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Annalee Newitz
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Autonomous: A Novel Hardcover – September 19, 2017

by Annalee Newitz (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 4,124 ratings
Editors' pick Best Science Fiction & Fantasy
See all formats and editions
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  1. Lambda Literary AwardWinner, 2018
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"Autonomous is to biotech and AI what Neuromancer was to the Internet."―Neal Stephenson

"Something genuinely and thrillingly new in the naturalistic, subjective, paradoxically humanistic but non-anthropomorphic depiction of bot-POV―and all in the service of vivid, solid storytelling."―William Gibson

When anything can be owned, how can we be free

Earth, 2144. Jack is an anti-patent scientist turned drug pirate, traversing the world in a submarine as a pharmaceutical Robin Hood, fabricating cheap scrips for poor people who can’t otherwise afford them. But her latest drug hack has left a trail of lethal overdoses as people become addicted to their work, doing repetitive tasks until they become unsafe or insane.

Hot on her trail, an unlikely pair: Eliasz, a brooding military agent, and his robotic partner, Paladin. As they race to stop information about the sinister origins of Jack’s drug from getting out, they begin to form an uncommonly close bond that neither of them fully understand.

And underlying it all is one fundamental question: Is freedom possible in a culture where everything, even people, can be owned?

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  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Tor Books
  4. Publication date
    September 19, 2017
  5. Dimensions
    5.79 x 1.06 x 8.66 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0765392070
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0765392077
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4,124 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book an interesting and well-written read. They appreciate the engaging storyline with high-energy scenes and a compelling narrative. The characters are well-developed and believable, with a satisfying balance between good and bad. The book provides a thought-provoking look at the future from many angles, with realistic visions of a near-future rich in dystopian and utopian elements. Readers praise the writing quality as good, well-researched, and brilliant. The science fiction is described as hard science extrapolated from current development, using details about pharmaceutical tech that's just far too real.

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ReadabilityStorylineCharacter developmentThought provokingWriting qualityScience fictionPacingEnjoyment
112 customers mention "Readability"101 positive11 negative

Customers find the book an engaging read with a different perspective. They describe it as a well-thought-out novel about the future of AI. The book explores interesting topics and is a worthwhile read.

"...The book has interesting, well fleshed out characters, an extremely detailed and complex world, steady pacing and an exciting, straightforward..." Read more

"...I like the ideas though. The pace is fair and the world development is so-so. It is Earth, but society has changed significantly...." Read more

"...A worthwhile, fresh and interesting read bringing a different perspective to AI and potential human-robot relationships...." Read more

"...It's a shame. The worldbuilding has been decent so far. The premise was so intriguing. But all the characters are appalling...." Read more

106 customers mention "Storyline"84 positive22 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging storyline with high-energy scenes and intriguing secondary characters. They appreciate the well-crafted narrative and depth of the characters. The premise is intriguing and the book keeps their attention throughout with its complex and rapidly evolving narrative. Readers find the characters relatable across a wide spectrum of experiences. Overall, it's described as an exciting adventure crime story that's much more than meets the eye.

"...You might enjoy this book if you are into cyberpunk, hard sci-fi, interested in the future of technology, society and culture and don't mind to..." Read more

"...this is a very complex, layered novel that may be an adventure crime story on the surface but is really much much more than that by the time it is..." Read more

"...A fast-moving and page-turning plot, with breezy dialog and just enough exposition to paint images in the reader's mind...." Read more

"...It's a shame. The worldbuilding has been decent so far. The premise was so intriguing. But all the characters are appalling...." Read more

58 customers mention "Character development"46 positive12 negative

Customers find the characters interesting and well-written. They appreciate the way the author humanizes even the bad guys, providing a satisfying balance between good and bad.

"...The book has interesting, well fleshed out characters, an extremely detailed and complex world, steady pacing and an exciting, straightforward..." Read more

"...AUTONOMOUS is a complex, involved, and many layered novel with engaging characters and terrifically written...." Read more

"...What's not to like about this novel, it has well developed characters, hard science extrapolated from current development, A.I. robots, Bio-bots,..." Read more

"...Even though all the major characters were well drawn and reasonably deep, they all came across quite flat...." Read more

51 customers mention "Thought provoking"49 positive2 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and engaging. They say it's a realistic vision of the future with dystopian and utopian elements. The book brings up some cool ideas and themes, with a colorful balance of fantastic technology and dystopia. Readers appreciate the well-thought-out and complex manner in which it holds forth.

