There may be spoilers ahead so beware.
Annie Bot is a book that seems to polarize readers. It’s the Washington Post’s Best Science Fiction of the Year but at the other end I have heard a well articulated but scathing, “I hate this book with a passion” review. I’m toward the lower end of those extremes and had a problem with the way it was resolved. As I read and followed Annie’s development I had Star Trek’s Data and Blade Runner’s Roy Batty in mind. Roy in particular because he only wanted a chance to live.
Annie Bot takes place in a world where robots, indistinguishable from humans,have been engineered and are available to consumers, though the price is high. The female models, called Stellas, have three modes: nanny, housework, and cuddle bunny. The owner also has the discretion of turning on autodidactic which means the robot can learn and grow. The skin of the robots is grown from human embryos and can apparently grow body hair. A YouTube reviewer noted that this astounding technology is not reflected in other aspects of society.
Cuddle bunny Annie is purchased by Doug who has her in autodidactic mode. Annie’s programming compels her to satisfy all of Doug's wishes. Her programming is so sophisticated that her libido can be adjusted up to ten if Doug desires. As the story progresses, we see Annie learn and grow as an individual but she can’t go against her programming and suppresses the emotions she is developing. She can be confused, conflicted, depressed, unhappy, angry.
Doug is divorced and single and his relationship with Annie is shown to be domestic abuse. He explodes in anger but doesn’t tell Annie why he’s angry leading to her experiencing confusion and anxiety. This gets worse as the book advances with Doug’s verbal and emotional abuse, threats to erase her, and gaslighting. His physical abuse takes the form of putting her in a closet for long periods. He doesn’t acknowledge that Annie is still learning when he explodes in anger over trivial matters. Doug is a massive dick, I wonder if the author has positioned Doug as an incel, acting out his frustrations and insecurities and need for undivided attention from human women. Doug is divorced but has given Annie his ex-wife’s features and Annie is the unhappy recipient of his anger and resentment toward his ex. She was lucky to escape.
This is very painful to read and I would give the book a trigger warning.
The resolution was the most unsatisfactory part of the book for me. Annie escapes but not under her own agency, it is given to her. She should have been able to take it. I wanted her to find a way to defeat her programming. Instead, Doug is given a redemption arc, a redemption he absolutely does not deserve. He is not a good guy and it was impossible for this reader to believe he can change in the way he does. After watching the suffering he has put Annie through, giving him redemption pissed me off. He should have been punished in some way, broken, forced to watch Annie in triumph.. Bah, I’m mad all over again just writing this.
Annie Bot did make me think about what is human and even more so who would purchase a cuddle bunny. Would the relationship between owner and cuddle bunny necessarily devolve into abuse? Would the primary market be those feeling resentment and anger toward human women? Could robots gain independence in this world? Interesting sociological implications. I would like to see the author write a followup that looks at meatier issues.
I won’t say don’t read it because it can make one think about what is human and the place of synthetic beings in society but I give it two stars for the war it was resolved.
