Book description
Deep in the hills of Appalachia, anti-android sentiment is building. Charismatic demagogue Eli Whitaker has used anger toward new labor policies that replace factory workers with androids to build a militia-and now he is recruiting child soldiers. Part of a governmental task force, Adrian and Trey are determined to put a stop to Whitaker's efforts. Their mission is complicated by their own shared childhood experiences with Whitaker. After an automated soldier shoots a child during a raid to protect Trey, both grapple with the role of androids and their use in combat. Interrelated with the hunt for Whitaker, farmers Shay and Ernst struggle after they discover their GMO crop seeds have failed and caused a deadly illness in Shay. To help manage, they hire android employees: Sarah as hospice, and AG-15 to work the now-toxic fields. The couple's relationship to the androids evolve as both humans get progressively more sick. Timely and chilling, Wagner's non-linear debut shares intimate narratives of loss, trauma, and survival as the emergence of artificial life intersects with state violence and political extremism in rural Appalachia.SynopsisThe emergence of artificial life intersects with state violence and political extremism in Erin K. Wagner's rural Appalachia, where startlingly intimate portraits of survival and empathy bloom against a stark backdrop of loss. September, 2060: Adrian Hall, acting director of the ATF, is holding a press conference. Yes, Eli Whitaker, anti-android demagogue, remains at large, and yes, he is recruiting children into his militia -- Adrian is careful not to use the word army. She is careful all the way through the conference, right up until someone asks her about her personal connection to Whitaker; about Trey Caudill, his foster son. July, 2058: Farmers Shay and Ernst, struggling after they discover their GMO crop seeds have failed, hire android employees: Sarah as hospice, and AG-15 to work the now-toxic fields. Under one roof, four lives intertwine in ways no one expects. July, 2060: Special Agent Trey Caudill is leading a raid on Eli Whitaker's farm when an android, call sign Ora, shoots and kills a child. March, 2061: Ora sits in a room. He has been there for seven months, resisting diagnostic tests. He is drawing on the walls, scratching his artificial skin, tracing something over and over and over again with a tired metallic finger. There is nothing wrong with his circuitry, so why does Ora feel so broken? Unflinching yet understated, making expert use of its nonlinear form, Mechanize My Hands to War is at once a study of grief and an ode to the power of self-determination.Synopsis"Wagner wows in this nuanced look at the implications of AI on humanity...sharply imagined and all too plausible." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) The emergence of artificial life intersects with state violence and political extremism in Erin K. Wagner's rural Appalachia, where startlingly intimate portraits of survival and empathy bloom against a stark backdrop of loss. September, 2060: Adrian Hall, acting director of the ATF, is holding a press conference. Yes, Eli Whitaker, anti-android demagogue, remains at large, and yes, he is recruiting children into his militia -- Adrian is careful not to use the word army. She is careful all the way through the conference, right up until someone asks her about her personal connection to Whitaker; about Trey Caudill, his foster son. July, 2058: Farmers Shay and Ernst, struggling after they discover their GMO crop seeds have failed, hire android employees: Sarah as hospice, and AG-15 to work the now-toxic fields. Under one roof, four lives intertwine in ways no one expects. July, 2060: Special Agent Trey Caudill is leading a raid on Eli Whitaker's farm when an android, call sign Ora, shoots and kills a child. March, 2061: Ora sits in a room. He has been there for seven months, resisting diagnostic tests. He is drawing on the walls, scratching his artificial skin, tracing something over and over and over again with a tired metallic finger. There is nothing wrong with his circuitry, so why does Ora feel so broken? Unflinching yet understated, making expert use of its nonlinear form, Mechanize My Hands to War is at once a study of grief and an ode to the power of self-determination.
Digital Moonshine
I can't thank this app enough for making my audiobook experience exceptional. Its intuitive interface and diverse compatibility are a true game-changer. π±π§ Tone adjustment adds a new layer of personalization to my audiobook experience. It's like having the narrator tailor the voice to my preferences. ListenBook has streamlined my audiobook experience. It's a must-have app for enthusiasts.
Twiddle Twix
I'm blown away by ListenBook's ability to play diverse formats flawlessly β it's a game-changer. Download options are plenty β I can get my audiobooks from various sources hassle-free. Looping playback is a game-changer for my study sessions. It helps me absorb information more effectively. The app is perfect for multitasking. I can listen while doing other things.
Y0dler
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has made my life so much easier. π Adding excitement to each day β this app ensures that every moment is an opportunity to explore new stories. ππ The app's integration with CarPlay enhances my road trips with immersive audiobook journeys. Iβve tried several audiobook players, but ListenBook stands out for its reliability and ease of use. The equalizer and voice boost features make every book sound amazing. Plus, the dark mode is perfect for nighttime listening. Great job, developers! I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks and this narrator is now in my top 5. Their timing and inflection were masterful. Never a dull moment in the entire performance.
Darkside Isis
No more fighting over the radio during family trips β we're all hooked on audiobooks now. ListenBook has redefined how I enjoy audiobooks. It's an essential tool for my literary pursuits.
