The Life Engineered

Dubeau’s uninspired debut mixes a few interesting ideas among the classic genre tropes it mines, but it isn’t enough to sustain even such a short work. It’s 5638 C.E., humankind has vanished, and self-aware robots called Capeks are doing their best to prepare the universe for humanity’s mysterious return. New Capeks spend thousands of lifetimes in simulations as humans, until they achieve “Nirvana,” at which point they’re released and begin their work. But in a move that will surprise no one, some Capeks believe they need to stop working for humans and start working for themselves. Dagir, a Capek, finds herself caught up in the struggle while still navigating Capek society, and contending with the suspicious lack of information regarding the humans’ exodus and their return. The pacing and writing are both too weak to carry the predictable plot, and too many of the choices—the use of various human mythologies, the simulated human experiences, the lack of information given to Dagir about Capek society—feel arbitrary and driven by a need to make the story get to a certain point. (Mar.)