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The Last Machine in the Solar System
Nearly three billion years into the future, the solar system is a very different place. Earth is long gone, and the sun is a gray, shrunken dwarf. All that remains of humanity and conscious thought is Jonathan - the last machine.
Created to survive Earth's destruction by our ever-expanding sun, Jonathan witnessed the end of life on Earth. This is his story and that of his creator, Nikolai. It is also the story of the human race, which failed to disentangle its destiny from the star that gave rise to all life-forms on Earth.
Created to survive Earth's destruction by our ever-expanding sun, Jonathan witnessed the end of life on Earth. This is his story and that of his creator, Nikolai. It is also the story of the human race, which failed to disentangle its destiny from the star that gave rise to all life-forms on Earth.
80 pages, Paperback
First published April 11, 2017
About the author
Matthew Isaac Sobin
1 book37 followersMatthew Isaac Sobin grew up in Huntington, New York, and graduated from Tufts University with a bachelor's degree in history. He currently lives in Hayward, California, with his partner, sculptor Patricia Gonzalez, and works with the Peter Beren Literary Agency. The Last Machine in the Solar System is his first published work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
August 13, 2017
This is one of those cases where when I started reading, I had to wonder what exactly I'd gotten myself into.
I can't lie, I went into this expecting something totally different. Make no mistake potentially interested readers: This is hard sci-fi, and it's not for everybody. It's not my favorite genre to delve into, but I'd actually been yearning for a momentary divergence from all the YA novels I've been reading lately so maybe this was a blessing in disguise? Either way, clocking in at around 80 pages, it provided at least a short-lived distraction.
The story follows Jonathan, an android, and humanity's last surviving machine as he waxes poetical about humanity's final days and place in the universe.
Thematically, Sobin explores the what ifs associated with the inevitable destruction of the life-bringing celestial body we all depend on: the Sun.
What happens when it finally gives out on us? What happens when it reaches out and swallows the Earth? Can humanity disentangle itself from the star that's been our homie for our entire existence before it's too late?
Talk about a bad break up!
I'm woefully ignorant when it comes to the topics of science and space, so while I can't speak to Sobin's accuracy, I can say Sobin does a good job of making things compelling enough to want to see the story through. Some of his paragraphs are extremely long though and could probably be pared down before final publication to attract readers that would otherwise be turned off by them.
That reminds me: there are sketches included throughout the story of Johnathan and his creator, Nikolai, that I think were meant to serve as short breathers from all the science-ing. While interesting in a cursory way, they just didn't add much to the story.
Also, there's quite a bit of telling of Jonathan's story, rather than showing it. This is an easy trap for a first time author to fall into, which only becomes compounded when telling the story through a non-human narrator. Too often the emotional impact is forsaken in favor of a more straightforward (and alien) narrative of events, which definitely happened here.
Despite these issues, the concepts presented in this story were intriguing to ponder as I read, which I think helped. For a debut effort, I think Sobin did a great job. I'm tempted to rate this 2.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because I really do think fans of hard sci-fi (which I am not) will love this. I can't say I endorse the $9.99 cost for an 80 page story on Amazon though.
★★★✩✩ = 3/5 stars
This review can also be found on my blog: Book Bastion
____________________
Thanks to Netgalley and Inkshares for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
What a striking cover!
I can't lie, I went into this expecting something totally different. Make no mistake potentially interested readers: This is hard sci-fi, and it's not for everybody. It's not my favorite genre to delve into, but I'd actually been yearning for a momentary divergence from all the YA novels I've been reading lately so maybe this was a blessing in disguise? Either way, clocking in at around 80 pages, it provided at least a short-lived distraction.
The story follows Jonathan, an android, and humanity's last surviving machine as he waxes poetical about humanity's final days and place in the universe.
Thematically, Sobin explores the what ifs associated with the inevitable destruction of the life-bringing celestial body we all depend on: the Sun.
