Thoroughly disappointing. It's a rip-off of about a dozen Asimov stories about domestic robots. Robot helps child. Robot gets religion. Robot Misunderstands world. Robot is abused. It baffles me why this was nominated for so many prizes - I guess judges don't read enough old-school sci-fi?
It's written in Ishiuro's dreamy, wandering style. I enjoyed that on his previous books, but here it feels like a parody of himself.
The plot is linear and unsurprising. There are subtle hints of world-building, but nothing too compelling. Even the genetically enhanced children trope is borrowed from a bunch of other stories.
Goes to show that there's nothing new under the sun.
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ISBN: 9780571364916
2 thoughts on “Book Review: Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro”
@Edent that's roughly how I received it. I feel like I'm missing something about why other people like it so much.
| Reply to original comment on zirk.us
@Edent I thought it was a stunning book, and the similarities with Asimov were simply devices. I thought the underlying theme of the book was whether society could adjust if mechanisation replaced the middle classes they way it has obviated many working class roles? I must admit, it kept me awake at night for a couple of weeks after reading.
| Reply to original comment on ap.mcphail.uk
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