Great concept of a robot trying to find his way in a world. Trying to figure things out with any kind of guidance of someone to tell him what to do. Love this book and look forward to any future books.

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

The author narrates the book, and he is wonderful. He does a ton of different character voices for all of the different robot characters. He really knocked this one out of the park with all of the different accents.

I loved Charles/UnCharles! I think fans of the Murderbot Diaries will really enjoy this, it has that same balance of humor and social commentary with a charming robot main character. It isn't exactly the same but it has some of the same concepts about finding one's purpose and self-awareness. UnCharles is no SecUnit, but I still think fans of one will enjoy the other.

This follows our quirky main character Charles, a valet robot who lives to serve his human master. When he finds his human master murdered his programming will not let him stop until he finds a new master to valet for. He embarks on a journey to determine if he is defective and meets with all manner of robot along the way. Now that he has no purpose he is known as UnCharles, until he is reassigned to a new position. His main companion is "The Wonk", a misunderstood character who is always encouraging UnCharles to be happy and go against his programming which is a major theme of the book. As UnCharles travels about the dystopian landscape looking for a suitable master, he discovers many different types of robots waiting for human intervention. This is filled with pop culture references from other popular movies and books that fans of the genre are sure to appreciate.

Overall, I loved this and UnCharles is a character I can see myself revisiting soon.

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 its…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 Wonk’s journey; while also mentally echoing the latter’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 I’ve read or listened to any of Tchaikovsky’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.

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!
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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 like 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.
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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 like 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 like the way Adrian Tchaikovsky read this book! It added so much to hear the voices of the characters the way they were intended!
- The humor in this book was so good!

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!

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 373 / Genre: Sci-Fi
Audiobook Narrator: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Duration: 12 hours 21 minutes
Release Date: June 4, 2024

The premise of this book is a dystopian world where humans are dying out and totally reliant on robots. One day a robot named Charles kills his master and is then taken in to be dismantled. Along the way, he meets another robot named Wonk, who convinces him to run away, where he discovers a new world for robots where humans are no longer in charge.

Written with lots of typical dry British humor, very similar to my favorite authors Douglas Adams and Neil Gaiman, so I totally expected to love this one. But alas… SNOOZE FEST! The dialog between the robots just about killed me. They think in programming loops so each new thought went around and around and AROUND. And one robot trying to get the other robot to get out of the loop put me to sleep faster than reading an actual computer science textbook.

I received an advanced copy of the ebook and the audiobook but even the audiobook couldn’t save it. The author is the narrator, and he has a lovely British accent. Sometimes he changes his voice for different characters but sometimes he doesn’t. So when Wonk and Charles are having one of their excruciatingly long stuck-in-a-loop conversations it’s so tiring trying to figure out who is saying what until you just stop trying and fall asleep. The story itself was good but the repetitive dialogue just ruined it for me.

Thank you @NetGalley, @macmillan.audio, and @tordotcompub for my gifted copies.

4.5
I really enjoyed this new entry from Tchaikovsky. Like 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.

This is one of my new favorite Cozy dystopian sci-fi novels. I went into the story blind and was completely blown away. The main character is a Valet robot, who used to be called Charles, who is having his protagonist moment. He is trying to navigate life in a world that he can’t understand with the help of a robot who acts in very un-robotic ways. The two of them adventure through the waste lands for answers and on the way, they discover a multitude of strange characters and helpful robots. As they get closer to the answers they seek, they come to realize that they need each other more than they thought. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author and can’t imagine any other voice being appropriate for Uncharles. Adrian Tchaikovsky completely embodied his characters and brought his story to life with his telling. I feel like I have spent hours inside of his head and I loved it. The world he built was dark and gritty but also believable as a possible future outcome for humanity. The humor is intelligent and a bit dry, but it makes this book shine. I definitely laughed out loud and rooted for the underdog. This is one of my favorite new releases of 2024.

This is such a great book. How often is a dystopian novel a fun read? Charles is a service model robot, and I adore him. He murders his human master and leaves his manor to go on an adventure in the wider world, witnessing the collapse of humanity. He has quite an experience! Is he sentient or just following programming?

