Review: Lifel1k3

Lifel1k3
by Jay Kristoff

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 29, 2018

In a near future, post-disaster version of Earth, Humans have created Robots with Artificial Intelligence (Logika) that are governed by the Three Rules of Robotics:
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
Eve, a Domefighter, struggles to make enough money to buy medicine for her sick Grandfather, and to keep her and her friend Lemon safe. Shortly after Eve manifests mutant abilities, they encounter a Lifelike, an Android not governed by the Three Rules. Together, Eve, the Lifelike, and Lemon go on a mission to rescue her kidnapped Grandfather and discover Eve’s mysterious past.

I really enjoyed LIFEL1K3. The book presents issues that may soon be relevant to us, such as becoming too dependent on technology, at what point is AI considered alive, and how humans would react to such changes. However, I was a bit confused as to who the target audience is. The story is rich and thought provoking, yet is written in a way that seems targeted to younger readers. While this is about a common Sci-Fi scenario, I love the depth it goes into about issues with Artificially Intelligent Androids and robots, who can both feel and think for themselves. This book reminds me of the movie Ex Machina. While LIFEL1K3 is nowhere near as intense as Ex Machina, they cover the same issues in similar ways.