What happens when it finally gives out on us? What happens when it reaches out and swallows the Earth? Can humanity disentangle itself from the star that's been our homie for our entire existence before it's too late?
Talk about a bad break up!
I'm woefully ignorant when it comes to the topics of science and space, so while I can't speak to Sobin's accuracy, I can say Sobin does a good job of making things compelling enough to want to see the story through. Some of his paragraphs are extremely long though and could probably be pared down before final publication to attract readers that would otherwise be turned off by them.
That reminds me: there are sketches included throughout the story of Johnathan and his creator, Nikolai, that I think were meant to serve as short breathers from all the science-ing. While interesting in a cursory way, they just didn't add much to the story.
Also, there's quite a bit of telling of Jonathan's story, rather than showing it. This is an easy trap for a first time author to fall into, which only becomes compounded when telling the story through a non-human narrator. Too often the emotional impact is forsaken in favor of a more straightforward (and alien) narrative of events, which definitely happened here.
Despite these issues, the concepts presented in this story were intriguing to ponder as I read, which I think helped. For a debut effort, I think Sobin did a great job. I'm tempted to rate this 2.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because I really do think fans of hard sci-fi (which I am not) will love this. I can't say I endorse the $9.99 cost for an 80 page story on Amazon though.
★★★✩✩ = 3/5 stars
This review can also be found on my blog: Book Bastion
____________________
Thanks to Netgalley and Inkshares for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
What a striking cover!
February 6, 2017
This novella hearkens back to the good old days of Asimov or the general Campbellian SF universe where we focus on the nuts and bolts of the universe, or in this case, the solar system, as our robot observer watches our old red sun engulf the planets.
Of course, humanity is long dead. We're talking billions of years and I have doubts about the next ten.
That being said, this novella is very contemplative and enjoyable, adding little fun reflections on creativity and Jonathan's birth as well, but mostly we've got some great jewels like terraforming mars and igniting Jupiter as either long-dead history or possibilities, and this is where the author shows his chops as someone who knows the SF field and is writing a love-letter to it.
The only complaint I have is one that the author already addressed at the end: It needs to be longer and he is writing more. :) I'm quite good with that. Thanks!
This is for anyone who loves the whole concept of our Solar System's death. Or maybe you're just in a mood. :)
Thanks goes to Netgalley for this ARC!
Of course, humanity is long dead. We're talking billions of years and I have doubts about the next ten.
That being said, this novella is very contemplative and enjoyable, adding little fun reflections on creativity and Jonathan's birth as well, but mostly we've got some great jewels like terraforming mars and igniting Jupiter as either long-dead history or possibilities, and this is where the author shows his chops as someone who knows the SF field and is writing a love-letter to it.
The only complaint I have is one that the author already addressed at the end: It needs to be longer and he is writing more. :) I'm quite good with that. Thanks!
This is for anyone who loves the whole concept of our Solar System's death. Or maybe you're just in a mood. :)
Thanks goes to Netgalley for this ARC!
April 24, 2017
3.5 stars. Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:
The eponymous “Last Machine” in the solar system is an intelligent, sophisticated robot, one well-built enough to survive for over two billion years. That’s long enough to observe the slow dying of our sun and to record the fate of humanity.
Jonathan is a 7 foot tall, humanoid robot, endowed by his creator, Nikolai, with the ability to feel a range of human emotions, including curiosity, sorrow, love and loneliness. Jonathan spends many years being taught by Nikolai, traveling and learning to observe the state of humanity. After Nikolai dies, Jonathan watches as humans colonize Mars, transporting most of Earth’s remaining animal life to that planet as Earth becomes less habitable due to the greenhouse effect and the sun’s increasing heat. As the sun slowly reddens and enlarges over the eons, Jonathan asks himself what humans will do.
