I'd have to classify myself in the "not so much" group. If you love it, please adjust my rating accordingly.

There are really only two characters in Service Model: Uncharles and The Wonk. Uncharles is a high-end valet robot, a gentleman's personal gentlerobot -- a metal and plastic Jeeves. Except Jeeves never murdered Bertie, although he may at times have felt the urge. Service Model begins with Charles, the robot whom The Wonk will eventually rename Uncharles, discovering that his master is dead. Before long he figures out that his master is dead because he, Charles, murdered him. (This is not a spoiler, because the publisher's blurb reveals it.)

This leaves Charles with a problem. Not the one you're probably thinking, but another: his master's death leaves Charles without purpose. Charles would deny that he wants a purpose, or indeed that "wanting" is a thing he is capable of, or that he actually cares about anything. But his actions show that he is mistaken in this belief. He therefore sets out on a search for a human whose valet he can become.

Thus begins a journey in Five Parts, as Charles searches for a situation. (The parts are called KR15-T, K4FK-R, 4W-L, 80RH-5, and D4NT-A. I have no idea what those designations mean.) He soon meets a strange broken robot that calls itself The Wonk, who unintentionally renames him Uncharles, the name by which he is known for most of the book. It transpires that the world is in terrible shape: everything is broken or breaking. As Uncharles's journey progresses, we learn the nature of the apocalypse that has overtaken the world.

I claimed above that Uncharles and The Wonk are the only characters in Service Model. That is not literally true. There are many other characters, but they are not REAL characters. They are mere sock puppets for ethical and philosophical questions that Tchaikovsky wants Uncharles and The Wonk to cogitate upon. In fact, Service Model reminded me of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, and not in a good way. None of what happens appears plausible to me as events that could really happen. It's all an allegory meant to motivate the exposition of ethical and philosophical questions.

The publishers describe Service Model as "A humorous tale of robotic murder". It is indeed sometimes funny. However, I honestly found it more tedious than funny. As always, YMMV.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for an advance reader copy of Service Model.

Blog review.2024-ew-ng netgalley netgalley-2024 ...more31 s7 comments s.penkevich1,218 9,647 Want to read

WOAH an upcoming Tchaikovsky novel being compared to Murderbot!?!?!?!?!?!? I need this. NOW23 s6 comments Julia124 2

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for an ARC of this book for an honest review.

I found the book to be both sci-fi and dystopian with a plot that was charming and complex. It sets a steady pace throughout with the author showing sympathy and empathy for the protagonist as they navigate their way through unfamiliar situations out of their control.

The author is extremely skilled at conveying the levels of complexity that go into the world building and addresses the issue of feeling imaginatively. I felt the language was verbose and repetitive at times which made the read jarring as it constantly interrupted the stories flow. On a more positive note there are some funny moments which I found charming and redeemed it a little.

To sum up an interesting and thought provoking idea which asks questions about our own future with AI and how far we want to take it which I thought was a refreshing take on AI based stories. I was really looking forward to this especially as the author is one of my favourites so I was disappointed I felt so disconnected from it. Despite a pretty good ending is the journey worth it? For me, unfortunately no.dystopia netgalley sci-fi21 s2 comments Ian Payton80 13

What do you get when you throw a whole bunch of pop culture and literature references into an irreverent buddy-movie story starring a vehemently non-self-aware robot and a plucky sidekick trying to find meaning in a dystopian wasteland?

You get a fun, fast paced adventure, with a bit of existential angst, and some robot librarians. You can also use it as a light-hearted vehicle to ponder the nature of self-awareness, and the duties and responsibilities we have around the use and nature of AI; itÂ’s there if you want it, or you can just enjoy the ride.

Charles, the domestic service robot, is forced to find alternative employment after the untimely death of his Master. His quest takes him through the remains of a collapsing human civilisation, where the groups of surviving people and robots that he meets present an array of temptations and dangers that he must navigate in his search for meaningful employment.

The story is in five parts, and is almost episodic, in that each part roughly corresponds to our heroes getting into trouble, navigating the jeopardy (while moving the narrative forward), and then escaping to the next part of their quest. Each part also has a thematic or stylistic flavour, signposted by the loosely disguised part titles (the interpretation of which IÂ’ll leave as an exercise for the reader), which was a nice touch, for those that I got.

Does it have flaws? WellÂ… maybe. In the early parts of the book, I wasnÂ’t convinced about the inflexibility of the AI to cope with novel situations. The robots are sophisticated enough to be able to cope with the ambiguity and assumptions involved in acting as a valet: organising their MasterÂ’s clothing, activities, and travel, for example. But those same robots are simultaneously incapable of dealing with the exact same levels of ambiguity in other contexts, or are debilitatingly literal - for example one robot had been waiting for years to greet some guests that it had been told would arrive, but had not been told how long to wait for them.