"...I loved Autonomous! The cyberpunk setting, the tension of not knowing who was going to get their way, the fact that a lot of characters were..." Read more

"...AUTONOMOUS is a complex, involved, and many layered novel with engaging characters and terrifically written...." Read more

"...Even though all the major characters were well drawn and reasonably deep, they all came across quite flat...." Read more

"...bearer of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, this is a thought-provoking look at the future from many angles, a dystopian vision of massive..." Read more

43 customers mention "Writing quality"31 positive12 negative

Customers enjoy the book's writing quality. They praise the well-crafted prose, thoughtful plot, and creative writing style. The author creates a detailed and complex world with clever phrasing and artistic writing. The dialog is smooth and the characters are fleshed out. Overall, readers appreciate the author's skillful storytelling and linguistic choices.

"...The book has interesting, well fleshed out characters, an extremely detailed and complex world, steady pacing and an exciting, straightforward..." Read more

"...Jack reverse engineers a drug called Zacuity. Zacuity is a productivity drug, intended to help the people who take it, under controlled circumstances..." Read more

"...The entire narration was very confusing because this is a large robot that apparently is made of some kind of metal and there is no clear reason..." Read more

"...A fast-moving and page-turning plot, with breezy dialog and just enough exposition to paint images in the reader's mind...." Read more

41 customers mention "Science fiction"38 positive3 negative

Customers find the science fiction engaging with well-developed characters and hard science extrapolated from current development. They appreciate the thought-provoking insights into AI, gender, and biotech that challenge societal and scientific norms. The book provides an excellent understanding of the interweaving of underlying technologies and explores issues like designer drugs, ADHD, and evolving human beliefs.

"...this book if you are into cyberpunk, hard sci-fi, interested in the future of technology, society and culture and don't mind to receive lots of..." Read more

"...this novel, it has well developed characters, hard science extrapolated from current development, A.I. robots, Bio-bots, the return of indentured..." Read more

"Came for the sci-fi and robots, stayed for the smut. Interesting read on designer drugs, rampant ADHD, and our ever changing beliefs on human..." Read more

"...AI or exploring the universe or time traveling etc, while this one is about biotech, which is suppose to be a big thing in the near future...." Read more

23 customers mention "Pacing"19 positive4 negative

Customers find the book's pacing engaging. They describe it as riveting, intense, and thought-provoking. The dystopian future is frightening yet wondrous, with a rich background of political and geological changes. The story blends politics, science, emotion, and adventure in an exciting yet depressing tale.

"...fleshed out characters, an extremely detailed and complex world, steady pacing and an exciting, straightforward plot. I loved Autonomous!..." Read more

"...I like the ideas though. The pace is fair and the world development is so-so. It is Earth, but society has changed significantly...." Read more

"...A fast-moving and page-turning plot, with breezy dialog and just enough exposition to paint images in the reader's mind...." Read more

"...The background is rich with political and geological changes, although the world seems not as different from our own as the advanced date (2144)..." Read more

19 customers mention "Enjoyment"19 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it engaging, with a realistic vision of the future. The book is fast-paced and thought-provoking, with many twists and turns. Readers appreciate the thoughtful critique of current IP laws.

"What an incredible ride, folks. Is piracy a moral choice? Do robots have gender? Is love real if it's programmed?..." Read more

"...A very intriguing, fun and unique AI ride! Fits well with fans of Blade Runner, Ex Machina and AI in general." Read more

"...Full of groovy and provocative ideas, this book is exciting and fresh. Recommended" Read more

"...At the same time its a joyful wild ride with a group of seriously engaging characters - on the good guy side as well as on the "bad guy" side..." Read more

