The first book in the Bobiverse series, We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor, took me completely by surprise. While I went in expecting a simple slapstick space romp, I found an incredibly complex story where humor adds genuine depth to the characters. The author expertly balances "hard" sci-fi concepts with a lightheartedness that makes the experience feel one-of-a-kind.
Bob sells his software company and is looking forward to all of things he will do in retirement when he gets killed crossing the street. His head, which he paid to have cryo-freezed upon his death in the hopes of later being revived in some way with new technologies, is hi-jacked by the government more than 100 years in the future. He is forced into an AI with the job of searching space for a livable planet to relocate everyone from the dying earth to. This starts the absolutely amazing adventure this book took me on!
One of the first things Bob does is to create clones of himself to help him with his tasks (and they inevitably give him company as well). Despite this massive cast of "Bobs" to keep track of, the author gives each clone a distinct personality and specific task, making it remarkably easy to follow. This ambitious scope results in a gratifyingly robust piece of work, supported by imaginative world-building that spans from the realistic future earth, star systems, and my favorite...creative VR environments tailored to each "Bob."
I'd recommend this to sci-fi veterans and general fiction readers alike. The narrative is perfectly balanced - accessible enough to enjoy as a fast-paced story; yet detailed enough to satisfy science enthusiasts - you can pause to ponder the scientific theories or simply enjoy the ride.
Looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series!
Thank you Saga Press for the book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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