The After Wife by Cass Hunter
THE AFTER WIFE
by CASS HUNTER
This is both a heartbreaking and heartwarming story about love and grief, science and nature. Meet Aidan, who is left devastated at the death of his wife Rachel and struggles to even begin to think about how he might carry on without her - or support their teenage daughter Chloe, through this terrible time. So when Rachel's colleague summons him to her place of work, he is reluctant to visit the scientific research department where she was conducting such ground breaking work and be reminded that her brilliant career has now been tragically cut short.
Shocked by the brutal way in which Rachel's belongings have already been packed up - protocol and confidentiality agreements insist in this - Aidan finds himself resenting the staff there who have spent so much time working closely with his wife, and grudgingly allows himself to be led behind locked doors to see more of the project she was pioneering. An iRachel.
Rachel's gift to Aidan and Chloe is a robot - but a robot with a difference. This is a highly sophisticated model, based completely on Rachel. It looks like her, talks like her and has been programmed to think, feel and react like Rachel. The science behind it is carefully explained to Aidan and along with the reader, he becomes convinced by this incredible machine and willing to take iRachel home with him to install her in his home. iRachel was deliberately built by Rachel to replace her and continue to exist even when she could not.
Perhaps some might say the reader might need to take a slight leap of faith with this storyline but I don't think so. The After Wife follows on from TV shows like Humans but looks at what might happen when a creation is designed to fill an emotional void in people's lives rather than perform time saving, laborious chores. The author's explanation, description and dialogue between the characters as we all get use to iRachel always feel authentic and convincing.
This book is more about heart than computers, more about feeling than algorithms. The iRachel, and the way Aidan and Chloe learn to relate to her, let her become part of their family and respond to her allows the author to explore a whole range of themes and issues. This is a book about letting go, accepting a new normal and finding hope after bereavement. The writing is gentle, engaging and this is a lovely read which will undoubtedly bring tears to many readers' eyes.
The comparisons with Black Mirror and Humans are obvious but it also reminded me of Truly Madly Deeply with Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman. Cass Hunter has taken a tragic premise and used it to explore universal topics with creativity, authenticity and well crafted characters. This will appeal to all readers - whether you love technology or find the concept of such scientific advances a little unsettling, there will be something in this story for everyone, and plenty to think about afterwards.
Shocked by the brutal way in which Rachel's belongings have already been packed up - protocol and confidentiality agreements insist in this - Aidan finds himself resenting the staff there who have spent so much time working closely with his wife, and grudgingly allows himself to be led behind locked doors to see more of the project she was pioneering. An iRachel.
Rachel's gift to Aidan and Chloe is a robot - but a robot with a difference. This is a highly sophisticated model, based completely on Rachel. It looks like her, talks like her and has been programmed to think, feel and react like Rachel. The science behind it is carefully explained to Aidan and along with the reader, he becomes convinced by this incredible machine and willing to take iRachel home with him to install her in his home. iRachel was deliberately built by Rachel to replace her and continue to exist even when she could not.
Perhaps some might say the reader might need to take a slight leap of faith with this storyline but I don't think so. The After Wife follows on from TV shows like Humans but looks at what might happen when a creation is designed to fill an emotional void in people's lives rather than perform time saving, laborious chores. The author's explanation, description and dialogue between the characters as we all get use to iRachel always feel authentic and convincing.
This book is more about heart than computers, more about feeling than algorithms. The iRachel, and the way Aidan and Chloe learn to relate to her, let her become part of their family and respond to her allows the author to explore a whole range of themes and issues. This is a book about letting go, accepting a new normal and finding hope after bereavement. The writing is gentle, engaging and this is a lovely read which will undoubtedly bring tears to many readers' eyes.
The comparisons with Black Mirror and Humans are obvious but it also reminded me of Truly Madly Deeply with Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman. Cass Hunter has taken a tragic premise and used it to explore universal topics with creativity, authenticity and well crafted characters. This will appeal to all readers - whether you love technology or find the concept of such scientific advances a little unsettling, there will be something in this story for everyone, and plenty to think about afterwards.
THE AFTER WIFE is published on the 6th September. My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy of the book and an invitation to join the Blog Tour.
Don't miss the other stops and reviews!
Don't miss the other stops and reviews!
CASS HUNTER
Cass Hunter was born in South Africa and moved to the UK in 2000. She lives in North London with her husband and two sons. She is an avid lifelong learner, and works at a London university. Cass Hunter is the pen name of Rosie Fiore, whose novels include After Isabella, What She Left, Babies in Waiting and Wonder Women.
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