Summer Buzz: Robopocalypse

A good summer thriller can be as satisfying as an ice cold popsicle on a hot day--even better when the book is more than just fun; it actually makes you think.

Daniel Wilson's Robopocalypse is one of those science fiction books with enough plausibility to be downright scary. It opens in the near future (an undisclosed year) after an electronic insurrection has wiped out large sections of the human race. Masterminded by a mysterious supercomputer named Archos, the takeover affects all the machines in people's lives, from the domestic robots that act as housekeepers, to the smart cars and cell phones of busy urban populations. The suspense builds steadily, going back to the beginnings of trouble, when minor "malfunctions" hint at the more serious chaos to come. One particularly vivid (and creepy) account involves a young girl's talking doll. Each chapter is written as a transcription of survelliance recordings taken by the robots, discovered by Cormac Wallace, a survivor of the war. Together, the vignettes weave the story of all the major players in the war, from the creator of Archos to the humans who banded together in various parts of the world to fight the machines.

The book has all the sci-fi action of a Steven Spielberg movie (and what do you know, word is he will be directing a film version!) but in addition to the fun, it also makes you pause--what's really happening when the power goes out or your computer has a "glitch?" After reading Robopocalypse, it might be enough to send a chill up your spine.

Next on the Summer Buzz Book List: The Astral by Kate Christensen.