The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport

by Samit Basu

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Shantiport has been fighting for its life for years. Lina and her family are painfully aware of this fact. Yet their ability to act has been limited, thanks to the level of security they've been placed under.

All that changes when Bador, a small monkey bot, digs up a unique artifact. A bot, really. Together, these three will stand up and fight for Shantiport, and they may just change the world in the process.

My Review:

Ahhh! I cannot express how much I loved The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport. I think I fell in love with it in the first chapter. And I stayed in love through to the end. This was such a fun book to read, with unique and compelling characters.

I mean it, too. This book has three primary characters: our primary perspective (a unique bot who only wants to record for his masters), Lina, and Bador. And boy, these characters could not be more different from one another if they tried. Frankly, I loved those differences. I also love that my feelings for them evolved and changed over time. Much like the situation within the city (though perhaps in reverse order?).

Samit Basu did a brilliant job creating a rich and disturbing world. This world is where surveillance is king, bots are becoming more sentient by the day, and the world is possibly on the brink of death. It's a lot, and I loved hearing every little detail.

There's a lot to love about The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport, from the characters to the Aladdin references and everything in between. I won't say that this book is perfect for MurderBot fans (as it is a very different world), but it made that little part of my heart sing happy. So take what you will from that.

Highlights:
Science Fiction
Dystopian Science Fiction
Bot Rights
Aladdin References

Trigger Warnings:
Classism/Oppression
Dying Planet

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