Audiobook Review of Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky explores existentialism through a robot looking for his purpose after the fall of a modern human society. The characters are likable, the writing is entertaining and witty, the imagery is crisp, and the audiobook narration fits perfectly. So why was I so depressed while listening to this book?
4.0 / 5 Stars
To fix the world they must first break it, further.
Humanity is a dying breed, utterly reliant on artificial labor and service.
When a domesticated robot gets a nasty little idea downloaded into its core programming, they murder their owner. The robot discovers they can also do something else they never did before: They can run away.
Fleeing the household they enter a wider world they never knew existed, where the age-old hierarchy of humans at the top is disintegrating into ruins and an entire robot ecosystem devoted to human wellbeing is having to find a new purpose.
Sometimes all it takes is a nudge to overcome the limits of your programming.
Why did I pick this one up? Marketing hype.
I have never read anything by Adrian Tchaikovsky. I started Service Model based solely on the description that it is like a mash-up of Murderbot and Redshirts. I will take a slight detour here to mention that I have read the entire Murderbot series and adore Murderbot. I have also read Redshirts by John Scalzi (I’m assuming that’s the referenced novel here), but I do not remember it enough to draw any comparison. I have read several Scalzi books, though, and have a general sense of his satirical style.
Should you Believe Aforementioned Marketing Hype?
Murderbot this story is not, unless you count that both Uncharles and Murderbot are robots. Murderbot as a character is riddled with anxiety and struggles with the concept of itself as an individual. Uncharles is a robot in the strict sense – he is programmed to do a set of tasks, and realizes that he finds fulfillment in completing those tasks. Uncharles’ journey is more a commentary on society than it is an exploration of what it means to be human or self-aware or have a conscience – all themes in the Murderbot series.
I do think that Service Model overall will appeal to fans of Scalzi’s satirical books. It doesn’t have the same in-your-face humor that characterize Scalzi’s books nor the pop-culture references. The style is distinctly more witty and absurd. It is like watching a Monty Python movie rather than a Saturday Night Live sketch.
I know, I’ve spent a lot of words comparing this book to other books based purely on one sentence from the publisher’s marketing. That one sentence was the hook that drew me to this book, though, so I thought it fair to spend some time unpacking it. Murderbot = misleading marketing hype. Redshirts … probably a fair assessment based on style.
Let’s Meet the Protagonists
The story of butler-robot Uncharles (formerly Charles, until he is let go from his household position because of murder) takes place across a ruined society in multiple acts, each one illustrating the various failings of humans. Along the way, Uncharles meets The Wonk who becomes his sidekick. The duo as characters works so well together. I cared about Uncharles, but ultimately he is just the observer in this world looking for a way to fulfill his purpose. Things happen to Uncharles, and while they are wacky, absurd things, he would just accept them as they are if not for The Wonk.
The Wonk is Uncharles’ curiosity, his morality, his… well, everything not in his programming. Uncharles doesn’t really develop as a character in the traditional sense over the course of the story. Instead, he develops a relationship with The Wonk, and The Wonk points out ways he could develop. The dynamic between Uncharles and The Wonk gave this novel its heart. I think without the pair of them, the story becomes depressing in an absurd, existential crisis way. Have you seen the “Can’t Help Myself” art installation of the industrial robot constantly cleaning up a liquid mess that just comes out of its other end? Service Model without The Wonk feels like that art piece.
Existential Dread + Endearing Characters
Tchaikovsky obviously knows his philosophy, and this story beats you over the head with how smart it is. Not in a bad way though – the concise prose, witty dialogue, quirky and endearing characters, excellent scene and world-building all contribute to a satire that engaged and entertained me while expressing some heavy themes and criticisms on our current society. This could easily be slipped into a high school section on philosophy in an English class (do they still do that?) as a modern application of existential themes. There were a few sections that seemed to drag the pacing down, but not in a significant way.
Audiobook Experience
Speaking of Tchaikovsky, he narrates his own book and what a pleasant surprise! The nuance and dry wit in his performance is outstanding. While there may not have been a plethora of different character voices, Tchaikovsky’s accent, cadence and tone all were perfect fits for the story. I highly recommend the audiobook if you like listening to books.
FYI: It Gets Pretty Dark
A word of warning though – while the situations may be absurd, and Uncharles is the protagonist, he is not an optimist. This story can get really dark if you are not in the right headspace for it. I really did feel a helpless depression as Tchaikovsky examines our current zeitgeist through the lens of a robot who no longer has a use. I don’t think the story gets preachy, but it does paint a pretty bleak picture for the future of humanity.
The Final Verdict: Recommended
I highly recommend Service Model and the various parables of Uncharles if you are in the mood for a story that is going to make you think, but in a dryly humorous way. I think fans of Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series (especially the later books in the series) will enjoy this book. Fans of philosophy in their sci-fi will also enjoy this book. I was reminded of Candide by Voltaire (it’s been years – see high school English class above – but I think it has the same vibe).
Thank you to both NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audiobook digital review copy of Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky in exchange for my honest opinion.
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