The world the author created is interesting and full, just what you’d expect from Adrian Tchaikovsky. He read the audiobook himself, and he imparts humor and life to the characters. The other robots are so varied and can be surprising. It’s a funny, charming book, and I didn’t want to put it down/stop listening. It was definitely a five-star read for me. It comes out June 4! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me listen to this in advance.

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 unlikely 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.

If I could give twenty stars, I’m not sure it would be enough! I’m hesitant to give away too much, since I want everyone to have the experience of watching the story unfold. The central question is established early - what are the limitations of systems driven solely by data?

In the beginning, the question is taken very literally in ways that will be familiar to anyone who has been caught in a loop of standard operating procedures and project management speak - the first few chapters read like a comedy sketch set in an office where everyone follows instructions to the letter but with no consideration of intent or outcome.

As events move forward, however, the focus expands - you know, kind of like when Dorothy steps into Munchkinland and the image snaps into widescreen technicolor? The Oz motif runs through the book from the cover to the conclusion, but never feels forced or trite, which is an achievement in itself. The earlier humor shifts into something darker - sure, it’s funny to see robots attempt to form orderly lines in the face of conflicting instructions…but something is clearly amiss in this world.

By the end, you’ll be questioning just about every public policy and service in our data driven society - along with the idea that any dataset is truly objective.

The audio version is a special treat, since it’s read by the author. This is clearly a story he cares about telling, and he does it masterfully.

But regardless of your preferred format - PLEASE read this book! You won’t regret it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I’m always wary of an author narrating their own book but Adrian Tchaikovsky does an outstanding job in Service Model. Where can I find purpose is the question Charles/UnCharles asks. Charles is a sophisticated service model valet for humans but when his master is “murdered”, he goes on a quest to find another boss which proves quite difficult. Since he leaves his service, he’s stripped of his title and goes by the name UnCharles. Unfortunately humans are scarce as something caused the collapse of human civilization. It’s interesting to ponder the meaning of life and your own purpose in relation to this story. I enjoyed the narration and the story. It made me ponder the meaning of life. ALC was provided by Macmillan Audio via NetGalley, I received an advance listening copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I went into Service Model with no expectations, and I think it was a unique and interesting story.

A valet robot has killed its master and run away. Both things that it should not have been able to do. The story follows this robot as it navigates the world outside the manor.

This story is funny, but it's very dry humor. That is not usually my thing; but I did really enjoy the absurdities of some of the robots trying to carry on their tasks even as society is very obviously crumbling around them.

Also, the narration is amazing. I don't know if I would have enjoyed this nearly as much if I had read a physical copy. The author really brings the characters to life. And I think that was no easy feat considering most of the characters are robots and, therefore, cannot convey a lot of emotion.

There were a few moments where it felt the pacing lagged and the novel began to feel a bit long. But other than that, I think it moved at a steady pace that kept me generally engaged.

Uncharles and the wonk made quite a pair. I really enjoyed their dynamic and their series of misadventures. I'd recommend this if you like stories about robots, are a sci-fi reader, and/or enjoy dry humor.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I will be posting my review to my IG next week

Very fun read. It reminded me of the Wizard of Oz or the Phantom Tollbooth, with a journey, interesting encounters with different groups, and learning important lessons along the way. It felt didactic, but in a parable way, and I felt like there were lessons worth learning. Characters were delightful and humor was everpresent.

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 liked some a lot more than others. The first section, Christie (spelled KR15-T bc robots) plays like 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]

Characters:
The story follows one PoV for its entirety. I don't want to go into too much detail because there is so much delight in everything about the characters that is unveiled.

Positives:
+ The book was narrated BY the author. I repeat, The book was narrated by the author! Which is absolutely 100% delightful. You can rest secure in the knowledge that the story is being read out loud with every nuance of tone the author wanted you to receive the story in. I loved all the distinct voices and accents for the different characters. Also, what a lovely reading voice. 10 of 10 would happily listen to any of his stories in his voice again.
+ THAT EPILOGUE. Omgosh I loved the epilogue so very much. Fantastic little pretty bow at the end of the story.

