Review of "Machines Like Me: A Novel" by Ian McEwan

Charlie Friend, who lives in a small apartment in London, is a 32-year-old technology buff who studied anthropology. Charlie never quite made it in the working world, so he tries to make a few bucks by day trading, which isn't very lucrative for him.



The year is 1982, and Charlie is living in an alternative history world. For instance, Britain loses the Falklands War; John F. Kennedy isn't assassinated; Jimmy Carter is a two-term President; John Lennon isn't killed; the Beatles get back together; self-driving electric cars are common, and Alan Turing's homosexuality doesn't lead to his demise. Instead, Turing is a well-respected scientist who's advanced AI to the point where intelligent humanoid robots are available. Thus 13 Eves and 12 Adams - of various races and ethnicities - come on the market.





Charlie receives an inheritance at the same time the robots go on sale, and - not being brilliant with money - the day trader spends his entire £86,000 on an Adam. The robot, who looks like a swarthy, attractive human male, is unwrapped and powered up, and Charlie consults the 470-page online handbook to learn how to assign personality traits and so on.



As it happens, Charlie has a crush on Miranda, the 22-year-old Ph.D. student who lives upstairs, and hopes to forge a relationship with her. So Charlie decides to 'share' Adam with Miranda, and they each assign half the robot's personality traits. Adam can have intelligent conversations, express opinions, help with housework, etc.....and becomes an integral part of the household.

Charlie and Miranda are soon eating and sleeping together, and the smitten man begins to think about a long-term commitment.



However, Miranda's curiosity leads her to have sex with the robot, which shocks Charlie to the core. Miranda equates the incident to using a vibrator, but Charlie doesn't see it that way, and exacts a promise from Adam not to do it again. Nevertheless, Adam claims to be in love with Miranda and starts writing haikus for her. For instance:

"Kiss the space where she
trod from her to the window.
She made prints in time."

Despite the slight 'ménage a trois' atmosphere, things roll along fairly smoothly until Adam - who constantly scans the internet while he's charging up - discloses an incident in Miranda's past. Adam is loyal to Charlie but want to respect Miranda's privacy, so he just drops a hint.....and Charlie has to pursue the matter on his own.

Over the course of the story this has repercussions that set up a conflict between the 'moral flexibility' of humans and the 'innate honesty' of robots. An important question in the book is whether sentient robots can 'be happy' in our flawed human society.



Another plot line revolves around a four-year-old boy named Mark whose neglectful parents land him in foster care. Miranda develops an attachment to the boy, which leaves Charlie conflicted and unsure of what to do. All this has important consequences in the story.



There's a good bit of technological, philosophical, and political chit chat in the book.....and a speck of humor (but this is rare).

I don't want to give away too much because it's best for readers to absorb the narrative bit by bit.

The story is compelling, imaginative, and provides plenty of food for thought. Recommended to fans of 
speculative science fiction.

Rating: 3 stars