Disappointing
2 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
The first third was so-so but had a little promise, but then a couple really obviously awkward plot turns were made in order to draw out the story. The protagonist's enemies were close on her heels, then suddenly they decided to take a detour and then suddenly we catch up to the hero bopping around Canada after nearly a year which is not explained. This supposedly in a society were no one can disappear if all-powerful entities are after you.Then what finally caused me to throw the book away in disgust were a couple sudden and completely gratuitious violent acts were awkwardly (stylistically) perpetrated on someone by two characters who until that moment we had no clue of such violent tendencies. It was nonsensical and just didnt fit.Another really awkward aspect of this author's writing was the sexual relationship between the bot and its handler. It was weird and felt as gratuitious as the violence, really didnt do anything for the story and was just thrown in for titillation, though I doubt anyone actually got tittled much.I should have taken a clue from the inside cover which was garishly plastered with review quotes. I knew from past experience that when a book is plastered with review quotes that's a good sign the book hasn't much to stand on other than those review quotes.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Alina Leonova
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing cyberpunk story!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This futuristic story takes place in 2144. A lot has changed on Earth. Bots made for all imaginable purposes are now part of the society. Tech is booming. The indenture system that in practice means slavery is in place for bots as well as people. Pharmaceuticals are patented, which makes them unavailable to the poor, but Jack is not going to accept it. She's an anti-patent pirate who reverse engineers drugs, shipping them all over the world in her submarine. One day, a drug she's made turns out to be highly addictive and deadly. An agent and a bot are sent on a hunt for her, while Jack is trying to make it right.

    The book has interesting, well fleshed out characters, an extremely detailed and complex world, steady pacing and an exciting, straightforward plot.

    I loved Autonomous! The cyberpunk setting, the tension of not knowing who was going to get their way, the fact that a lot of characters were activists and belonged to the counterculture, the futuristic technology, the complexity of the protagonists - all of it made for a very engrossing read. The book explores the issues of freedom and slavery, human relationships as well as the relationship between humans and bots, the dangers of patented science in the hands of powerful corporations, gender, love and many more. It was a very intense book for me, filled to the brim with ideas, feelings, technology, science and action.

    You might enjoy this book if you are into cyberpunk, hard sci-fi, interested in the future of technology, society and culture and don't mind to receive lots of information some of which might be beyond your grasp (also, some weird human-robot stuff).
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Joe Karpierz
    4.0 out of 5 stars or new novels that are coming out from authors that I like. But every once in a while a novel ...
    Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I don't necessarily read many debut novels during any given year, at least not until the Hugo Finalists are announced (as they be later today as I write this) and one or two are on that list. Ann Leckie's ANCILLARY JUSTICE comes to mind as the most recent example. I typically want to try to get through a few books on my to-read list, or new novels that are coming out from authors that I like. But every once in a while a novel is published that gets so much buzz that I can't ignore hearing about it, and if the story sounds like something I might be interested in, I'll give it a try. AUTONOMOUS, by Annalee Newitz, fits that description.

    Jack is a pirate, but not the kind that has a hook for a hand, sails on a ship that flies the skull and crossbones, or is Johnny Depp. Rather she is a humanitarian pirate, one who is attempting, in her own way, to take down big pharma. She sells recreational and other fun drugs to raise money for her real cause: reverse engineering drugs that will help humanity. But as we all know, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Jack reverse engineers a drug called Zacuity. Zacuity is a productivity drug, intended to help the people who take it, under controlled circumstances, become more focused and well, get more work done. The key phrase is "under controlled circumstances". Jack unleashes the reverse engineered drug on to the populace, and those who take it become addicted to it, to the point of focusing on tasks so intensely that many die because they don't eat, sleep, or do anything else that a person needs to do to survive.

    Meanwhile, the IPC has traced the drug back to Jack. Newly awakenedd bot Paladin is teamed up with an IPC agent named Eliasz, and the pair go in search of Jack in order to bring her to justice. Jack, on her part, is desperately trying to find a drug that will cure the addiction and stop people from dying. She discovers that Zacuity, in fact, *is* addicting, and that the corporation that is marketing it did not perform sufficient testing to determine any nasty side effects. In effect, Jack perfectly reversed engineered the drug, and now she has to not only fix the problem she caused but try to take down the manufacturer in the process.

    The novel, then, on the surface looks to be a standard, run-of-the-mill crime story, with the possible twist that the well-intentioned pirate may actually win the day and take down the big, bad, nasty pharmaceutical corporation in the process. Of course, things aren't that simple. And in fact, that particular story line is just a small part of what Newitz is doing here.

