A breathtaking journey to Humanity

This tribute to Asimov, one of my favorite science fiction writers, is truly exceptional and stands proudly alongside his own work. He would undoubtedly have been thrilled to see the inspiration his writing has provided for contemporary authors. 5 stars is not enough.

Oh how much I loved this book, it was so heartfelt, so sad, so wholesome, so emotional. I loved the robot, his drone buddy, Billy, his inner voice and tone, his defiance, everything. I probably wouldn't be able to stop myself from gushing about this and boring people with my never-ending rambling. This is a beautiful journey of self-discovery, of finding one’s identity and humanity, there is emotion, paradoxes, even hilarious moments.

There's something almost magical about an non-organic creature discovering the world, the animals, the humans, the way it learns and adapts. An innocent robot, Scot, like a child, yet with the knowledge of a god, peels the layers of our world one after another, armed only with a camouflaging device buried inside him (to keep his appearance hidden from humans) and a companion drone, Billy, meant to guide him.

'I, Robot Alien' is not just a chronicle of survival; it's a deep dive into existential questions. A pivotal encounter with an old hermit shifts the story's focus. The hermit, recognizing Scot is not of this world, probes his purpose. Upon learning Scot is there to understand humanity and help, the old man offers a profound piece of advice: seek out women, for they hold the answers to his questions. Little did we know how right this old man was. Eventually we’ll see this advice for what it was– a premonition.

It is absolutely thrilling to witness Scot's intelligence carry him through centuries of human history. Though he is an alien machine, his journey feels strikingly familiar. By the end, you are left with the profound feeling of having followed the life of another human being. The humanity that blossoms within him, juxtaposed with his logical core, creates a character who is far more than a simple machine. The strange, new feelings that key characters evoke in him transform him into something more.

As Scot travels through different eras and cultures, he learns to navigate the complexities of human emotion and society. He goes from being a parental figure to a prophet, a god, a criminal, a soldier, and a hero. His encounters, especially with women who were curious about his lack of human drives, are captivating and provide some of the first moments where he learns to lie and adapt.

When his camouflaging device got damaged and he was stuck with one certain appearance, he deemed it necessary to stay in isolation until technology advanced enough for him to get out in the world. Of course that didn't go well either and when he woke up again, he was caught in the middle of a war.

From that point on, he will continue to live among the people until he encounters Jackie and Jack, a rather striking and delightful duo. These would be the first two humans who would learn about his true nature and his alien heritage. After an accident left him trapped in a hotel, Scot remains there entombed until robots dig him out only to find himself in a distant future. In this era he meets Richelle who will become one of the most important people in his existence.

The journey he takes is a beautiful exploration of what it means to be alive, and in the epilogue, he feels less like a robot and more like a fellow human being. The beautiful artwork throughout the book also adds a special touch that perfectly complements the narrative. I ate this book breathlessly.

His decision to clone only the most important people in his life is a powerful and fitting end to his emotional evolution. I will certainly get this in hard copy.

Recommend it to all SciFi fans out there who enjoyed Asimov’s Robot series.

Many, many thanks to Joel R. Dennstedt and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.