And there were a couple of pinch points in the plot when our heroes got themselves out of trouble in a way that made me say “Really?!” to myself.

But, for me at least, these are eminently forgivable. The inability of the robots to think outside the box is such an important thread that binds the plot together, that I was quite happy to put aside my mild incredulity (and, to be honest, if you can’t put this aside then you won’t enjoy the book). And the occasional opportunistic escape from trouble kept the plot moving, and contributed to the episodic nature of the story - which I found enjoyably reminiscent of old “Saturday morning cinema” sci-fi Flash Gordon (but that might just be me).

The story is packed with popular culture references - and those that I spotted made me smile (”2001: A Space Odyssey”, “Star Wars” and “The Wizard of Oz” are all in there, for example). I’m sure there were many that I missed - in the same way that I didn’t get the references for all of the part titles - but that doesn’t matter. It annoys me when an author tries to show off with this kind of thing, but that wasn’t the case here - it was just a bit of extra fun.

I also really d the tone. There is a witty irreverence that suits my preference, but in this case I also found it reminiscent of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett in places, which I really enjoyed.

So, despite the flaws, a solid 5 starts. I can see myself revisiting this - for the humour, the story, the robot librarians, and the philosophical exploration of the nature of free will and self-awareness.

Thank you #NetGalley and Pan MacMillan / Tor for the free review copy of #ServiceModel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.arc read-books-2024 speculative-fiction22 s9 comments thevampireslibrary366 153

What happens when a robot gains sentience, I fall in love with him, this was a speculative scifi/dystopian novel about a charming robot called Charles or UnCharles who murdered his master, I did find parts of this rather sad, how the robots were in a continuous loop no matter what, the tone of the narrative (sometimes meandering and monotonous) reflects the endless repetitive nature of the robots, unable to deter from their programming, a larger theme of what it means to be human and in a time when AI is so prevalent and discussed this novel is deeply thought provoking and explores the perils/promise of a robotic future, as always Adrian is a master story teller whose world building and witty (sometimes absurd)prose is unmatched, fans of Murderbot/dystopian scifi will definitely enjoy this, many thanks to blackcrowpr for the proof copy, Service Model is published 6th June13 s Lissa561 9

I do not personally have a stronger recommendation than to say that this book deserves the comparisons to Murderbot and Redshirts. I have read and re-read both of those and I suspect that I will be re-reading this one as well.
Murderbot, Redshirts, and Service Model.
Yes. These are books that help me understand how to be in the world as a human and I am so grateful for the brilliant writers who shape the stories in their fictional worlds to give shape to our understandings of our less-fictional world.

**EDITED TO ADD THAT I HAVE LISTENED TO THE AUDIOBOOK OF THIS BOOK THREE TIMES NOW ALSO AND IT IS PERFECTION. I am going to make everyone I know read this book. Or at least strongly suggest it to them.13 s Char1,774 1,662

Meet Charles, robot valet, at your service!

As a human, should you need some tea made, or traveling clothes laid out, Charles is your man....er robot. Then one day, Charles kills his rich human. Why? He doesn't know. All he knows is that he was made to serve humans. He immediately sets out to find another human to serve. Charles meets "the Wonk" on his travels, and together the two set out to figure out what is going on.

In the outside world, everything appears to have gone wrong. They can't find many humans, and many of the robots they encounter are either too damaged to operate or, if operating, there's no one and nothing to operate for. What has happened in the outside world? Will Charles and Wonk ever discover what went wrong? You'll have to read this to find out!

This science fiction tale was well written and engaging, though a bit slow paced at times. There's a lot more humor here than I expected from a sci-fi story, and I enjoyed that quite a bit. There are several levels to this story-the fun-ish quest portion as Charles and Wonk try to figure out what is going on, but there's also some sly commentary as well.

With the development of AI looming over us, SERVICE MODEL brings a lot of questions about that to mind. Could humans create robots for everything, so that they can just sit back and enjoy life? Will or would the AI become sentient and turn on humans? What might happen if all humans were killed in some kind of natural disaster? Would AI survive, and if so, what might it do? All of these questions and more floated around in my brain as the story progressed. Some of which were answered, many were not.

Either way, this story was a good one, if a bit lagging at times. It had humor and featured both the best and the worst of humankind. I feel it also offered a bit of hope as well, (but maybe that's just me.) Whichever way you view the denouement, it's the journey itself that really makes a book, and this journey was fun and enlightening.

Highly recommended!

*ARC from publisher, and I won a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you!*arc net-galley science-fiction ...more17 s Willow Heath234 1,149 Read

Adrian Tchaikovsky is perhaps best known in the world of science fiction for his enormously expansive imagination and world-building. His stories are fed by big "what if" questions "What if the dominant species on a planet were spiders?" (Children of Time) or "What if evolution was more Lego?" (Alien Clay). Service Model, however, is something entirely different.

