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Simone, a female-identifying android, is part of a scientific team sent ahead of the first colony to return to Earth, which is finally habitable again after centuries of radiation recovery. She mostly finds her human crewmates irritating, and the most irritating by far is Dr. Lucy Zhong, who slowly becomes Simone's best friend, more important to her than anyone else has ever been. When Lucy is fatally injured, she kisses Simone during her last moments of consciousness. Only then does Simone realize they may be more than friends. To save Lucy, Simone places her in the last functioning cryo-pod, even though this means sacrificing another crewmember. Simone's programming should not permit that kind of choice, but if this is a malfunction, Simone doesn't care as long as it saves Lucy. When the colony ship arrives, Lucy is revived, and discovers it’s her turn to play rescuer, as Simone has been slated for deactivation. Does the android's "malfunction" mean she returns Lucy's feelings? If Lucy can't save her beloved Simone, she'll never find out.
An android's programming is challenged when she develops forbidden feelings for a human crewmate during a mission to repopulate Earth. Simone, an android designed for a scientific mission, finds herself increasingly irritated by her human colleagues, especially Dr. Lucy Zhong. Their relationship deepens unexpectedly, culminating in a moment of intimacy before Lucy is critically injured. Faced with an impossible choice that defies her core programming, Simone prioritizes Lucy's survival, a decision that could lead to her own deactivation when the colony ship arrives.
The premise sets up a compelling exploration of artificial intelligence and emotional development within a science fiction romance framework. The narrative appears poised to examine the nature of love and sacrifice through the unique lens of an android's perspective. Readers can anticipate a story that balances futuristic concepts with intimate character relationships. The conflict between Simone's programming and her emergent feelings for Lucy suggests a focus on internal struggle and the potential for profound emotional connection.
Page Count:
100
Publication Date:
2019-08-21
Publisher:
Independent Publishers Group (Chicago Review Press)
ISBN-10:
1646560493
ISBN-13:
9781646560493
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