The Last Machine in the Universe won second place in an Inkshares contest, through which its publication was crowdfunded. The text is accompanied by several Jack Katz pencil sketches of Jonathan and his human inventor/mentor Nikolai. (Great illustrations, BTW, except that Nikolai was short and childish-looking, and had a beard only in one picture, which definitely didn't fit my mental picture of him!)
I received a free copy of this ebook through NetGalley. Thanks!
The eponymous “Last Machine” in the solar system is an intelligent, sophisticated robot, one well-built enough to survive for over two billion years. That’s long enough to observe the slow dying of our sun and to record the fate of humanity.
Jonathan is a 7 foot tall, humanoid robot, endowed by his creator, Nikolai, with the ability to feel a range of human emotions, including curiosity, sorrow, love and loneliness. Jonathan spends many years being taught by Nikolai, traveling and learning to observe the state of humanity. After Nikolai dies, Jonathan watches as humans colonize Mars, transporting most of Earth’s remaining animal life to that planet as Earth becomes less habitable due to the greenhouse effect and the sun’s increasing heat. As the sun slowly reddens and enlarges over the eons, Jonathan asks himself what humans will do.
There was so much time; surely this was humanity’s greatest ally. They had millions of years, maybe billions. And I wondered, how would they escape? Could they cast off the guillotine that revealed itself daily as the brightest object in the sky? … The crux of humanity’s riddle has always been whether they could disentangle themselves and their path from the energy source that gave rise to them in the first place.It’s a thoughtful, elegiac tale, more focused on philosophical musings than on plot. This poignant memoir does make you think about humanity and our strengths and weaknesses. While I never felt fully engaged with this novelette - I think because nearly everything was told rather than shown, creating an emotional distance between the reader and the events - I did appreciate the ideas it explores. Jonathan is an AI with the deepest empathy for the human condition.
The Last Machine in the Universe won second place in an Inkshares contest, through which its publication was crowdfunded. The text is accompanied by several Jack Katz pencil sketches of Jonathan and his human inventor/mentor Nikolai. (Great illustrations, BTW, except that Nikolai was short and childish-looking, and had a beard only in one picture, which definitely didn't fit my mental picture of him!)
I received a free copy of this ebook through NetGalley. Thanks!
December 23, 2016
Beautiful. Really left me wanting more because I absolutely loved the concept and loved its execution. It’s basically a memoir of the last robotic AI (Jonathan) that has outlived humanity by billions of years after the Earth meets its inevitable demise from our sun’s murder-suicide. It is very contemplative in nature and though he takes us back to the moments of his creation and of his time with his creator Nikolai on Mars, not a lot really happens in this story. But it is so beautifully written, and its conclusions about why man is doomed to be a failed species gave me a sci-fi nerdgasm. On top of that, it had some cool lllustrations of Jonathan and his creator by Jack Katz. I definitely need more, Mr. Sobin. Though all too brief, I think this was one of the best things I read this year.
Which brings me to a downside, this was really more of a long short story than a book. The author does plan to pursue the concepts in this story further in the future maybe into a novel and has a story (I’m not sure if it’s this story, an expansion of this story, or a completely new story) coming up in the anthology Too Many Controllers.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Here’s a link to the book’s trailer.
https://youtu.be/CEFE0tMteOM
May 12, 2017
This whole story is exactly what the title indicates. The solar system is “gone” and we are treated to the thoughts of the last machine in the solar system, who was built to actually witness the end of our solar system. Very imaginative and I loved picturing the scene’s he was seeing as he flew around our solar system documenting the changes in our universe. A great addition to any sci-fi fan’s collection.
I received this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2017
Yes! Classic sci-fi makes a comeback with this tale hearkening back to the good old days of Isaac Asimov. A must read.
check out my full review on retread podcast https://youtu.be/jiTkac67PwY?t=42s
Check out my interview with the author at https://youtu.be/_WLgTLlzxXg
check out my full review on retread podcast https://youtu.be/jiTkac67PwY?t=42s
Check out my interview with the author at https://youtu.be/_WLgTLlzxXg
August 29, 2017
Short story about the meanderings of the last machine in the solar system, billions of years after mankind called it quits. This is more of a philosophical exercise in a sci-fi setting than a novel.
