33 pages 1 hour read

Ian McEwan

Machines Like Me

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In Ian McEwan's Machines Like Me, set in an alternative 1980s, Charlie Friend buys Adam, one of the first consumer-grade artificial humans, and both fall for his neighbor Miranda. The novel explores the ethical complexities and moral relativism of these relationships, especially when Adam starts to question Miranda's secretive past, leading to tensions and unexpected consequences. The book references sensitive topics such as rape and death by suicide.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Ian McEwan's Machines Like Me blends speculative fiction and ethical dilemmas, receiving praise for its thought-provoking narrative and nuanced exploration of AI's impact on humanity. Critiques target its dense exposition and uneven pacing. Overall, McEwan's work is heralded for intellectual rigor but may deter those seeking a fast-paced, emotional journey.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Machines Like Me?

Readers who enjoy exploring ethical dilemmas in advanced technology and human relationships will be captivated by Ian McEwan's Machines Like Me. Fans of Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go and Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? will appreciate the novel's intricate examination of AI and morality.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Life/Time: Birth

Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Topics

Technology

Love / Sexuality