Author: M. Darusha Wehm
Publisher: Potentia Press
Publication Date: 31 January 2023
Pages: 121
Format: eBook - EPUB
Genre: LGBT Sci-Fi
Source: ARC via NetGalley
Something is rotten in the state of cybernetics.
Elsinore Robotics is on the cusp of a breakthrough—the company is poised to create the first humanoid androids powered by true artificial intelligence. Their only rival, Norwegian Technologies, lost a publicly streamed contest between their flagship model, Fortinbras, and Elsinore’s HAM(let) v.1.
But when the first Hamlet model is found irreparably deactivated, the apparent victim of wild malware, the field of consumer cybernetics is thrown wide open. However, Hamlet v.1’s memories were not entirely lost in the accident.
Hamlet v.2 swears to avenge his progenitor, but is plagued by the aftereffects of integrating Old Hamlet’s backup into his own neural matrix. Beset by doubts about whether his feelings are truly his own, he worries his love for his boyfriend, Horatio, is an illusion, all the while driven by a consuming need for revenge. While he has a method, there is a madness in it, and Hamlet’s actions will leave no corner of Elsinore unscathed.
A beat-by-beat retelling of the Shakespeare classic, Hamlet, Prince of Robots grapples with conscience, ambition, and pain, and what it means to be, or not to be, human.
Hamlet, Prince of Robots was a brief but fun read. I was impressed with how well the author translated the story into the world of robotics and computing; it worked perfectly right from the first scene in the server room. Although it remains a tragic tale, the migration of the story into this new world also brought a smile to my face a number of times as I waited to see how each scene would be adjusted. If you are a fan of Shakespeare and Shakespeare retellings, this version of Hamlet is definitely worth checking out. It gets 4 stars from me.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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