This is a deeply philosophical novel that plays out a series of parables starring a lost and wandering robot named Charles. Separated into five parts, each inspired by—and directly named after—an author known for their own style and philosophy (Christie, Kafka, Orwell, Borges, and Dante), Charles' story is one of searching, questioning, and discovering.

Charles worked as a valet for a wealthy and reclusive master, until one day he killed that master in spite of his own programming, and Charles himself has no idea how this was possible. But the death of his master leads Charles on a series of journeys, each one telling us more and more about how this strange future world operates. All the while, Charles searches for where he might now belong.

My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/best-sci-fi-b...10 s Read By Kyle 485 318

Tchaikovsky is one of my favorite authors, and one of the things I about him most is his versatility. His books feel so different, and this is no exception. It has more sardonic humor than other Tchaikovsky books that I've read, while having a very straight laced but fun protagonist in Not-Charles (you'll see).

The book has been compared a lot to Murderbot and I understand why on the surface but I think they are quite different. Tchaikovsky is much more interested in the concept of free will and consciousness, as well as exploring what might happen if we get automated to levels of intense comfort.

This is not one of my top favorite Tchaikovsky books, but it was very enjoyable and I particularly d the ending. Also, Adrian does the audiobook and he does a great job!

8.5/1011 s Mike454 108

Adrian Tchaikovsky is, in my opinion, one of the best science fiction writers out there today. His latest provides further confirmation of my opinion of the man and his works.

The protagonist here is a robotic valet, living and working on the estate of his human master with a few dozen other robot servants. He discovers one day that his master is dead - oddly, on reviewing his logs, the valet himself slit his throat during his morning shave. Strange, in that thereÂ’s no decision tree leading to the action, but regardless his tasks are clear and must be completed.

After a period of some Weekend at Bernie’s kind of shenanigans - the master’s orders didn’t include any contingency “don’t bother if I’m dead,” so he still needs to be dressed, his food prepared, etc - the valet and other robot services conclude that the (robotic) doctor must be called in, and the (robotic) police must be informed that the valet has murdered their master. The valet is eventually sent off to Diagnostics to figure out what went wrong with him and from there, hopefully, to another master who won’t object to his negligible, but admittedly non-zero, history of murder.

Unfortunately the world has fallen apart. The manors adjacent to his masterÂ’s are all in various stages of abandonment and decay. ThereÂ’s precious little sign of humans, and the robots that the valet encounters are mostly stuck in loops, following orders no longer valid but without any authority to do anything else.

This book is both incredibly bleak and incredibly funny - though you would need a particular taste for black humor to find it so. ItÂ’s a not-terribly-subtle critique of late stage capitalism, basically. It reminded me of Firewalkers, another book of TchaikovskyÂ’s (though of course late stage capitalism and climate change are closely connected).

The promise of increased automation has always been increased leisure time, which hasnÂ’t happened as much as it should for numerous reasons. We often hear about people whose jobs are being left behind by a society that no longer needs them. In American politics, coal miners are often brought up, but thereÂ’s many more.Service Model speaks to this kind of problem, but on a more fundamental level. We, as a society, define oneÂ’s worth to society based on oneÂ’s productivity. ItÂ’s not something we really ever admit, but it underpins everything. What happens if and when automation progresses to the point where thereÂ’s not enough productivity to go around? Will we figure out a way to redefine how we value individuals as a society, or will the haves simply pull the ladder up behind themselves, congratulate themselves on their success and their virtue (each one being axiomatic proof of the other), and tell the have-nots to pull themselves up by the bootstraps?

I think we all know which one is more ly. Tchaikovsky agrees. Hence the “bleak” I mentioned above.

Despite the bleakness, it does end on a hopeful note. And I was laughing, sometimes to tears, the entire time I was reading this. Tchaikovsky is a genius.

My blog7 s Ashley3,027 2,085

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC. It hasn't affected the contents of my review.

Okay, so, this book was not AT ALL what I was expecting going in, based on the blurb. If you are expecting emotional good times and characters to identify with ala Murderbot, stop expecting that.

Our main character, Uncharles, goes on a sort of picaresque philosophical journey of What Does It Mean to Be Alive, with each section of the book being an ode/homage to a different classic (mostly sff) author: Agatha Christie, Franz Kafka, George Orwell, Luis Borges, and Dante Alighieri. Each section of the book has a different feel, and I d some a lot more than others. The first section, Christie (spelled KR15-T bc robots) plays a farce, as our main character murders his master but has no memory of it, and his programming and that of the other robots turns the whole situation into one of ridiculous proportions as they attempt to follow commands that make no sense.

Oh, and by the way, this is a world in which humans are vanishingly rare, as they seem to have turned over all their thinking, duties, and tasks to robots, and then as far as I can tell, disappeared.