Keystone
This app has turned long waits into exciting opportunities to dive into a new story. Hands down, the best audiobook collection I've ever come across. It has everything I want to listen to. Listening to audiobooks has become my guilt-free indulgence, and I love it. I'm hooked on this app's ability to make reading fit into any moment.
Red Pepper
I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily routines more enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. Effortless audiobook exploration β this app's functionality is remarkable.
Ember Master
With this app, I've found a way to make long flights and road trips more enjoyable and enlightening. I can't get enough of this app β it's a true game-changer for book lovers. Audiobooks at my fingertips β this app's functionality is a game-changer. ListenBook has become my go-to app for all audiobooks. Full of useful features. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iβve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
Lucifurious
Noise reduction on ListenBook enhances the clarity of dictaphone recordings, allowing me to enjoy content even in noisy environments. With ListenBook, I can now listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. π Rekindling my love for reading β this app has reintroduced me to the joy of books in a whole new way. ππ₯ ListenBookβs bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book. Listened to this on a road trip and it made the hours fly by. Even my passengers who weren't following along commented on how nice the narrator's voice was.
Uncle Psycho
ListenBook's sleek interface and precise controls make it a joy to use during my daily listening sessions. I'm hooked on this app's seamless performance β it's like having a personal audiobook curator. I can't get over how smooth the playback is. Even high-quality files play flawlessly.
AxelRoad
I love how ListenBook caters to various formats, making it versatile and accommodating for all my audiobooks. This app's sleek design and effortless navigation have made my audiobook journey a true delight. Shuffle playback is a fun feature. It keeps me engaged with my audiobooks.
DreadSherX
ListenBook's controls for looping and shuffling playback have made studying and revisiting content a breeze. One of the best audiobooks Iβve heard! The story was compelling, and the narratorβs delivery added depth to every scene. I found myself looking for excuses to listen just a little longer. Will definitely revisit this one!
RDTN
ListenBook has transformed my listening habits, making them more engaging and enjoyable. With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my downtime more enriching and meaningful. Automatic artwork and metadata retrieval is a time-saver. My library looks fantastic.
Light Despair
Say goodbye to boring commutes β this app's immersive audio experience and intuitive controls have transformed my daily journeys. ππ This app has transformed my daily commute into a captivating journey of knowledge and entertainment.
Chicago Blackout
ListenBook's commitment to providing top-notch audio quality has taken my audiobook experience to a new level. π Making each day a new chapter β this app keeps me hooked from morning to night! ππ πββοΈπ Combining exercise and exploration β this app keeps me motivated on my daily jogs! πββοΈπ π§ Making housework more enjoyable β audiobooks turn mundane chores into moments of discovery. π§Ήπ
Married Man
π Transforming laundry time into a journey through fantastic stories β thank you, this app! ππ Simplifying audiobook adventures β this app's ease of use is a delight. ListenBook has become my ultimate audiobook companion. It enhances every listening session. Downloading books over WiFi is quick and hassle-free. Very convenient.
Mule Lock
With ListenBook, I can keep track of my audiobook consumption and explore new content with ease. ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature simplifies the process of adding new audiobooks to my collection. ListenBook has transformed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is a game-changer! is a breeze with ListenBook. It's convenient and efficient.
Cool Iris
This app's compatibility with various devices ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks wherever I go. The app's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically is a huge time-saver. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a creative way to share the love of literature. This audiobook transformed my household chores into enjoyable moments! The narrator's lively yet measured delivery kept me engaged throughout. I particularly appreciated how they handled exposition - making potentially dry information interesting through thoughtful inflection and pacing. It was fine. The narrator did an adequate job but nothing about the performance particularly stood out to me. Got me through my commute though.
RiddleRover
The statistics feature on ListenBook helps me track my audiobook consumption β a fantastic way to measure my progress. ListenBook's beautiful layout and quick access to chapters make navigation effortless. The interface is clean and intuitive. I was up and running in seconds. An unobjectionable but unexceptional audiobook experience. The narrator's performance was serviceable and the audio quality was fine, but nothing about the production particularly stood out or elevated the material. It was decent background listening.
Sky Dahlia
I can't imagine my life without this app β it's my passport to countless stories. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature for those who enjoy organized and structured listening. This was an adequate audiobook for casual listening. The narrator maintained a consistent pace and clear diction throughout, though their performance lacked some emotional range. The audio quality was fine with no significant technical distractions. A perfectly acceptable audiobook that fulfilled its purpose. The narration was competent if not particularly memorable, and the production quality was standard for the genre. It served as decent background entertainment during mundane tasks.
Spider Fuji
ListenBook's focus on quality and user experience has made it my go-to app for audiobooks and educational content. π Turning my phone into a portal of stories β this app's ease of use is remarkable! π±π« Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to share stories and connect with friends. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fantastic way to introduce them to captivating stories. Supports all my playlists and bookmarks seamlessly. Very convenient.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience