Review: Only Human

Only Human by Sylvain Neuvel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is possibly my favorite of the Themis Files books. I ended up listening to the audio, which was a great experience. The author is even one of the voices!

Since so much of this book will spoil the previous books, I'll put my comments behind a spoiler tag. (view spoiler)[So we know from the end of book 1 that the robots are alien-origin. And at the end of book 2, it seems like the robot has transported those inside to space.

This book starts with unrecognizable words, and eventually the story reveals that Dr. Rose and some others have ended up on Esat Ekt, and have to learn to communicate and navigate cultural differences. Those on that planet have started to bring in those who share their DNA, but have reasons for destroying Earth, and they are not sorry. There is an interesting philosophical process happening, a new culture to be revealed, and of course what is happening on earth while they are on this other planet. Fascinating, creative, and well paced (whereas Book #1 of the Themis Files was not so much, and I know some abandoned that one.. but I was glad I stuck it out.)

I received an eARC from the publisher through Edelweiss, but then was offered an audiobook for review from the publisher and went with that format instead. The multiple narrators make for an enjoyable listening experience considering the multiple formats of the contents. The book came out in both formats on May 1. (hide spoiler)]

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