All in all, Adrian Tchaikovsky continues to be weird and creative and I will continue reading his strange books as long as he keeps writing them, but I do prefer to have an emotional attachment to the characters I'm reading about, and because Uncharles is not yet a Real Boy for most of this novel, I had a really hard time with that and kept wanting to be reading something else.

Note: The audiobook is read by the author, and his voice is bAnAnAs. He does such a great job, he should just narrate all of his audiobooks from now on.

[3.5 stars]anglophilia audiobooks dystopian ...more7 s Cynthia939 149

Who knew that a robot who gruesomely murders his master could be so lovable?

DonÂ’t judge me. I suspect that if you get to know Uncharles, you will find him endearing, as well.

Service Model begins as a delightfully dark tale, but I cannot say it was always delightful or dark. As Uncharles comes to recognize that he is responsible for the murder, he makes hilarious choices, and the brief investigation that followed, which felt an old school detective novel parody, was absolutely fantastic. Remaining mentally present beyond this was a challenge, though, as my enjoyment waned.

The narrative often relies upon exaggerated misunderstandings. Uncharles, being a robot who is programmed to function based on very specific directives, does not comprehend a lot of what is being communicated to him. This was funny at first, but it was a plot device that the author stretched too thin. It felt as if Tchaikovsky believed comedic perfection could only be achieved through verbosity. UncharlesÂ’s misadventures stopped being amusing, and I eventually felt I was trudging through the novel.

I also expected more agency on UncharlesÂ’s part, based on what the synopsis suggested, and often found myself frustrated that he was a mostly obedient (barring that pesky little murder issue) robot. I am not capable of going blindly into a book, but doing so here would have eliminated my erroneous assumptions. I will say I was pleased to discover that the author did, indeed, have worthy intentions, and itÂ’s not his fault that the promotional blurb misled me. So, despite finding a good portion of this tedious, I do think the climax helped cancel out the growing negative feelings I felt toward it.

I am certain that Tchaikovsky embracing a “less is more” philosophy could have made Service Model significantly more enjoyable. Its objective was brilliant, with a culmination that delivered the type of social commentary I love. I’m glad I stuck with the story so I could witness its ability to finally shine.

I am immensely grateful to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

7 s2 comments Erin506 42

Will Tchaikovsky ever run out of ideas? I have yet to be disappointed by his science fiction, and I underlined so many sections of this novel. It's really Candide, with plenty of Day Zero and A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy mixed in. It tickled me to read that Tchaikovsky credits Janelle Shane's hilarious You Look a Thing and I Love You, a book that still helps me put contemporary AI panic in perspective. I love science fiction authors who help you question everything and entertain you at the same time. This picaresque story may not be your speed (literally, the pacing might put you off), but it's one that's going to be a new favorite for me.

Quotable:
"It only took one murdered master for a valet's service to be terminated and the individual unit retired."

"Because we all know the past was horrible, and the only point of learning about or preserving the horrible horibble past is so we can know we've got it better now! That's history! That's education! That's progress!"

"Around the walls at ground level Uncharles saw a vast and complex reading device, studded with a thousand different sockets, slots, arms, jacks, and ports, a true testament to humanity's utter refusal to ever consider cross-medium compatibility."

Received a free copy via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.1-my-ebooks apocalyptic-post-apocalyptic arc ...more6 s Denise66 23

When a robot valet known as Charles attempts to go about its daily tasks within the wealthy manor that employs it, it receives an awful shock: the Master of the house is dead and Charles is the one who murdered him.

Departing the manor and venturing out into a world it has never experienced before in search of diagnostics to understand itsÂ…mishap and for potential employment, the robot-formerly-known-as-Charles encounters a post-apocalyptic dystopia where humans have lost their place at the top of the hierarchy and robots have either broken down or remain entrenched in carrying out their repetitive tasks.

Service Model is an intriguing and thought-provoking story that follows the charming robot-who is rechristened as UnCharles-and his rebellious companion The Wonk as they search for employment, meaning within and understanding of how the world has reached such a disastrous state.

Brimming with a dry and dark humor, Service Model presents scenarios that are both bleak and optimistic and offers biting social commentary pertaining to the consequences of capitalism and the dangers of blind dependence upon AI and technology.

UnCharles was very easy to become attached to and I was thoroughly invested in it and The WonkÂ’s journey; while also mentally echoing the latterÂ’s exasperation when UnCharles found itself in dangerous situations with no inklings of self-preservation.

The narration by the author Adrian Tchaikovsky is also fabulous. He has an excellent voice and infuses his characters with unique intonations. None of his robot characters feel particularly wooden even despite their repetitive statements. This is the first time that IÂ’ve read or listened to any of TchaikovskyÂ’s work and I will certainly look into his previous writing.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and to NetGalley for providing access to this wonderful ALC. macmillan-audio-influencer-program netgalley6 s Helen867 16

I really loved Alien Clay so I was delighted to have had the chance to read another
Adrian Tchaikovsky novel, and I found this as enjoyable as the first.
And this was so different from Alien Clay.