Final Thoughts:
I LOVED this story. I loved the characters (all the names. The names tickled me SO MUCH), their trials and tribulations, and the setting. Such a freaking good read. The ‘bad guy” of the story was my absolute favorite. The entire part of the story pertaining to them was highly entertaining. If you enjoyed Martha Well’s “Murderbot” Series and Becky Chamber’s “A Psalm for the Wild-Built” this book will probably be up your alley. Expect a similar warm and cozy feeling about the relationships and self-discovery.

I desperately need a copy of this book for my home library now. Can’t wait to have it snug and tucked away along with all my other favorite sci-fi’s.

Robot has an existential crisis when his human master is found mysteriously murdered, so he goes on an adventure. And boy, is it an adventure. Through this robot's perspective, we discover an almost post-apocalyptic dystopian world and begin a search to find out where it all went wrong.

"The induction had waxed long on the topic of robots and other automated helpmates replacing human labor but he hadn't realized that, back in the past, humans had worked so hard to live like robots."

The humor in Service Model is very similar to Tchaikovsky's 'One Day All This Will Be Yours' - satirical, a little dark. I loved it, and found myself laughing out loud quite often. While the pacing can be slow at times, it felt right for the story and isn't a negative. I listened to the audiobook, and as usual, loved Tchaikovsky's fantastic narration.

"He was a robot put out of work by automation."

Hilarious with underlying heartfelt moments, all while determining what it means to be a robot in this destroyed world, I had a lot of fun reading Service Model and highly recommend it - 4.25 stars. Also, I absolutely love the cover.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Tor Books and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy of SERVICE MODEL by Adrian Tchaikovsky!

SERVICE MODEL follows a domestic robot. His function is to be a valet for his master. When he discovers that he's gone off track by murdering the man he works for, he must begin to question his purpose and his programming. He sets out on a quest for new work and new information, exploring a world that is entirely new. This is a world where humans are no longer at the top of the hierarchy and the world isn't the one we now know.

I went into this book without knowing a whole lot about it apart from knowing that this is an author I've enjoyed before. It is pitched as "a humorous tale of robotic murder" and that was enough to convince me to pick it up. We are following in one robot's mind throughout the story and the reader is therefore learning the state of the world right alongside of them. We meet many different robots and establishments along the way.

The humor in this book worked really well for me when it came up, but it definitely is on the darker side. It did give me some laughs along the way. I would describe this more as a dystopian look at a fairly dismal future with a lot of commentary on the world itself. There were places where I felt the story dragged out a little more than I would have liked, but overall it kept me very invested. The author narrates the book and I thought that it was really well done!

Service Model is among my favorite books this year. I did find myself wanting Uncharles to be more human, but that's integral to the story.
Service Model is a delightful story, akin to the Monk and Robot books and I will recommend it often.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. What happens when you blindly follow a purpose that you never chose for yourself? And what happens if that purpose no longer has meaning to the world around you? This story follows the loveable to a fault robot Charles as he slowly uncovers the reality of the world he is living in. The writing style takes into account all of the calculations, the logic, and the dilemmas that Charles faces as it encounters new characters and situations while attempting to stay true to his primary objective. The vibe of the book is humorous and intriguing while being set in a dystopian world that is revealed to the reader as Charles learns more about it. The description recommends this to fans of *The Murderbot Diaries*, and I would clarify that *The Murderbot Diaries* has much more humor and personality delivered up front, whereas *Service Model* focuses on the illogical commitment to Charles’ primary objective, with the personality developing throughout the story.

The author, Adrian Tchaikovsky, narrates the audiobook and does a spectacular job. He developed different voices for the two main characters and does well in bringing them to life. I always worry that narrators may read robots too monotone, but Adrian perfectly manages balancing the (il)logical reasoning and personality in his delivery. Even the portions that were not dialogue were delivered in a way that was easy to follow. The chapters are clearly delineated by the narrator, with announcements when a new chapter starts and appropriate pauses — for clarity, I listened at 1.25x speed.

I would recommend this audiobook version to anyone interested in a sci-fi standalone palette cleanser. I had a blast listening to the audiobook and crocheting, and even found myself getting existential at key moments as I followed Charles’ journey.

I love me a good AI story. This was not the story I thought I was getting. It was interesting but felt a bit long and honestly I’m not sure how I feel about the conclusion. This was my first work by this author and I would be interested in checking out some of their other work.