Entertaining enough though :)
Entertaining enough though :)
November 10, 2017
Expertly tiptoeing the line between hard sci-fi and philosophy, Sobin's "The Last Machine in the Solar System" asks us to dispense with our predilection for the self-insert of humanity in our universe's future; a tactic in tone and setting I personally quite enjoyed as a refreshing, largely unexplored corner of popular contemporary science fiction. The story of Jonathan, the machine, is by no means devoid of humanity. On the contrary, through Sobin's thoughtful and at times exquisite prose in the voice of Jonathan's inner monologue, we grow to know and care for this non-human entity as he nears the completion of his mission. As a novella, Sobin's "Last Machine" will be a quick read but linger with you well beyond the final pages.
February 4, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley and Inkshares for the ARC.
-4 and a half stars-
Normally I find myself having to plow through 700+ pages to get the kind of sci-fi satisfaction that I got from this book, but this short little novelette gave me a lot of the things that are so difficult to find in modern sci-fi.
The story is told from the perspective of a machine who has been alone not just since the destruction of the civilized portion of the solar system, but really since the death of his beloved creator. For a book told a couple billion years after the destruction of humanity, it really is incredibly hopeful, and that is something I really took heart in. Jonathan, while having no great love for humanity, still was surprisingly tender and respectful when discussing the strengths and weaknesses of human society.
The last few pages, and the revelation of Jonathan's physical legacy left me a little confused at first, but the more I thought about it the more I really enjoyed the way that Sobin brought the story to a close. While I certainly would have enjoyed a lengthier story, I do think these 60 pages of TLMITSS were darn near perfect, and I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.
-4 and a half stars-
Normally I find myself having to plow through 700+ pages to get the kind of sci-fi satisfaction that I got from this book, but this short little novelette gave me a lot of the things that are so difficult to find in modern sci-fi.
The story is told from the perspective of a machine who has been alone not just since the destruction of the civilized portion of the solar system, but really since the death of his beloved creator. For a book told a couple billion years after the destruction of humanity, it really is incredibly hopeful, and that is something I really took heart in. Jonathan, while having no great love for humanity, still was surprisingly tender and respectful when discussing the strengths and weaknesses of human society.
The last few pages, and the revelation of Jonathan's physical legacy left me a little confused at first, but the more I thought about it the more I really enjoyed the way that Sobin brought the story to a close. While I certainly would have enjoyed a lengthier story, I do think these 60 pages of TLMITSS were darn near perfect, and I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.
February 4, 2017
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a short story from the point of view of an android built to outlive the death of humanity, Earth, Mars, and our solar system in general. We witness his "birth", his experiences on Earth and later Mars, and eventually moves on to billions of years later when the sun has become a white dwarf.
Following the tradition of classic scifi, there is a lot of social commentary. One major point is how humans can accomplish a lot if we work together, but we're too driven by our individual selfish needs. It's very fitting for the isolationist tendencies we're seeing right now.
One quote I did thoroughly enjoy:
I think far more foresight was needed; once the layman can see the issue, it is already too late to remedy.
There's hard science in this, but I do think it's a case of, if you look too hard it'll become a bit fuzzy.
The author did state at the end that he was planning on making this into a full length novel. However, this does work very well at the current length.
This is a short story from the point of view of an android built to outlive the death of humanity, Earth, Mars, and our solar system in general. We witness his "birth", his experiences on Earth and later Mars, and eventually moves on to billions of years later when the sun has become a white dwarf.
Following the tradition of classic scifi, there is a lot of social commentary. One major point is how humans can accomplish a lot if we work together, but we're too driven by our individual selfish needs. It's very fitting for the isolationist tendencies we're seeing right now.