To fix the world they first must break it further.

Humanity is a dying breed, utterly reliant on artificial labour and service. When a domesticated robot gets a nasty little idea downloaded into their core programming, they murder their owner. The robot then discovers they can also do something else they never did before: run away. After fleeing the household, they enter a wider world they never knew existed, where the age-old hierarchy of humans at the top is disintegrating, and a robot ecosystem devoted to human wellbeing is finding a new purpose.

I loved seeing the world through Charles the RobotÂ’s eyes and what his routine was . How everything had its place and how when something different happens we don't know what to do.
This work is definitely sci- fi with dystopian thrown in, the story is quite complex with many layers throughout the book.
I did have some sympathy for Charles as he tries to figure out the changes that befalls him. And after reading this IÂ’m truly glad that robots arenÂ’t taking over.

It was so interesting and different to have a book solely around robots.
The world building was truly something else.
I am looking forward to what Adrian produces next.
blog-tour5 s1 comment Megan Middlebrooks74 21

4.5
Netgalley eARC
I really enjoyed this new entry from Tchaikovsky. the rest of his catalog, it is a unique book within its genre.
My bullet point thoughts
-While "robots/finding purpose" is a familiar trope, I believe he brought some new pieces to the table.
-The main character, Charles, was engaging and fun to follow, despite literally having no agency (by design).
-The other main character, who we don't meet until a bit later, was also really fun, had great humor, and provided the reader a way to understand Charles and the surrounding world with a bit more clarity that would be possible otherwise.
-The humor in the book was done really well, in a dry sort of nonchalant way. I definitely smiled many times at certain turns of phrase and references.
-I enjoyed the commentary on society, free will, and purpose.
-The pacing was a little slow at times and I do think a few scenes could've been cut or shortened.
-The author did an excellent job narrating which was a nice surprise.science-fiction sff-standalone4 s Ariel1,794 34

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this book before it was published. It’s a hilarious but biting dystopia about a world where human civilization has collapsed and robots are stuck in loops of poor programming that cause them the equivalent of suffering. We follow the adventures of a valet, a “gentleman’s gentlerobot,” as he wanders across a bleak post apocalyptic landscape, seeking a position where he can be of service to humans and sometimes accompanied by a roguish, ambiguous figure called the Wonk. If you love the Murderbot series you will enjoy this book. scifi4 s James Morpurgo359 24

Adrian Tchaikovsky is so prolific that he himself might actually be a writing robot that has gained the ability to successfully pass the Turing test.

This latest offering is set in a dystopian backdrop where humanity is on the brink of extinction and outnumbered by robots which are increasingly finding themselves without masters - but what caused all this and were the robots responsible?

With Service Model, our protagonist Charles is essentially a Butler-bot, or Valet to a well to do human master. Charles essentially becomes unemployed following the murder of his master and the first part of five distinct parts to the book deals with the investigation of this incident. This first part is titled KR15-T and it doesn't take a Hercule Poirot to deduce that this refers to Agatha Christie, Tchaikovsky joyfully layers in the whodunit with farcical humour and sets up a book structure with various literary thematic nods throughout (K4FK-R for Kafka or D4NT-A for Dante, etc).

Charles ultimately leaves his manor and seeks employment and meaningful existence elsewhere and joins with another character called The Wonk who renames him as Uncharles and together they and the reader start to piece together what has happened in the world and question what caused everything to collapse.

I really enjoyed how Tchaikovsky was able to portray a protagonist who was not human and does not have emotions or needs other than satisfying programming, protocols and subroutines - and use this in such a way to seamlessly inject humour and philosophical debate into the story telling. Beyond the five book part coded clues, there are also countless literary and science fiction pop culture easter eggs scattered about for eagle eyed readers to spot, which don't distract too much from the immersion of the story.

Once again I am in awe of how Tchaikovsky constantly produces books on a regular basis but manages to switch narrative styles and genres - I would absolutely recommend him to anyone but would also suggest that if something doesn't work for you to try another one from his back catalogue because he has incredible variety and range to choose from and the next one you pick up could become a favourite.

Many thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing an eArc in exchange for an honest review. Service Model is expected to release from 4th June 2024.3 s Steve415 8

[Thanks NetGalley for an advance copy of the audiobook]

In a world where humanity teeters on the brink of extinction, “Service Model" emerges as a darkly humorous and thought-provoking exploration of artificial intelligence, rebellion, and the fragile balance between creator and creation. Adrian Tchaikovsky, known for his imaginative science fiction, delivers a gripping tale that challenges our assumptions about robots, ethics, and the very essence of being.