    Bots, and some humans are born into indentured servitude, and must earn their way out. Humans also can voluntarily enter into this indentured life style because they don't have much choice. Paladin is an indentured bot, for example. Newitz explores the implications of this system and what it means to society. Newitz is also exploring the nature of sexuality and gender fluidity and the ability to make choices. Bots, for example, are generally considered male, and Paladin is presented with a choice she's never had before, a choice bots don't generally get to make.

    Relationships and characters are explored in detail as well. Eliasz and Paladin develop a romantic relationship; we learn about Jack's past relationships and how her character developed to get to where it is at the time of the novel and *why* it developed the way it did. The bottom line here is that this is a very complex, layered novel that may be an adventure crime story on the surface but is really much much more than that by the time it is over.

    Newitz also doesn't present any easy answers, doesn't tie anything up in a nice little bow for the characters or the reader. Life is dirty and messy, and the reality is that things rarely turn out such that people live happily ever after, and the big bad corporations rarely get their comeuppance.

    AUTONOMOUS is a complex, involved, and many layered novel with engaging characters and terrifically written. Since I began this review earlier today, the 2018 Hugo finalists were announced, and AUTONOMOUS did not make the cut for Best Novel. It is a strong novel and deserved to be on that list. It certainly deserves your consideration the next time you're looking for something to read.
    41 people found this helpful
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  • Lee Davis
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good first book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    There's some really interesting concepts in this book. Some drastic changes in society are a bit of a stretch given it is set only 120 years into the future. I like the ideas though.

    The pace is fair and the world development is so-so. It is Earth, but society has changed significantly. I never really felt a lot for the characters and never managed to get a liking or understanding of Jack (arguably, the main character). I really liked Paladin. I particularly like Paladin's struggles. That was excellent throughout.

    The book attempts to deal with a lot of contemporary topics. Socioeconomic divide, racial bigotry, sexuality, etc. It does them well too. I found the story a little mundane and predictable. It is Annalee's first novel and I really hope she does more.

    Finally, I love the book cover. I reminds me of Westworld.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Thomas Woolmer
    4.0 out of 5 stars A decent read
    Reviewed in Canada on May 27, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    There were lots of things to like about this book—decent writing, interesting ideas, especially about the exploitation of indentured workers and bots, and the whole underground drug culture against Big Pharma. But the romance with the bot and the pharma hitman-with-a-conscience was just cringe. And the ending was underwhelming. There was such a build-up, and then it ended not with a bang, but a whimper. I did appreciate the thinking about autonomy and bots, however. It was interesting being inside the mind of a bot, and for that, I appreciate the author’s willingness to take risks.
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  • JonBoy
    4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of good things, one bad.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Very glad to have read this. Easy to read, nicely sci-fi with an interesting world of bits and bots. Quite technical but not overly so - some of it went over my head but that didn't cause a problem.
    The action descriptions were rather matter-of-fact and not that plentiful. Those aspects didn't really matter but I would have liked more and more engagingly described.
    The main thing that bothered me was the gratuitous and unnecessarily cruel violence and torture. It's not necessary and made the atmosphere sometimes nasty for no reason.
    I still recommend it just not unreservedly.
    Report
  • Michela
    4.0 out of 5 stars Captivating story and characters
    Reviewed in Italy on April 1, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A novel that is told from the points of view of a number of characters, including two AI bio-robots, one already "autonomous", the other at the service and (hidden, implicit) orders of an anti-piracy bureau until halfway through the story. In this world where humans can be "indentured" too, not just robots, another main character is learning to live his life autonomously after decades of indenture. The main plot follows the attempt of a gene-editing anti-patent pirate and a small team of concerned scientists to fight the catastrophically addictive effects of a new drug and to expose the company that is selling it regardless and that is trying to blame the reverse-engineered, illegally sold version of the drug for the awful side effects. The anti-piracy bureau people are at the same time trying to catch the pirate and stop her. The story unfolds alternating points of views, and giving readers all the necessary flashbacks about the characters' past and the contexts at large. Quite a captivating story and a fascinating set of characters.
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  • Attorney At Law
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
    Reviewed in Germany on May 22, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Ownership of your own thoughts. Human prerogative or not? That is the question raised by this brillant piece of Work.
    Report
  • Alex B
    5.0 out of 5 stars That's science fiction
    Reviewed in France on March 15, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A remarquable mix of hard science and hard sociology. Everything is coherent, even if the efficiency of human brain in face recognition is disputable (in my case)...
    Report