Annie Bot: A Provocative Science Fiction Novel about a Female Android and her Human Owner

I'd classify this story as feminist literature and wonder how it came across to male readers. While this novel is only a little over 200 pages, there is so much packed into it as we discover, along with Annie herself, what is means to be human and how to survive as a female in it.

Compulsively, furiously readable, this book left me pacing in unpleasant (but not unwelcome) self reflection. As AI partners become an increasingly real topic of conversation at the same time that many men appear more openly interested in subservient women, this book will feel all too real for many, and make other stories that have skimmed the surface of these concepts, like "Companion" and "West World" (both of which I enjoyed) feel emotionally simplistic by comparison.

But what I loved and loathed most about it was how much I saw of myself as a human woman in Annie the bot. She didn't need to be a robot or a real girl for me to recognize that constant fear of displeasing her partner, of putting his needs above her own over and over again until she's convinced that her happiness is only possible through his. If you've ever been in an abusive relationship, especially a long one, you know how this feels all too well. As I read this book, I felt nauseated for my younger self, who dyed her hair and restricted her eating and held back her jokes and her wit and her needs for years because she was afraid of her partner and also thought she loved him and that her selflessness in all choices and making him happy was a good enough life. Like Doug in this book, all of it never was, as it still felt fake to him.

Sometimes, I am still that girl, because hey, reprogramming is really hard, but I have grown a lot since then. If you have ever felt like me, or you know a woman who might be headed down a similar path, you should read this book. And rage, talk about it, and remember that you are your own. Always.

Did not like this book. It deals with abuse. The android robot is a sex toy for an abusive male human being. He substitutes the robot for his desires rather than developing female companionship with a human being. I felt it was very creepy and disturbing. I dont recommend it. This is not a funny book.

What an interesting read. This was my first (that I can recall) sci-fi and I enjoyed it a lot. Annie Bot takes place in a society where people can buy robot women with different main functions: a nanny, a maid, or a sex toy. However, these bots can be given sentience by their owners where AI gives them thoughts and feelings - almost like real women! (eyeroll)

This dystopian story depicts misogynistic tropes of assigning domestic roles to women and combines the nuance and emotions of human relationships to spit out a unique story of a man and his robotic partner. Curiously, this book came out years before Chat GPT, but it reminds me a lot of the disturbing phenomenon of people using AI as a therapist, partner, or other substitute for genuine human reaction to see and hear exactly what they want.

Annie is a robot created with the purpose of sex given sentience by her owner, Doug. Doug clearly needs to address issues of his own (unreciprocated attachment to his ex, insecurities galore, and the cherry of general sexism on top) but instead harbors these problems and fosters a toxic relationship.

The depictions of abuse and neglect that happened to Annie were very well done through the sci-fi lens. It isn't too overt, and shows how one partner can take advantage of the other who is literally programmed to please. Greer's writing does a great job at humanizing Annie, and getting us to sympathize and root for her.

There were some bits and pieces I felt were unnecessary (outing a trans character for no plot or character development, for example) that made me momentarily pause, but otherwise I flew through this book. It's a uniquely creepy read perfect for pre-Halloween, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read to get out of a slump.

Like Playboy - read it for the articles!