This was a decent read. I really enjoyed the writing style and characters. I felt like there were some times when I felt overwhelmed by the story. I think it may have been rushed. It was an overall good book.

This is the kind of book that gnaws into your brain and doesn't go away. Haunting, fascinating and thought-provoking is how I describe 418 by author Edgar Scott. You will question reality and the world we live in as well as how we live. What is it that makes life worth living? Is it all about the little rewards we get along the way? Is thinking we have everything we could possibly want no matter what the cost to our physical bodies? This science fiction novel forces us to confront a lot of uncomfortable questions. If you want to ponder reality for a spell, then pick up a copy of 418. This is one of my top recommended books to read of 2021.

3.75 stars--418: I AM A TEAPOT by Edgar Scott is a futuristic, dystopian, sci-fi story line focusing on ‘staff’ 418 aka George, and Brian ‘King’ Agarwal, who runs a staffing business.

Told from first person perspective (418) and third person (King) 418: I AM A TEAPOT follows 418 aka George between his daily routine as a staff, and his virtual persona online. Staff are considered the lowest of the low, either born into poverty and the lower class, or relegated by punishment to become one of the many minions to do the work that no one else wants to do but an accident, also known as an exception, finds 418 fighting for his life, a life that is about to change in many ways. Believed to be ‘brain damaged’ as a result of the exception, 418 is saved from ‘retirement’, and in the ensuing days and weeks quickly realizes that his virtual interface is no longer working as it should. Sentient, and with the ability to become self-aware, 418 begins to reconsider all that he knows, in both his virtual and real worlds. 418 works for King, and in this King is about to set 418 on a path to self-actualization and freedom from control. But all is not well in King’s once-ordered world when King finds himself facing the possibility of a life of outside control.

As mentioned above, staff are the lower class, the workers and minions who have been surgically and pharmaceutically altered as mindless drones to do the work no one else wants to do. While their minds and brains are connected to a virtual world, their bodies are controlled by artificial intelligence, and subjected to outside forces where death and dismemberment are frequent and considered part of the job-‘retirement’ is met with indifference by the people in charge. With his virtual interface working at less than optimal levels, George begins to re-evaluate the meaning of life, and his place in the world.

418: I AM A TEAPOT is, like many futuristic, dystopian, sci fi tales, a philosophical and sociological look at discrimination, power and control. I am not sure where geographically the story line takes place, or when, but the first names are all anglicized and the surnames are all East Indian in nature.

418:I AM A TEAPOT is another, complex and detailed story line of what ifs and hows but I struggled with the lack of delineation between perspectives that changed often and without preamble. A slow building story line, 418: I AM A TEAPOT does not pick up speed until part way through the book.



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Ibooks (Sandy Sch) posted

This is the best Dystopian book I've read in a long time. I absolutely love Dystopian Sci-Fi but so many fall short of actually creating unique characters with unique circumstances. Not 418, it was a fresh world from start to finish. I loved the premises, that the population is living in a simulation where every want is met and they are "happy" but in reality their bodies are being exploited.

I thought character development was outstanding. The book showed two perspectives of the same whole. The switch between the two characters could be jarring, but I think that was the point. To THRUST you out of the comfort of Brian's life and into 418's existence.

Lots of technology references. But my favorite thing about this book is how at times there were phrases that really stop and made me think. so many philosophical tidbits thrown in. It really made me think about how far we as society will go to ensure comfort and what we will do to "pay the bills" - what we will sacrifice to make sure our kids are comfortable.

Life is too short for forcing yourself to finish a story you do not enjoy. I tried very hard with this story. I just couldn't become committed to the characters.

This story is told from two perspectives, 418 (whose real name is George), and his owner Brian. I enjoy books told from multiple Perspectives help me to bond with the characters and see their side of things. it’s normally done per chapter, or at least there is a division in the chapter to let you know the POV is switching.. This book changes perspectives paragraph by paragraph so most of the time, I was confused as to who was talking?

I could not connect with the characters and I was not drawn into the story as there was very little world building or background information given. For me those are crucial elements when Writing a dystopian science fiction novel.

The only read description of George is described as a natural staff, I'm still left confused by what that meant. The formatting was confusing for me, and ultimately, I could not finish the book; perhaps it picked up after the halfway point, but I'm not sure as I had little interest in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley & Black Chateau for this ARC

This is a great book. I really enjoyed it. The characters are well developed and the story is packed with action and adventure. The author does a great job delivering a story with a solid plot and interesting subplots. Good comparison to the technology used now and where it could take us to.

This story is told from two perspectives, 418 (whose real name is George), and his owner Brian (who for some reason always directs people to call him King, this is never explained). I normally really enjoy books told from multiple perspectives, however it’s normally done per chapter, and this book switches perspectives paragraph by paragraph (it also switches from 1st person to 3rd person). It takes a while to get the hang of reading this book because of this. There is very little world building or background information given. You are pretty much just thrown into this world and have to figure it out as you go. George is described as a “natural“ staff, which as far as I can tell means he was born into this life. When he can’t escape into virtual reality anymore and has to deal with actual reality he is ill-equipped to do so. As time goes by George and Brian transition from staff/employer to friends. It’s interesting watching George learn and evolve as time goes by, because Brian seems to as well. Brian really seems as ill-equipped to deal with reality as his staff is. This ended up being an interesting read, however I do think the formatting could’ve been done in a less confusing way.

Thank you to NetGalley & Black Chateau for this advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.