In this episode of Book Banter with Rayna, we talk with author Jared M. Bentley about his sharp and heartfelt sci-fi debut, Robots, Please. We explore the story’s blend of humor, humanity, and artificial intelligence, as well as the themes of loneliness, connection, and what it means to be truly alive in a world built by machines.

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Jared M. Bentley is an American writer and educator. His collection of short stories, Robots, Please, is the first in a trilogy that humorously explores how to exist in an absurd world. Future work includes his debut novel, Dream Control, which examines resistance against government control in a speculative past version of Earth where dreams can alter reality. Jared's other publications may be found at jaredmbentley.com. Jared lives with his wife (and editor), Amy, in Ypsilanti, Michigan. There he will remain until he receives his ticket to the stars.

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Robots, Please is a collection of short stories that explores absurdity. Each story pokes fun at its world and examines a familiar societal flaw. The collection mulls over other themes like art, addiction, foolishness, friendship, parenthood, paranoia, and the duality of life and death. Robots, Please also features robots. Through their inner circuitry, we may better understand what it means to be human. Or not. I guess we’ll see. You may gasp. You may cry. You will most certainly laugh. If not, you should have your behavioral system recalibrated.

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Purchase Robots, Please here: https://bookshop.org/a/106612/9798385159475

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Book Banter is a laid-back conversational interview with authors, illustrators, creators and other bookish folks.

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