I'm a bit on the fence with this one. I quite liked the themes of this story, and the very thought-provoking questions posed (can machines be sentient, and if so, should they have equal rights to humans). But I was a bit put off by the main character, Elias, who - while I understand he's supposed to be autistic - behaves more like a teenager than someone who is in his late twenties. Also, his father was really just a cardboard cut-out, whose behaviour and reactions weren't at all convincing.

I did, however, like Ario and Mariko. I love the way Ario becomes more and more aware, and more and more human (including the terrible things humans do to each other and those they think below them). And Mariko is excellent in her unpredictability.

Overall, good story, and I liked most of it. Just a shame that the main character was portrayed more like a moody teenager than an autistic adult.