One quote I did thoroughly enjoy:
I think far more foresight was needed; once the layman can see the issue, it is already too late to remedy.
There's hard science in this, but I do think it's a case of, if you look too hard it'll become a bit fuzzy.
The author did state at the end that he was planning on making this into a full length novel. However, this does work very well at the current length.
December 14, 2016
This short story, told from the perspective of a machine built to outlive and document humanity, takes the long view of human evolution and considers the transience of our existence, and just what we will leave behind. For while the longevity of the machine nears immortality by human standards, its time spent monitoring and evaluating mankind's progress is simply inconsequential when compared to the celestial bodies that surround it. Moving from Earth to the far reaches of the solar system, this unique and contemplative tale of a single mechanical mind will compel readers to consider their place in the universe and their own mark on the world.
February 17, 2017
I had the pleasure of reading a pre-publication draft of The Last Machine in the Solar System. This futuristic tale of loss, and of love, is sometimes chilling and sometimes haunting, and it always has the ring of truth. Sobin skillfully weaves a story that will stick with you for a long, long time. It's just that good.
July 26, 2017
In this thought provoking debut, Matthew Sobin gives us the account of Jonathan, The titular last machine in the solar system and and in the process manages to channel the spirits of Asimov Bradbury and Clark.
Through Jonathan's eyes, we witnessed the death of the solar system and humanity, through his account and insights, we get an interesting look at the strengths and weaknesses of the human species from a point of view that is at once close enough to ours as to be relatable, and different enough that you never forget that Jonathan is a Machine observing us rather than a part of us.
It is this unique perspective that really holds the charm for this novelette, setting it apart from other science-fiction and is the thing that more than anything else will bring me back to Last Machine in and anything else that mr. Sobin writes in future.
Through Jonathan's eyes, we witnessed the death of the solar system and humanity, through his account and insights, we get an interesting look at the strengths and weaknesses of the human species from a point of view that is at once close enough to ours as to be relatable, and different enough that you never forget that Jonathan is a Machine observing us rather than a part of us.
It is this unique perspective that really holds the charm for this novelette, setting it apart from other science-fiction and is the thing that more than anything else will bring me back to Last Machine in and anything else that mr. Sobin writes in future.
June 3, 2017
'The Last Machine in the Solar System' by Matthew Isaac Sobin is about as somber as the title sounds.
A machine named Jonathan reflects on his creator Nikolai and the death of humanity. His journey in space is also one to find a place to live out the rest of his days. The human race was doomed because it stayed in our solar system, and was a victim of the Sun. For a machine, Jonathan seems to have a lot of human emotion and eloquence of speech. His musings are not without feeling.
The book included some sketched illustrations. I didn't care for those and they didn't add anything to the story for me. In fact, the kind of distracted me every time they showed up. I liked that this felt like something out of the golden age of science fiction. At 80 pages, this felt like the exact right length for the story that is told.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Inkshares and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to reivew this ebook.
A machine named Jonathan reflects on his creator Nikolai and the death of humanity. His journey in space is also one to find a place to live out the rest of his days. The human race was doomed because it stayed in our solar system, and was a victim of the Sun. For a machine, Jonathan seems to have a lot of human emotion and eloquence of speech. His musings are not without feeling.
The book included some sketched illustrations. I didn't care for those and they didn't add anything to the story for me. In fact, the kind of distracted me every time they showed up. I liked that this felt like something out of the golden age of science fiction. At 80 pages, this felt like the exact right length for the story that is told.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Inkshares and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to reivew this ebook.
June 29, 2017
We are but star-dust... floating in the abyss of the cosmos....
Dude what the hell Matt Sobin. I'm sitting here... pop this book open finally on my lunch break at work. And BamN. Now I realize nothing in the world matters.
I hate you so much I love you.
