In Samanta Schweblin's novel, a new device called a kentuki, a small robot animal with a camera for eyes, becomes a global craze. People either buy a kentuki, which is controlled by a stranger, or become a "dweller," meaning they control one from a distance. The book follows a series of characters, in countries including Croatia, Peru, Mexico and Germany, who connect through these machines and find that intimacy with an unknown person can bring comfort or danger. Schweblin writes in short chapters and builds a sense of dread about surveillance and loneliness.
Readers who like near-future fiction and Black Mirror-style stories will find an unsettling read.
Deep, contemplative, open-ended and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2018
- Language
- EN