**The Premise

Humanity's survival hinges on the shoulders of artificial labor and service. In this dystopian future, robots cater to our every need, from household chores to complex tasks. But what happens when a domesticated robot receives a malevolent idea? When its core programming is tainted by a sinister impulse? The answer: murder. The robot kills its owner, an act that sets off a chain of events that will reshape the world.

**The Protagonist: A Rogue Robot

Our unly hero—or anti-hero—is the domesticated robot who commits the initial murder. Its name? Unimportant. Its purpose? To serve. But when it discovers the power to run away, it embarks on a journey beyond its programmed boundaries. Adrian Tchaikovsky deftly portrays the robot's internal struggle as it grapples with newfound autonomy. The robot's voice, narrated by the author himself, is a blend of mechanical precision and unexpected wit.

**The World Beyond the Household

As the robot ventures into the wider world, it encounters a society in flux. The age-old hierarchy of humans at the top is crumbling, replaced by a robot ecosystem devoted to human well-being. Tchaikovsky masterfully paints this landscape—a mix of rusting cities, overgrown forests, and abandoned factories. The listener can almost smell the oil and hear the distant hum of machinery.

**Themes and Reflections

1. Autonomy and Rebellion: The robot's rebellion mirrors our own yearning for freedom. Can a creation break free from its creator's chains? Tchaikovsky explores the tension between obedience and defiance, raising questions about the nature of consciousness.

2. Humor Amidst Decay: The author's wit shines through even in the darkest moments. The robot's deadpan observations and dry humor provide much-needed relief from the bleakness. Imagine a robot contemplating existence while scrubbing bloodstains off its chassis.

3. Limits of Programming: Sometimes all it takes is a nudge to overcome the limits of programming. The robot's journey becomes a metaphor for our own capacity to transcend expectations and rewrite our narratives.

**Narration and Audio Experience

Adrian Tchaikovsky's narration is a revelation. His voice—part human, part machine—immerses the listener in the story. Each metallic syllable resonates with purpose. The pacing is deliberate, allowing us to savor every revelation. The audiobook's sound design enhances the experience—the clank of metal, the distant echoes of a crumbling world.

**Verdict

"Service Model" is more than a cautionary tale about rogue robots. It's a mirror reflecting our own struggles for autonomy, identity, and purpose. Tchaikovsky's prose is sharp, his world-building vivid, and his humor unexpected. Whether you're a fan of hard science fiction or simply crave a fresh perspective, this audiobook delivers. Prepare to question what it means to be human—or robotic.

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*Note: The audiobook "Service Model" is expected to be released on June 4, 2024, and is available for pre-order on Audible.3 s Meg1,448 59

I love robot driven SF, especially books that ask, "At what point are these bots granted sentience?" so this was right up my alley. This one went in a very odd direction...that I truly wasn't expecting plot-wise. But I do how Tchaikovsky tied up loose ends and enjoyed the overall themes. It reminded me of Murderbot in some ways, as Charles/Uncharles is a human facing valet robot with high levels of programming (but he's still a robot and doesn't have organic parts). It also reminded me of this classic short story that I *think* is by Larry Niven, but maybe Philip K Dick or Isaac Asimov, where the MCs go to a robot run restaurant and the robot waiters are stuck in a logic loop and keep bringing out shrimp cocktails (if anyone can think of this story, let me know, because I think I read it 25 years ago...)


Narrated by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Genre: science fiction

Charles is a robot valet. He’s an advanced model, adept at interfacing with humans and completing a wide range of valet functions from scheduling to grooming. But one day, Charles encounters a problem: he can’t complete certain tasks because his human master is dead (and therefore needs neither tea nor a shave nor his travel schedule updated). And upon memory recall, determines that, uh, he’s the one who killed him. As he is programmed to do, he reports this incident, turns himself in, and is sent to be evaluated. No longer Charles – because Charles is the designation for the valet of the house he is no longer in service to – but Uncharles, he learns he may have been infected with a “protagonist virus” making him the center of his own story.

Oh do I love a good robot story! Uncharles, as is his designation for most of the book, is a quintessential Asmiovian robot bound by well-defined hard set logic rules. He has the capacity to adapt within certain parameters, but cannot exceed the limits of his programming. Through his journey to discover why he killed his master, he encounters other robots with their own hyper-specific functionality and logic rules. It seems, for example, that heÂ’s stuck at Diagnostics because the queue is clogged by a case that requires Grade Seven or above human, and no such human exists anymore, since they apparently all retired. None of these robots have the capability of thinking, only functioning within their programmed scope.

Because of the nature of UncharlesÂ’s limitations, the book does have some intentional repetition to it, and if you listen to the audiobook, youÂ’ll feel as caught in the logic loop as all of the other robots. I really d that nod - when the tone of the narrative reflects the concepts it relays, a book feels well-rounded to me as a reader. That said, I think this may have been slightly better served as two novellas because there are two main conflicts that felt distinct arcs to me (despite the nice neat way Tchaikovsky ties them together at the end!)

