Paromjit's Reviews > In the Lives of Puppets

To those who have read TJ Kline's work, this will feel familiar, with its queer, emotional roller coaster of a fantasy and sci-fi thrill ride, inspired by Carlo Collodi's The Adventures of Pinocchio, and littered with references to other literary pieces of fiction. Giovanni Lawson, a robot, builds a hidden house in the branches of trees, living with a baby, wrapped in rags, that he is left by a couple, he brings him up as his human son, VIctor, along with the machines that make up the small family. This includes as Kline puts it, 'an anxiety-riddled Roomba vacuum named Rambo, and a sociopathic nursing machine, the Registered Automaton To Care, Heal, Educate and Drill (Nurse Ratched, for short)' and a damaged weird android, HAP (Hysterically Angry Puppet).

Victor grows to find a vocation in fixing robots, including the android, HAP, little comprehending just how this will go on to reveal Gio's past history and endanger their home in the woods and their family. This all culminates in Victor and the machines embarking on a terrifying obstacle ridden adventure to the City of Electric Dreams to save Gio, the father. In a story of machines, this is a narrative that simply overflows with emotional feelings and humanity, it is thought provoking, full of banter and is absolutely irresistible. Kline has succeeding in creating a cast of offbeat characters I could not help but come to care about, there is plenty of banter and wit, shards of light and I adored the satirical Nurse Ratched and Rambo!

Particular highlights in this imaginative, entertaining, multilayered novel are the brilliant world building and Victor facing the challenge of his feelings for Hap. A warm delight of a read, of family, love, adventure and so much more. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.