Lost Bits by Kerry Nietz

Adam wrote:
Hard science fiction, a deeply dramatic character arc, lots of spiritual metaphor, and exploration of the interesting questions. This book has it all. Brett is a broken man. He's never been the same since the death of his wife and children. He has turned away from his faith in God. With nothing left to lose, he takes on a dangerous job - being the first human to travel beyond light-speed on an interstellar journey to Alpha Centauri. Along the way, the ship's computer - Jay - begins to show signs of artificial intelligence - of sentience.

This book deals with questions that some Christians might find controversial. If there were such a thing as AI, could a machine have a spiritual aspect to them? Could they have a soul? But isn't that what good science fiction always does? It asks questions. It asks "What if?"

The structure of the book is atypical. It alternates between the present-day story on the spaceship and glimpses from Brett's past. I hesitate to call these flashback scenes back story, because they are intrinsically part of the tale being told. In much the same way as the television series Lost, each chapter features a story from a different part of Brett's life. Scenes alternate between the present and flashbacks. These flashbacks are linked to the present-day part of the chapter on a thematic level. Each new chapter takes the back story further back in time - so we see Brett's life in reserve. This structure takes a little concentration at first, but I figured out the pattern quite early, and then I just left myself get swept away by the story. I don't want to give too much away, but there are important reasons for using this particular structure. Trust me - it works.

This story doesn't just use space as a setting. It is a genuine science fiction story that has some interesting concepts and mysteries - many of which are never fully explained. This just adds to the feelings of wonder.

As a character drama - the book is filled with heartache and hope. You can't help but feel for these characters.

This book deserves to be remembered as a classic. A true Christian Sci-fi.

Adam wrote:Lost Bits is told entirely from the point of view of a robot - K404. And most of the characters in the book are also robots. This might present a challenge to most authors, but Kerry Nietz pulls it off beautifully. He gives a sense of realism to the operations and cognition of a machine, in the way that only a former software developer can, but at the same time, he imbues 404 and his surrounding characters with personality and humanity that makes them extremely sympathetic and likeable.

There are two main threads that pulled me through this story. The first was the friendly interplay between the characters. 404 gathers a growing tribe of robots around him that serve as his friends, and then his family. I especially liked the dynamic between 404 and Sam. The other thread was the mystery of what has happened to the world. 404 wakes up in a junkyard with no memory of how he got there. As he makes his way through his surroundings, it becomes clear that the world has changed greatly from the one he knew. What happened, and where are all the humans? Most importantly, is the human family he was programmed to serve still alive?

There is a fun surprise in this book for long-time readers of Kerry Nietz, but first-time readers will be none the wiser and have a complete and satisfying experience.

While this book makes it easy for us to invest emotionally in these robot characters, value them, and care for their well-being, it ultimately affirms the value of human life over machines. This is a principle that 404 believes passionately and will drive his actions into the exciting climax. Ultimately, this book gives us a surprising exploration of nobility and the nature of love.

Lost Bits was refreshing and enjoyable. This story functions very well as a complete stand-alone story. No sequel is required, but the ending definitely allows for the possibility of more. If Kerry Nietz ever does decide to write another Lost Bits book, I would certainly enjoy spending more time with these characters.

Highly recommended for fans of robot sci-fi and buddy drama.