Neom

The book takes place in a distant future where Neom is an old city obsessed with all things new. Humanity has colonized much of our solar system, and it seems that city-states are the norm. Neom is located in the Arabian peninsula, and we spend nearly all of the book in and around this city and the desert that surrounds it. The story follows a few humans whose lives intersect with several robots who are changing the future for robot-kind. I found the world of the book to be extremely compelling — it feels lived-in and realistic, while also managing to be very creative and unlike any other sci fi world I have read about. I look forward to reading other stories the the author has written in this world.

I finished the book in two sittings — it felt more like a novella than a novel, and it almost seems to be setting up other works. I gave it three stars rather than four for the following reasons. The characters and the plot were a bit thin — it felt like we were building towards an action that never came, or perhaps will come in a future book. I also felt that the writing felt unfinished in places — the author would write a compelling scene in “real time” and then in the next sentence or paragraph, weeks will have passed. I found this a bit jarring and it also made it difficult to connect with any of the characters.

However, the author does an excellent job of setting the scene and making you curious about this expansive world he has created, so I am excited to follow the author going forward!