A lot of awkward analogies. [The Preserve by Ariel S. Winter]

The critically acclaimed author of the “bold, innovating, and thrilling” (Stephen King) novel The Twenty-Year Death and the “brilliant” (Booklist, starred review) novel Barren Cove returns with a dark and compelling mystery set in the near future.

Decimated by plague, the human population is now a minority. Robots—complex AIs almost indistinguishable from humans—are the ruling majority. Nine months ago, in a controversial move, the robot government opened a series of preserves, designated areas where humans can choose to live without robot interference. Now the preserves face their first challenge: someone has been murdered.

Chief of Police Jesse Laughton on the SoCar Preserve is assigned to the case. He fears the factions that were opposed to the preserves will use the crime as evidence that the new system does not work. As he digs for information, robots in the outside world start turning up dead from bad drug-like programs that may have originated on SoCar land. And when Laughton learns his murder victim was a hacker who wrote drug-programs, it appears that the two cases might be linked. Soon, it’s clear that the entire preserve system is in danger of collapsing. Laughton’s former partner, a robot named Kir, arrives to assist on the case, and they soon uncover shocking secrets revealing that life on the preserve is not as peaceful as its human residents claim. But in order to protect humanity’s new way of life, Laughton must solve this murder before it’s too late.

The Preserve is a fresh and futuristic mystery that is perfect for fans of Westworld and Blade Runner.

I knocked this book out in less than 12 hours. I'm not gonna lie and say it's because I was immediately drawn into the story. I started the book in the evening of the 30th. Seeing it was less than 200 pages, my arrogant self thought it'd be possible to knock out in 4 hours. That was obviously not the case. Secondly, though I started out physically reading the first three chapters, I let Siri read me a majority of the novel as I washed dishes (thanks text-to-speech!).

There was a lot going on in Ariel S. Winter's The Preserve. From the start I wondered if this was out to be a giant metaphor analogy for race relations or colonial relations. Was it supposed to be some reservation analogy? It was just...a lot of awkwardness. Some plot points were eye-raising from the beginning. The one Black character being immediately suspicious was a real weird. And then having him involved in illicit affairs, in an "of course he was involved" realization, also real weird. The whole plot, the main character acknowledging humankind is viewed, even treated, as chattel, and are simply living their days waiting to die, but then also being a law and order cop. ACAB, especially this one.

But back to the plot. What? What even was it? I thought we wee going to get a hard-hitting commentary on robotics, humankind, possible future obsolesce. Nope, none of that. At least not hard-hitting. The commentary half felt like an argument for reverse racism (the characterization of the marginalized groups, one, really ignored intersectionality, and two, had a really condescending tone to it). I mean, at one point the main character bemoans the "racial" prejudice of the minority, oppressed human towards their robot overlords. Sure. 

This story is more than anything a crime thriller. And it was really dry at that. To be fair it's not under listed science fiction on NetGalley, but when you're touting the book as a futuristic thriller, linking it to Westworld and Blade Runner? Come on. I just kept waiting for the unveiling of some grand, elaborately planned, superbly orchestrated global plot. And I never got it. The ending was predictably and conveniently happy, no big twists or turns.

Was I heavily offended by anything? No. Was I much inspired by anything? No. I would have loved to hear more on the human repopulation efforts. That plotline could have a book in itself. Probably would have made for a better one. There was probably a lot that could have been expanded into a better novel. Cyborg rights anyone? Or maybe it was that too much of the book required extra suspension of disbelief. But the question remains, did I enjoy the story? Meh. Not really? 3 stars from me.

The Preserve is due for publication November 03, 2020.