Richard J. Wagner’s debut novella is a fast-paced philosophical dialog between a man in the future named Edward and his robot valet, Brent. Edward teaches Brent to cook, play chess and play tennis as Brent inspires Edward to think deeply about what it means to be a human. In the process, Brent develops an aspiration to become a famous philosopher. Adventures unfold as Brent achieves public celebrity and cultural notoriety. Engaging characters, plot twists, and epistemological excursions make this book an enjoyable read for both science fiction and high-tech enthusiasts.

— Ken Goldberg