For others, this is a classic Scifi book. If you aren't a fan of the OLD school Azimov or space pondering sci-fi that leaves you with open ended and soul crushing doubt... don't read this. But if you ARE, and you like FEELING.... THINGS.
Then read this. And FEEL. THINGS.
We are human after all.
Dude what the hell Matt Sobin. I'm sitting here... pop this book open finally on my lunch break at work. And BamN. Now I realize nothing in the world matters.
I hate you so much I love you.
For others, this is a classic Scifi book. If you aren't a fan of the OLD school Azimov or space pondering sci-fi that leaves you with open ended and soul crushing doubt... don't read this. But if you ARE, and you like FEELING.... THINGS.
Then read this. And FEEL. THINGS.
We are human after all.
July 20, 2018
A fantastic sci-fi short contemplating the extensive lifespan of an artificial man. If you enjoy classic science fiction tales that wax philosophical on the oh so temporary nature of humanity's existence, this book is right up your alley.
May 7, 2017
This was a short read, but had so much packed into it. It was an ode to our solar system, in a way, and makes you think of what will become of us in the future. Very thought provoking.
March 24, 2017
Jonathan, a sensitive humanoid supercomputer, is the Last Machine in the Solar System. This novella is his final testimony, with the wisdom drawn from billions of years of observation. His last will and testament is a bittersweet and thought-provoking lament. Bravo, Matt Sobin, for bringing us this beautiful story!
January 16, 2021
Absolutely wonderful. Insightful, heartwarming, sad, and beautiful. It is a short read but worth it.
December 13, 2016
Thanks to Inkshares, Inc. and Net Galley, here's my review of Sobin's "The Last Machine In the Solar System".
First of all this isn't a book, it's more of a longer short story. It's only took me about a hour to read. The book has essentially two characters, Nikolia Ohngren and Jonathan. Nikolia is a genius and inventor. He has created the human like Jonathan, which is a very sophisticated computer. Jonathan "is both a scientist and machine." Nikolia wanted a machine that would outlive him and would record the end of humanity. Nikolia could see the eventual downfall of mankind.
This extended short story covers billions of years. It starts on Earth as the people of our planet is destroying our home. Nikolia and Jonathan then are among those that are able to eventually move to Mars, where survivors from Earth have moved. Eventually Earth is no longer hospitable, the human race eventually moves to Mars. But the history you don't learn from you are doomed to repeat and eventually Mars is no longer habitable.
How is "The Last Machine In The Solar System"? I enjoyed it, but it feels so slight. It's equivelent to getting ready to eat a big meal, only to realize that the food isn't what you expected. The food is tasty, but not filling. As soon as I was finished I wanted to continue eating/reading something a bit more substantial. This extended short story feels incomplete. It would have been better served as a serial or in a sci-fi anthology.
Again I enjoyed the book, but it's short length left me wanting.
With this book not being released until April, the author should use the next month or two to expand and flesh this book out. He should turn it into a more substantial meal.
The price for this book on amazon is $9.99, that's too pricey for a short story.
themusicaddict
First of all this isn't a book, it's more of a longer short story. It's only took me about a hour to read. The book has essentially two characters, Nikolia Ohngren and Jonathan. Nikolia is a genius and inventor. He has created the human like Jonathan, which is a very sophisticated computer. Jonathan "is both a scientist and machine." Nikolia wanted a machine that would outlive him and would record the end of humanity. Nikolia could see the eventual downfall of mankind.
This extended short story covers billions of years. It starts on Earth as the people of our planet is destroying our home. Nikolia and Jonathan then are among those that are able to eventually move to Mars, where survivors from Earth have moved. Eventually Earth is no longer hospitable, the human race eventually moves to Mars. But the history you don't learn from you are doomed to repeat and eventually Mars is no longer habitable.