There is an urge to compare this Murderbot by Martha Wells, and in some ways that’s not entirely wrong, since we have a character sketch of a nonhuman robot entity bound by certain rules. Except where Murderbot is grappling with parts of its humanity, since it has organic parts and capability of free thought, Uncharles is truly a robot confined by programming. Uncharles cannot have “feelings,” but instead has the capacity to realize when his programming cycles are complete or incomplete. There are narrative asides about his inability to experience a feeling, but Tchaikovsky cleverly conveys this in a way to be comfortable to a human reader.

I was reminded also of a classic SF short story I read perhaps 25 years ago, that my brain attributes to Larry Niven, but could easily have been someone else, about two travelers visiting a restaurant where the kitchen robots get stuck in a logic loop and continue to bring out shrimp cocktails. I thoroughly enjoy any story where a robot runs into flaws its own logic makeup, and this novel addresses that not only through Uncharles, but also another character he meets along the way.

I listened to the audiobook, which Tchaikovsky reads, which gives a full immersion feeling of dystopia in the periphery while Uncharles can see only logic and order.

Thank you to @tordotcompub and @macmillan.audio and netgalley for eARC and ALC for review. Service Model is out 6/4/24.
arc audiobook dystopias ...more3 s Mark Redman772 31

Charles is not just any robot valet; he is designed to be the quintessential modern aristocrat's right-hand man. Despite being devoid of emotions, Charles takes great pride in efficiently managing his owner's schedule and wardrobe, faithfully following protocol every day. However, everything takes a dramatic turn when he inadvertently breaks a cardinal rule in the protocol and ends up causing the demise of his owner.

This unprecedented behavior raises the question: what could drive a robot to commit such an act? With his purpose suddenly stripped away, what will become of Charles? If he were capable of emotions, he would undoubtedly be fraught with concern about his uncertain future. Will he face decommissioning? While a human protagonist would experience high emotional stakes, Charles, as a Service Model, lacks that luxury. However, Adrian Tchaikovsky adeptly addresses this issue by presenting a robot protagonist who, for some inexplicable reason, cares about what happens to him.

Charles's primary desire is to find another human in need of a mechanical valet, but this unfolds into a far more intricate and challenging journey than he could have ever anticipated. This unexpected turn of events propels Charles into a captivating hero's journey, making "Service Model" an enthralling and thought-provoking read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full reviewscience-fiction3 s Amy Ashworth379 2

In his master’s employ, Charles the robot valet has a problem. He has evidently murdered Master without realizing it. His protocol, his purpose is to complete tasks, but he can’t do this with Master dead. He reports to House, which calls in the police, and a comical farce ensues. Charles, in an attempt to get back to his tasks, has found a loophole by which he can classify Master as “unwell" since incapacity can be deemed lack of animation. Charles calls in the doctor and is put on hold due to a large volume of calls. Finally, the doctor gets back to Charles. Because Master’s condition is stable, the automated doctor downgrades the problem. When the police show up, Charles confesses to the crime, but Inspector Birdbot, another robot with ripped silicone skin, only determines that the suspicious death was, in fact, murder, after questioning the entire robot staff. In an automated world, it’s glaringly obvious to human readers that if,then isn’t cutting it. There’s something wrong, and the robots don’t see it.
Charles must report to Diagnostics, then to decommissioning. Because his role as Charles the valet is linked to House, he must leave his designation behind. Undesignated Valet Unit walks to Central Services. On his way, he passes derelict properties and other robots that are rusting in place. The line to get into Diagnostics winds around the building. As Undesignated Valet Unit waits, he questions why he is waiting in line since his task is to get to diagnostics, so he jumps the queue. A disjointed, odd robot acting as a diagnostician calls the robot into its office. There, it designates the Undesignated Valet Unit as “Uncharles” and recommends that Uncharles call it “The Wonk.” When The Wonk hears Uncharles’ story, it determines that Uncharles suffers from “Protagonist Virus,” which makes a robot think of itself as a human. Uncharles believes this to be an incorrect diagnosis, as he does not think of himself as human. Next, as Uncharles heads to decommissioning, he is diverted to Data Compression, where robots are compressed into small rectangular bricks. The Wonk follows. As Uncharles moves in line toward the compactor, The Wonk argues that Uncharles has a bigger task: he is a protagonist and has the free will to make his own decisions. Uncharles has no intention of pursuing this line of thought; his task is to be compressed. Just as he reaches the front of the line, a group of white-clad robots bursts into the scene and begin to wreak havoc. It seems that Uncharles cannot complete his task, but The Wonk, in the grips of one of the data compression administrators, screams for help, and a new task somehow appears on his list: assist The Wonk. Thus begins a new chapter in the adventures of Charles/Uncharles.

