33 pages • 1 hour read
Ian McEwanMachines Like Me
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Ian McEwan's Machines Like Me, set in an alternative 1980s, Charlie Friend buys Adam, one of the first consumer-grade artificial humans, and both fall for his neighbor Miranda. The novel explores the ethical complexities and moral relativism of these relationships, especially when Adam starts to question Miranda's secretive past, leading to tensions and unexpected consequences. The book references sensitive topics such as rape and death by suicide.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Ian McEwan's Machines Like Me blends speculative fiction and ethical dilemmas, receiving praise for its thought-provoking narrative and nuanced exploration of AI's impact on humanity. Critiques target its dense exposition and uneven pacing. Overall, McEwan's work is heralded for intellectual rigor but may deter those seeking a fast-paced, emotional journey.
Who Should Read Machines Like Me?
Readers who enjoy exploring ethical dilemmas in advanced technology and human relationships will be captivated by Ian McEwan's Machines Like Me. Fans of Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go and Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? will appreciate the novel's intricate examination of AI and morality.