Review:  Relevant in an uncanny way, and yet love exists

People drive Lloyd Salter insane. He’s severely ODC and needs everything a certain way. People are too loud, too messy, and too intrusive. So, what do you do when you realize you really want a boyfriend? You build one who is perfect.

Enter SATinc, the company that can build you a better boyfriend (or girlfriend) for the right amount of money. The A-Class synthetic humans are designed to provide conversation, show interest in you, your hobbies, your career and most importantly, provide for all your sexual needs. Each unit is designed to order, and the OS is matched to your level of intelligence and psychological evaluation to meet all your needs.

Lloyd designs an A-Class named SHAUN to be his companion, with parameters including vast knowledge of literature, history, and the ability to hold conversations on these and many other subjects. He is also what Data from Star Trek calls “fully functional”. Once Lloyd takes delivery of SHAUN, things start off famously. There are hours of in depth discussions on many subjects. There are orientation walks around their home. There are shopping trips to bring SHAUN into the real world so he can interact with others. And yes, there is sex. Lots of it.

Then things start going off-script, according to the control manual. SHAUN is doing something new, and SATinc is watching.

–

I found the concept of the A-Class android/gynoid series of synthetics to be highly relevant to recent robotics advancements in our own world. The sex-bot is here and being improved upon all the time. Their presence has already started the conversation about what constitutes consent, and whether they are stand-ins for those humans with violent sexual tendencies who don’t want to be caught doing their thing with a living breathing person. Evolved addresses the abuse issue with the AMA (Artificial Moral Agency) a group dedicated to the protection of all synthoids. All synthetic humans of all classes are equipped to notify the AMA if any harm comes to the synthetic by any means, including human abuse.

There is a love story here, one not as one-sided as you are led to believe in the beginning. I enjoyed the personal interactions between Lloyd and SHAUN, as well as their exchanges with other humans and A-Class units. The development of SHAUN’s personality is subtle and profound, and that is what makes it so much more important. It was wonderful to see their relationship bloom despite manufacturer’s parameters.

Genre:  Sci-Fi Romance, M/M
Romance:  Sweet
Sexy stuff:  Hot, dirty, amusing, but slightly one-sided until the end of the book
Editing:  Good, no discernible grammar problems or spelling mistakes
Violence:  Destruction of a sentient life-form
Storytelling:  Very good
Narrative:  Single POV
Stars: 4

---

Blurb

In 2068, androids are an integrated part of human life. Big Brother no longer just watches from the shadows. It’s in every household. 

Lloyd Salter has OCD issues with noise and mess, and he’s uncomfortable with human interaction. When his ex claimed the only thing perfect enough to live up to his standards was an android, Lloyd dismissed it. But two years later, after much self-assessment, he thinks he may have been right.

SATinc is the largest manufacturer of androids in Australia, including the Fully Compatible Units known as an A-Class 10. Their latest design is the Synthetic Human Android UNit, otherwise known as SHAUN.

Shaun is compatible to Lloyd’s every need; the perfect fit on an intellectual and physical basis. But Lloyd soon realises Shaun’s not like other A-Class androids. He learns. He adapts. Sure that SATinc is aware Shaun functions outside of his programmed parameters, Lloyd must find a way to keep Shaun safe.

No one can know how special Shaun is. No one can know he’s evolved.