How is "The Last Machine In The Solar System"? I enjoyed it, but it feels so slight. It's equivelent to getting ready to eat a big meal, only to realize that the food isn't what you expected. The food is tasty, but not filling. As soon as I was finished I wanted to continue eating/reading something a bit more substantial. This extended short story feels incomplete. It would have been better served as a serial or in a sci-fi anthology.
Again I enjoyed the book, but it's short length left me wanting.
With this book not being released until April, the author should use the next month or two to expand and flesh this book out. He should turn it into a more substantial meal.
The price for this book on amazon is $9.99, that's too pricey for a short story.
themusicaddict
February 26, 2017
If you're craving sci-fi with that classic, sciencey feel, this novella hits the spot. Artificial intelligence Jonathan tells the story of the destruction of humanity and the end of the solar system and shows us that, no how hard we humans try to be completely independent, that's simply not how the universe works. It's a fascinating story, one that really gets your mind thinking about a lot of things at once. Would love to read more by Sobin!
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November 1, 2017
This is...good. That's all. Neither awful nor amazing. It's just...good. If Goodreads had such an option, this would be a perfect candidate for "2.5 stars." And that disappointment is what moved me to once more break my self-imposed abstention from reviewing books here.
Ultimately, it feels either too long or too short: the former because it could have accomplished the same goal in a simple short story; the latter because it could have been a truly stunning novel but is thin & half-baked as a novella. It's a disappointing waste of tremendous potential, too bloated to work as short fiction and too spartan to work as longer fiction, yet not working as a novella either.
Maybe the author will expand or reduce it some day? Either fermenting or concentrating it? The note at the end seems to indicate such, but I can't exactly say I'll be waiting with bated breath. It's perfectly adequate, when it could have been incredible.
Ultimately, it feels either too long or too short: the former because it could have accomplished the same goal in a simple short story; the latter because it could have been a truly stunning novel but is thin & half-baked as a novella. It's a disappointing waste of tremendous potential, too bloated to work as short fiction and too spartan to work as longer fiction, yet not working as a novella either.
Maybe the author will expand or reduce it some day? Either fermenting or concentrating it? The note at the end seems to indicate such, but I can't exactly say I'll be waiting with bated breath. It's perfectly adequate, when it could have been incredible.
May 25, 2017
Elegant and poetic. Last Machine is unlike any science fiction story I've ever read. Sobin kept me engrossed as Jonathan chronicled his life, the job he's been tasked with, and his reflections on his creator, Nikolai. It is an examination of mankind itself.
May 19, 2017
A short, thought-provoking read. There is a definite 'otherness' to Jonathan as a non-human as a narrator, yet he is not without humanity and you can really feel his loss and grief.
March 22, 2017
A SHORT, HIGHLY CONTEMPLATIVE "BREAK" FROM YOUR NORMAL SCI-FI.
As long as you know that going into "Last Machine," then you'll have a good time. If that's not what you're in the mood for, then don't pick this up. Not yet, anyway. Y'see - there's some really, really powerful ideas that author Matthew Isaac Sobin has spliced together in here. The Last Machine is an artificial construct, impervious to death (mostly), everlasting, sentient. He knows he is not meant to perish alongside the human race. Instead, he is charged with merely observing us as we inevitably lead ourselves to our own demise, and read from this perspective, this book - no, no, perhaps 'this philosophical treatise' is better - is fascinating.
There IS a story here, but don't expect any action. Don't expect a plot, per se. Nor big reveals or interesting settings. (Although, the argument is strong that there is a satisfying 'character arc' as you near the end.) Instead, you should approach reading "Last Machine" as a mid-day snack in your sci-fi diet. That's how I read it - in-between sprawling epics and trilogy entries - and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I think part of that enjoyment was in knowing that the book itself is NOT long. Reading this took me about two hours, tops. And it was worth it. I appreciate what Sobin has done here - he's fully aware of what this is, and he crafted it to be just as long as it had to be and no more. For me, the longer this could've been, the greater the chance I'd not have liked it as much.
