The Last Machine in the Solar System

This short but intense book is a grand mixture of science, science fiction, philosophy, theology and the ruminations of a lonely intellect randomly drifting through space for eons, heading towards it's final resting place. You might think that rummaging around in the "mind" of a machine would be stiff and unemotional. Not so! Jonathan is wise, thoughtful, introspective and loyal to his long-dead creator. His observations during his long journey are at once sad, inspiring and supremely logical, while at the same time... OK, yes, I'll say it... exquisitely heart-wrenching. I was SO pleasantly surprised by this book; it was light-years (pun intended) better than I ever expected it to be. I couldn't possibly recommend this novel more; wish Mr. Sobin would somehow follow this up with a sequel! Just absolutely superb.

A super-interesting thought experiment: If a single intelligent machine was the only thing left in our solar system, having experienced our / mankind's present, and future, and demise, what would it's thoughts and emotions be?

This is a very nicely written novella examining this question, which it does quite well. Written in first-person from the POV of the machine, it looks at humanity's high achievements, considers our weaknesses, and postulates what our future might be.

A short, quick read that's worth your time if you enjoy thinking about how time might unfold for humanity.

Thanks to Netgalley and Inkshares for the ARC.

-4 and a half stars-

Normally I find myself having to plow through 700+ pages to get the kind of sci-fi satisfaction that I got from this book, but this short little novelette gave me a lot of the things that are so difficult to find in modern sci-fi.

The story is told from the perspective of a machine who has been alone not just since the destruction of the civilized portion of the solar system, but really since the death of his beloved creator. For a book told a couple billion years after the destruction of humanity, it really is incredibly hopeful, and that is something I really took heart in. Jonathan, while having no great love for humanity, still was surprisingly tender and respectful when discussing the strengths and weaknesses of human society.

The last few pages, and the revelation of Jonathan's physical legacy left me a little confused at first, but the more I thought about it the more I really enjoyed the way that Sobin brought the story to a close. While I certainly would have enjoyed a lengthier story, I do think these 60 pages of TLMITSS were darn near perfect, and I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a short story from the point of view of an android built to outlive the death of humanity, Earth, Mars, and our solar system in general. We witness his "birth", his experiences on Earth and later Mars, and eventually moves on to billions of years later when the sun has become a white dwarf.

Following the tradition of classic scifi, there is a lot of social commentary. One major point is how humans can accomplish a lot if we work together, but we're too driven by our individual selfish needs. It's very fitting for the isolationist tendencies we're seeing right now.

One quote I did thoroughly enjoy:
I think far more foresight was needed; once the layman can see the issue, it is already too late to remedy.

There's hard science in this, but I do think it's a case of, if you look too hard it'll become a bit fuzzy.

The author did state at the end that he was planning on making this into a full length novel. However, this does work very well at the current length.

The Last Machine in the Solar System by Matthew Isaac Sobin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This novella hearkens back to the good old days of Asimov or the general Campbellian SF universe where we focus on the nuts and bolts of the universe, or in this case, the solar system, as our robot observer watches our old red sun engulf the planets.

Of course, humanity is long dead. We're talking billions of years and I have doubts about the next ten.

That being said, this novella is very contemplative and enjoyable, adding little fun reflections on creativity and Jonathan's birth as well, but mostly we've got some great jewels like terraforming mars and igniting Jupiter as either long-dead history or possibilities, and this is where the author shows his chops as someone who knows the SF field and is writing a love-letter to it.

The only complaint I have is one that the author already addressed at the end: It needs to be longer and he is writing more. :) I'm quite good with that. Thanks!

This is for anyone who loves the whole concept of our Solar System's death. Or maybe you're just in a mood. :)

Thanks goes to Netgalley for this ARC!

The Last Machine in the Solar System is a book that is surprisingly heavy for as small as it is. Matthew Isaac Sobin gives us an unconventional look at the end of the world through the eyes of a robot. A robot that was built specifically with the end goal in mind of observing the end of the world. It is a book that is soft on the science part of science fiction, but still a great read. It is not meant to be an epic adventure or even your basic sci-fi novel with story arc. Instead, it's basically a treatise on the human condition, the memories of the last 'person' with conscious thought as he looks back on humanity's decline and eventual extinction.

One of my favorite parts was where the robot is thinking back on the destruction of the human race. He's pondering what it would have taken for humanity to save itself. Through that lens in The Last Machine in the Solar System, Sobin is able to give a pointed and accurate look at humanity as a whole. It is not one you can disagree with. Humans value their individuality too much to ever give it up even if it means it would save our race as a whole. It makes you wonder what we would give up by banding together like we would need to. Are the things that we view as a necessary part of being human really necessary? Is happiness really that big of a deal? I don't think so, but then again I'm at the point where I really don't believe the human race deserves to survive. So perhaps I'm not the best person to talk about hive mind versus happiness.

The writing is smooth and rich. Almost decadent at times. The Last Machine in the Solar System is a book that's meant to be read slowly. You are meant to taste each individual word as everything is slowly revealed. Not that there is any grand 'reveal', but instead just a slow wind towards an inevitable conclusion.

The Last Machine in the Solar System leaves the reader with a feeling of melancholy as they read the last sentence. But not all books have to leave us with a happy ending. This book does what it's set out to do, and it does it well. The illustrations by Jack Katz add an unexpected but nice touch of visualization to the story.

Overall, at only 80 pages long, there's really no reason not to read The Last Machine in the Solar System. It's a lunchtime read that will give you discussion fodder for afterward.

This short story, told from the perspective of a machine built to outlive and document humanity, takes the long view of human evolution and considers the transience of our existence, and just what we will leave behind. For while the longevity of the machine nears immortality by human standards, its time spent monitoring and evaluating mankind's progress is simply inconsequential when compared to the celestial bodies that surround it. Moving from Earth to the far reaches of the solar system, this unique and contemplative tale of a single mechanical mind will compel readers to consider their place in the universe and their own mark on the world.