Be is an old robot, ancient by most current definitions. They were one of the first true artificial intelligences, and they were there when things started to get bad, and they don’t want to think about what happened or what role they played in that conflict. They have settled into a life of isolation in the abandoned ruins of an old mill in the former New York Botanical Gardens, uninterested in what’s happened in the outside world since they stepped away from the war that consumed it. Someone out there, though, hasn’t forgotten them. Be finds their quiet life of solitude disrupted when they are ambushed and one of their legs is stolen in a manner that is both debilitating and embarrassing. Be finds themselves setting out from their refuge for the first time in years, accompanied by a passing cyborg dog and a human mechanic who help them hobble along.
As Be wanders through little bubbles of society, they begin to suspect a malicious hand trying to rekindle old conflicts that tore the world down and finish what was started. Within Be lies power that could stop the bad actors, but Be must come to terms with both their past and who they have become to use it. Everything and everyone else they knew has changed in their absence, and everything is disorienting. They are completely out of their element and have no idea who to trust, but being left alone is no longer an option, and peace may be impossible.
This story explores the existential meaning of life, mixing a well-paced, initially low-stakes mystery with immersive dystopian worldbuilding and deep character introspection. As Be re-enters the world, they find that it has changed while they were locked away. Recovery from the war is uneven and faltering, and we see a society made up of half-human, half-robot AI trying to build small, thriving communities and find some version of systems that work on a small scale. The result is a world that feels like infinite tiny garden enclaves, each with different rules and norms, all just trying to get by. Massive death and suffering occur at a macro scale, but when you look at the small societies growing everywhere, you will see stories of joy, love, hope, and tenacity.
Plopped in the middle of this world is Be. Our narrative is partially split between the past and the present, with the past showing an accounting of how Be came to…be. We learn that he is a creation of a genius artificer who took his anger and frustration at the world and put it into the first wave of super AI. Be did not like what he was born to do and is hiding from their past. A large portion of the story is Be grappling with their desire to simply disengage and not be a part of things, but continually learning that society is not something you can just ignore, particularly when you are inherently responsible for its shape and form.
The story is funny and relaxing, but also a cutting commentary on the complexity of human nature. It has so many themes, and it’s amazing how well the book finds time to explore them all at once. We have themes like the futility of war, a favorite of mine and something very well characterized by the struggles of Be’s creator paired with Be’s own observations as he wanders the world and sees how life always finds a way to keep going. A personal favorite theme of the book is the impossibility of removing yourself from the world. As I mentioned, Be’s journey slowly builds to the realization that no matter how much power and wisdom you have, you can’t simply excise yourself from everyone else. In fact, as Uncle Ben has iconically pointed out, the more power you have, the more you owe the rest of the world a debt you must work off through connection and community. The book builds to world-ending stakes by the end, but I really enjoyed its small, engaging mysteries. Seeing the world through Be’s eyes is a delight, and watching them process their trauma and evolution is deeply satisfying. Also, the book is just generally pretty funny as a bonus.
Palmer is a master of imagining a world full of tragedy and loss, but painting it with a brush made from hope and promise instead. Their commentary on technology and AI feels particularly poignant as we move through our current evolving world and all its possibilities. This story knows how to run the emotional gamut and engage the reader in places where I had genuine fears for my own future. A great premise, fantastical worldbuilding, and entertaining characters made Ode To The Half-Broken one of the most fun reads of the year.
Rating: Ode To The Half-Broken – 9.0/10
-Andrew
