33 pages • 1 hour read
Machines Like Me
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
306
Novel • Fiction
London • 1980s
2019
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In Ian McEwan's Machines Like Me, set in an alternative 1980s, Charlie Friend buys Adam, one of the first consumer-grade artificial humans, and both fall for his neighbor Miranda. The novel explores the ethical complexities and moral relativism of these relationships, especially when Adam starts to question Miranda's secretive past, leading to tensions and unexpected consequences. The book references sensitive topics such as rape and death by suicide.
Contemplative
Mysterious
Dark
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
34,337 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Ian McEwan's Machines Like Me blends speculative fiction and ethical dilemmas, receiving praise for its thought-provoking narrative and nuanced exploration of AI's impact on humanity. Critiques target its dense exposition and uneven pacing. Overall, McEwan's work is heralded for intellectual rigor but may deter those seeking a fast-paced, emotional journey.
Who Should Read Machines Like Me?
Readers who enjoy exploring ethical dilemmas in advanced technology and human relationships will be captivated by Ian McEwan's Machines Like Me. Fans of Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go and Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? will appreciate the novel's intricate examination of AI and morality.
34,337 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
306
Novel • Fiction
London • 1980s
2019
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.