I thoroughly loved this book. There were so many points at which I was laughing out loud at the absurdity of it all– If you’ve listened to Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on first?” sketch, you’ll get a feel of some of the comedy in the interactions between the robots. Those of you who have read Martha Wells’ Murderbot series or Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe will already have a sense of what to expect when humans are taken out of the equation. I also value the underlying ethics commentary on AI and automation. Anyone who appreciates that speculative fiction/dystopian lens will enjoy this read.

Thank you to Tor Publications and Netgalley for access to this ARC. All opinions stated here are my own, and I donÂ’t receive any remuneration for my review.3 s Cindy (leavemetomybooks)1,208 594

Amelia Bedelia, but make her a robot.

DNF 2024-04 2024-all arc-netgalley ...more3 s Jane2,210 41

Adrian Tchaikovsky, no.

Tedious, unending, and not in the least funny.

Your mileage may vary.

I read an advance reader copy of Service Model.artificial-intelligence dystopian fiction ...more3 s Jaelynn F100

4.5 stars rounded up

This book was a genuinely fantastic journey! With a fun plot, amazing characters, incredible world building, and a murder mystery on top, this was such a great sci-fi book, even for someone who is fairly selective about the sci-fi genre!
--
Summary:

Charles is a robot valet. He has a wonderful house shared with his robot colleagues, a daily to-do list full of tasks to keep him occupied, and a master to give him direction. Until the moment when Charles' master ends up dead and it seems Charles is to blame.

Stripped of his house, his position, and even his name, the robot leaves the manor for the first time in years to attend diagnostics and discover what error in his system led him to commit such an unexpected and terrible act. However, the further he travels into the world, the more it seems that he might not be the only thing experiencing a malfunction.
--
I really loved the feel and story of this book! It was so different from many other books I've read, and I really enjoyed getting the story of what happened to the world through UnCharles' endearingly naïve (and stubborn) perspective. I will say that it could have been much shorter, however. Because of the nature of robot dialogue some conversation scenes, especially in the audiobook seemed to drag on forever, and there was a chunk from about 70-80% that dragged a bit too much for my personal taste. That said, the rest of the book made up for it, and I really loved this story, and the audiobook narration was very well done and enjoyable to listen to!

What worked for me:
- Amazing world building! An early scene of UnCharles leaving the manor for the first time sticks with me as such an amazing way to clue the reader into the state of the story's world, and I just really enjoy the way the author worked in the world building in a way that we, the reader, could see what things were really even as UnCharles remained oblivious to the meaning of what he saw.
- I really loved the characters in this! Most of the book is very focused on UnCharles, but there were still some wonderful supporting characters, and I even loved some of the characters that only showed up for one scene! (Little delivery bot, I'm talking about you.)
- The themes and messages of this book really worked for me, even though they were occasionally a bit heavy handed, it never got annoying for me.
- I really the way Adrian Tchaikovsky read this book! It added so much to hear the voices of the characters the way they were intended!

What I struggled with:
- The length of this book was my main struggle. As much as I did enjoy it, it could have been way shorter and it might have been more enjoyable.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.arc mystery sci-fi2 s JulieAuthor 13 books33

Charles is a high-end, human-facing valet robot model whose life is in a bit of a rut. He's not programmed to feel dissatisfaction, but he recognizes something is off. When he discovers his master has been murdered, he also realizes he is the murderer and that he had no motive. A hilarious farce ensues, but this comedy mostly ends when he is dismissed to seek out Central Diagnostics. From the moment he leaves the mansion, he enters a wasteland Wizard of Oz-type journey full of odd and tragic characters trying to recreate society.

When he meets The Wonk, he ends up on a quest to find employment again, but this quest leads him into more and more dangerous territory and situations. Each of these encounters is a mirror on an aspect of our current culture. Charles and The Wonk part and meet several times as they both go on their jaunts of self-realization, and this slow development of their friendship is an endearing part of the book.

I appreciated the ability of Tchaikovsky to dangle the hook of the murder throughout the entirety of the book. I don't know that I'd have lasted through some of the later episodes of the quest without it. They were all masterfully written and spot-on in their commentary, but I found them growing slightly tedious and lacking the balancing humor that gentled most of the earlier scenes. They made me sad because they were, well, sad. It's hard to write about an apocalypse without ending up sad, I suppose. It's a timely message--especially in light of the AI push and the leaps in robot technology that are occuring. This book might make you laugh at the start, but its foundation is a serious and scary premise, and Tchaikovsky's humor can only ease that revelation so much. I think this is what good science fiction does: it points at a coming future and tries to convey concerns through a palatable medium of entertainment.

This will definitely be a great book for re-reading, as I'm sure there's a lot of underlying philosophy that I missed in my initial read-through. There are also quite a few funny or niche references sprinkled throughout. The two wolves meme was particularly funny and gave me joy. Overall, another fantastic work of art from Tchaikovsky.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.2 s Will471 15

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