Helen Fox (1)

This book takes place in a technologically advanced future society. In this book Gavin and his family need a new personal house robot. They are given one to test by their friend Professor Odgen, which they name Eager. This robot is different from any of the others because he is a learning robot and can feel emotions. The other new robots that many of the "technobrats" have begin revolting and kidnapping people. In the end, Eager saves the day and Professor Ogden is put in charge of LifeCorps, the main robotics company.
This book is a good example of a science fiction book because the whole society relies on robots. This aspect is science fiction because it takes the idea of robots doing jobs humans normally do, which is realistic to some degree now, and expands it to the extent of robots that are conscious and can think like humans. This type of society is the extreme expansion of the robotic possibilities the realm science is developing.
Age Appropriateness: late Intermediate… (mer)

"Eager" is a futuristic science fiction story in which humans are living and working with robots. The story features the life of the Bell family, who have recently acquired a new EGR3 robot, "Eager," who was designed to learn and develop as human children do. Eager was to assist the aging butler robot, "Grumps," with taking care of the home and the Bell family.

The plot suggests that the field of robotics have come a long way in the last 15-20 years - from robots that can do simple domestic chores, to homes that will have conversations and even gossip, and robots that possess artificial intelligence. The newest robots, the BDC4's, have recently been launched into market at a few major cities, and were designed to be extremely high tech and with frighteningly human qualities - emotions, memories, and being able to carry conversations.

Society at first glance seems to have progressed immensely, with children having companion robots escorting them to their learning centers, pollution being virtually eliminated, locally grown food, having access to what's called a "gobetween," a technology that allows simulations in virtually any environment and communicate live with anyone in any part of the world. But as the story develops the reader learns that stark inequalities similar to generations past persist - the simpler robots who run on battery and the advanced ones that run on radio waves; the division of socioeconomic classes among the elite technocrats, middle-class professionals, and lower classes in the cities; and those who have or do not have access to all the technology.

The reader will find that Eager is a captivating protagonist as he struggles with issues of what it means to be alive, to live a human experience. The Bell family is equally engaging as they face their own challenges about what it means to have fulfilling relationships - whether if it's with humans or robots. The book is perfect for ages 9-12, and provides a valuable lesson about the possibilities of robotics, and the ethical issues behind developing artificial life.… (mer)