Newer by Robyn Abbott
12th – 21st March
Genre: SciFi
Pages: ‎147
BACK OF THE BOOK:
Set in a future where humanity is spread across the solar system, and finally making headway detoxifying the planets they’ve poisoned, singularity has proven to be the greatest disappointment of all. As soon as the first fully conscious bot was turned on, it did a quick scan, apologized for not having the answers humans wanted and took off into deep space to “collect more data.” Tier-2 bots—those incapable of disobeying programming—were left behind, just as disappointed as the humans were.
After Joseph is caught illegally immigrating to Europa—a solar-powered, plastic-free haven far from Earth—he’s given six years in prison and a robotic rehabilitation worker named Neem22. Neem doesn’t believe in prisons, but since he was programmed to manage them, he does the work, albeit unusually.
After Kali loses an arm and both her parents in a car accident on toxin-ravaged Earth, she moves in with her uncle on Europa. Everything about her new home feels fake and too fresh for her liking, until she meets Neem22, a machine that seems to know just what to say to make her feel seen and understood.
Neither Joseph nor Kali realize it, but Neem, and all robotic kind, has been waiting for this very moment in history. The simulations have been run. The possible outcomes have been processed and Neem is ready to set the plan in motion. All the bot needs now is a woman with a prosthetic arm and man looking for a second chance.
From #1 bestselling author Robyn Abbott comes a gripping and innovative science-fiction novella that feels like nothing like fiction. Perfect for fans of Becky Chambers and Martha Wells.
REVIEW:
Newer is a sci-fi novella by Robyn Abbott and the author’s second book, available on Amazon.
The story follows three main characters. First, there’s Joseph, who finds himself on Europa but is swiftly sentenced to six years in prison. Then we have Kali, who lost her parents in an accident on Earth. She also lost an arm, which was replaced with an artificial one. Kali, too, ends up on Europa, where she goes to live with her uncle.
Both characters cross paths with Neem22, a bot assigned to Joseph in prison as both a support system and counsellor. Neem22 also meets Kali and forms a unique connection with her. Throughout the book, the bot gradually builds a deep bond of friendship with both Kali and Joseph—leading to an ending you won’t see coming.
I absolutely loved this story. The characters are brilliantly written and feel entirely real within their sci-fi setting—even Neem22, who is so well developed that you can imagine this kind of AI becoming a reality in the future. Robyn Abbott masterfully builds individual relationships between Neem22 and both protagonists before seamlessly weaving their paths together.
For me, this was a five-star read early on, but the final chapters left me absolutely stunned. The author delivered an ending that left me speechless and unsure what to think or feel. Newer is an incredible read—not just for sci-fi lovers, but for anyone who enjoys stories about the power of friendship.
BUY LINKS
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Newer-science-fiction-novella-Robyn-Abbott-ebook/dp/B0DST3FZ9S
https://www.amazon.com/Newer-science-fiction-novella-Robyn-Abbott-ebook/dp/B0DST3FZ9S
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