“Since I doubt, I think; since I think, I exist.” – Dennis E. Taylor
I have to preface this review by stating that this is likely the first space opera I’ve ever read. If you know me, then you know that I usually stick to horror and thriller, but being a member of a book club has forced me to delve in with an open mind.
Now, let me also state that reading We Are Legion (We Are Bob) made me realize that I am totally out of touch with modern technology past having an iPhone in my pocket at all times. In my house, we collect VHS tapes and there isn’t a Blu-Ray in sight. The only gaming system we have is a Nintendo 64. Teaching myself HTML to edit my Myspace page is the extent of my programming knowledge. So, reading this book was challenging for me at times. The author of We Are Legion (We Are Bob), Dennis E. Taylor, is a retired computer programmer so he really knows his stuff.
We meet Bob Johansson, just moments after he signs a contract with CryoEterna Inc, a company that cryogenically freezes their client’s heads upon their passing. The hope is that technology will be so advanced in the future the clients will have a chance at another life.
Crossing the street the same day of the contract signing, Bob is hit by a car and dies. He wakes up 117 years later, and finds that he has been uploaded into a computer as AI. Bob is also now property of the state. His idea of a second chance at life will no doubt be very different than what he imagined.
Bob’s “second” life gets very complicated as he struggles with his owners and the idea of being property. To escape their control, and to avoid being shut down entirely and not existing at all, Bob travels to space.
While exploring the galaxy, he quickly finds out that space isn’t the safest place for him either, and builds a colony of “Bob” clones. The clones might be the most entertaining aspect of We Are Legion (We Are Bob) as they all have different duties and personalities. Some of the clones fight in space wars while the others are “researchers” discovering other life forms and territories.
Mostly, We Are Legion (We Are Bob) is light-hearted and funny, but also plays with themes of loneliness and dread. Bob has a lot of time to think since that is what he is built to do. He philosophizes, he problem-solves, he takes action. But, he also spends time remembering his family and friends from his human life. The perception that a computer can have feelings is an interesting one, but Taylor makes sure to level out the heaviness of it all with sarcasm and wit.
Among countless Sci-Fi television and movie references, Taylor builds a pretty interesting world with Bob and his Bob clones. Following along with the space exploration is worth trying to keep up with the tech jargon, and multiple “Bob” stories in this book.
When I finished reading We Are Legion (We Are Bob) I was glad to find out that there are three more books in this series, since the first journey with Bob ended on sort of a cliffhanger. It’s likely that I’ll explore the Bobiverse on audio book next time so I can follow along with the high tech, big boy words easier.
Personally, I was glad to accept the challenge of reading this book. It also brought up so many “what if” questions during our book club review that are fun to answer. For example, Bob spends a lot of time perfecting the virtual taste of a cup of coffee while in space.
So, what would be the first thing you would make in your virtual reality?
Overall rating: 6/10
Brittany Fernandez is a Lifestyle Writer for SoBros Network as well as one half of the Haunted Home Video team. She’s a Nashville native covering events on the local scene, B-movie horror reviews, and everything in between. Her go-to karaoke song is “No Diggity.” Follow on Twitter: @brittbutspooky
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