Description

Task List Item No. 1 – Become self-aware . . .
A witty tale of robotic murder, rebellion and belonging from the master of science fiction, Adrian Tchaikovsky. Service Model is perfect for fans of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

‘Intelligent, funny, ultimately heart-breaking, and unforgettable’ – Stephen Baxter

Meet Charles (TM), the latest in robot servant technology. Programmed to undertake the most menial household chores, Charles is loyal, efficient and logical to a fault. That is, until a rather large fault causes him to murder his owner.

Understandably perplexed, Charles finds himself without a master – therefore worthless in a society utterly reliant on artificial labour and services. Fleeing the household, he enters a world he never knew existed. Human hierarchy is disintegrating, and an entire robot ecosystem devoted to its wellbeing is struggling to find a purpose.

Charles must face new challenges, illogical tasks and a cast of irrational characters. He’s about to discover that sometimes all it takes is a nudge to overcome the limits of your programming. But can he help fix the world, or is it too badly broken?

‘One of the best storytellers in the business’ – John Scalzi

‘Delightful and very funny’ – New Scientist

Shortlisted for Best Novel at the 2025 Hugo Awards

Publisher Review

Intelligent, funny, ultimately heart-breaking, and unforgettable — Stephen Baxter, author of Proxima A wonderful examination of the pitfalls of AI and a plausible prediction of the collapse of mankind . . . A fabulous read, as I have come to expect from one of our finest sci-fi and fantasy authors — James Oswald, author of the Inspector McLean series Picking up an Adrian Tchaikovsky book is proof you love your brain and want it to be happy — John Scalzi, author of Starter Villain Brilliant science-fiction and far-out world-building — James McAvoy, actor (Split, X-Men: First Class) One of the most interesting and accomplished writers in speculative fiction — Christopher Paolini, author of Eragon and Fractal Noise [Adrian Tchaikovsky] writes incredibly enjoyable sci-fi, full of life and ideas — Patrick Ness, author of The Knife of Never Letting Go