If deeply pondering the course of humanity in this universe is something that interests you, then you will truly enjoy this book.
As long as you know that going into "Last Machine," then you'll have a good time. If that's not what you're in the mood for, then don't pick this up. Not yet, anyway. Y'see - there's some really, really powerful ideas that author Matthew Isaac Sobin has spliced together in here. The Last Machine is an artificial construct, impervious to death (mostly), everlasting, sentient. He knows he is not meant to perish alongside the human race. Instead, he is charged with merely observing us as we inevitably lead ourselves to our own demise, and read from this perspective, this book - no, no, perhaps 'this philosophical treatise' is better - is fascinating.
There IS a story here, but don't expect any action. Don't expect a plot, per se. Nor big reveals or interesting settings. (Although, the argument is strong that there is a satisfying 'character arc' as you near the end.) Instead, you should approach reading "Last Machine" as a mid-day snack in your sci-fi diet. That's how I read it - in-between sprawling epics and trilogy entries - and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I think part of that enjoyment was in knowing that the book itself is NOT long. Reading this took me about two hours, tops. And it was worth it. I appreciate what Sobin has done here - he's fully aware of what this is, and he crafted it to be just as long as it had to be and no more. For me, the longer this could've been, the greater the chance I'd not have liked it as much.
If deeply pondering the course of humanity in this universe is something that interests you, then you will truly enjoy this book.
April 6, 2017
Very seldom do I give a book 5 stars, and rarer still do I give them to a book from a young, new author. For this one, I just had to make an exception because it's an extraordinarily engaging story. Sobin has written a beautiful, heart-warming story of the ruminations of an AI computer (Jonathan) on board a space ship whose human passengers -- and the computer's creator -- have long since passed away and been forgotten in history. Jonathan misses his creator, and is lonely. He spends his time in philosophical and theological discussions with himself, and his gentle but sad voice hits the heart like a well-sharpened spear. I couldn't recommend this book more highly, and am waiting anxiously for Sobin's upcoming books. Just a superb book on every level.
May 19, 2017
A hauntingly beautiful tragic novella that examines the decline and eventual extinction of humanity over billions of years all from the viewpoint of, not the doomed humans, but a robot named Jonathan. A robot designed for the specific purpose of recording and housing all knowledge of humanity, who has his own sparks of humanity; a gift from his far thinking creator.
I simply could not put this novella down, and highly recommend it for any one who has ever wondered how it all will end. Yet know this is not just about "the end", but a commentary on humanity itself told from an outsider's prospective. Something alien and yet with traces of humanity.
I simply could not put this novella down, and highly recommend it for any one who has ever wondered how it all will end. Yet know this is not just about "the end", but a commentary on humanity itself told from an outsider's prospective. Something alien and yet with traces of humanity.
July 4, 2017
A thoughtful and thought provoking debut novel, TLMitSS is short on pages but long on ideas. It took me a few pages to get used to the style of the prose, and I wished at times that there was more of an obvious plot. Still, seeing the end of mankind through the observations of the Last Machine was an experience I will not quickly forget. My only complaints are that it is a very short novella, only ~60 hand sized pages of text, and the illustrations (while marvelous) were reproduced very faintly on the page and the details were lost in the printing.
June 11, 2017
This is a short sci fi novella, but it packs a punch. It follows a machine left behind to chronicle the final destruction of our solar system millions of years in the future. It's very much a think piece and heavy on thought and philosophy. It chronicles the Earth in the near future and the far flung future, but it's all told from the perspective of the "machine", an android made by a brilliant scientist, who is the only other character. A must read read for people that like their sci fi deep and thought provoking.
July 26, 2017
The poetic ramblings of sentimental robot at the end of his days. This book reads less like a story and more like a glimpse into another being's thoughts. Luckily that being has a good sense of order and a great deal of charm. A unique and enjoyable read.
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