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Service Model
- Author
- Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Narrator
- Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Publish Date
- 6 June 2024
- Run Time
- 12 hours 19 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Science fiction: apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic, Dystopian and utopian fiction, Humorous fiction, Satirical fiction and parodies
- Rating
- 5.0 (3 reviews)
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What to expect
Task List Item No. 1 – Become self-aware . . .
A witty tale of robotic murder, rebellion and belonging from the master of science fiction, Service Model is perfect for fans of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
Brilliantly performed by the author, Adrian Tchaikovsky.
‘Intelligent, funny, ultimately heart-breaking, and unforgettable’ – Stephen Baxter
Meet Charles™, 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?
‘Entertaining and thought-provoking . . . Tchaikovsky does an excellent job narrating’ – IGN
‘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
Critics 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
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Picking up an Adrian Tchaikovsky book is proof you love your brain and want it to be happy
John Scalzi, author of Starter Villain
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Brilliant science-fiction and far-out world-building
James McAvoy, actor (Split, X-Men: First Class)
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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One of the most interesting and accomplished writers in speculative fiction
Christopher Paolini, author of Eragon and Fractal Noise
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[Adrian Tchaikovsky] writes incredibly enjoyable sci-fi, full of life and ideas
Patrick Ness, author of The Knife of Never Letting Go
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Unfolds like a brilliant, horrific game of Clue . . . very clever world-building
The Wall Street Journal
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A funny, allegorical science fiction about the end of humans and the rise of robots . . . entertaining and thought-provoking
IGN
User Reviews
Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
-
5.0 5.0
Funny, thought provking, great narration 10/10
pb171 2026-07-09 -
5.0 5.0
Absolutely STUNNING world building, fantastic characters, hilarious tone—of both the writing and the author’s narration!
hyperbooktivity 2024-10-14 -
5.0 5.0
Excellent! An exposition on exploitation, through the circuits of a robot.
robinh 2024-06-23
Details
- Author
- Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Narrator
- Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Duration
- 12 hours 19 minutes
- Release Date
- 6 June 2024
- ISBN
- 9781035045709
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Genre
- Science fiction: apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic, Dystopian and utopian fiction, Humorous fiction, Satirical fiction and parodies
- Rating
- 5.0(3 reviews)
- Narration
- 5.0(3 reviews)
Synopsis
Task List Item No. 1 – Become self-aware . . .A witty tale of robotic murder, rebellion and belonging from the master of science fiction, Service Model is perfect for fans of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.Brilliantly performed by the author, Adrian Tchaikovsky.‘Intelligent, funny, ultimately heart-breaking, and unforgettable’ – Stephen BaxterMeet Charles™, 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?‘Entertaining and thought-provoking . . . Tchaikovsky does an excellent job narrating’ – IGN‘One of the best storytellers in the business’ – John Scalzi‘Delightful and very funny’ – New ScientistShortlisted for Best Novel at the 2025 Hugo Awards
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