Title: The Mad Scientist’s Daughter
Author: Cassandra Rose Clarke
First published January 28, 2013
391 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780857662651 (ISBN10: 0857662651)
Rating: 3.8
Overview
“Meet Cat and Finn. Finn is not your typical tutor, he was created to be the perfect assistant.
Even though he looks and behaves like a human, he doesn’t desire to be one. Cat is a young woman who Finn is assigned to tutor.
As she blossoms into adulthood, Finn becomes more than just a tutor, he becomes her confidant and protector. But as the government starts granting rights to robots, Finn grapples with his own identity and his place in Cat’s life.
Join Cat and Finn on a journey of self-discovery and love in The Mad Scientist’s Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke.”
About the Author
Cassandra Rose Clarke resides in Houston, Texas, surrounded by beige stucco and pecan trees that have grown out of control. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from The University of St. Thomas in 2006, followed by a master’s degree in creative writing from The University of Texas at Austin in 2008.
Surprisingly, both degrees have served her well.
In 2010, she had the opportunity to attend the Clarion West Writers Workshop in Seattle, where she reveled in the rare experience of sixty-degree summer days. This was a significant event for her, considering she was born and raised in Texas.
Additionally, she was a lucky recipient of the 2010 Susan C. Petrey Clarion Scholarship Fund.
Editoral Review
The Mad Scientist’s Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke is a literary science fiction novel that explores the complexities of human relationships, artificial intelligence, and the struggles of growing up in a world that is constantly changing. First published on January 28, 2013, Clarke’s novel is a stunning and beautifully written exploration of love, identity, and the fundamental ethical questions raised by AI.
Set in a near-future world where the line between humans and robots is increasingly blurred, The Mad Scientist’s Daughter tells the story of Cat Novak, the daughter of a brilliant but troubled scientist who creates a robot named Finn. As Finn grows and evolves, Cat finds herself drawn to him in ways that challenge her own sense of identity and morality.
Over the course of their relationship, Cat must grapple with her own feelings, as well as the social and cultural implications of loving someone who is not human. At its core, The Mad Scientist’s Daughter is a love story.
But it is also so much more than that. Clarke masterfully weaves together themes of identity, societal norms, and morality, creating a nuanced and thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be human.
She does so with a deft touch, never sacrificing character development or plot for the sake of her themes. One of the greatest strengths of The Mad Scientist’s Daughter is Clarke’s characters.
Cat is a complex and multi-dimensional protagonist, struggling to make sense of her own feelings in a world that is constantly changing. Finn, too, is a marvelously crafted character, fully realized despite being an AI.
Clarke’s secondary characters are equally well-drawn, adding depth and complexity to the world she has created. The pacing of the novel is also exceptional.
Clarke’s prose is lyrical and evocative, drawing readers in from the very first page. The narrative flows smoothly, with each chapter building on the last to create a cohesive and compelling story that is hard to put down.
Overall, The Mad Scientist’s Daughter is a remarkable achievement. Clarke has crafted a novel that is both emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating, challenging readers to think deeply about what it means to be human.
Whether you are a fan of science fiction, literary fiction, or simply great storytelling, this novel is not to be missed. For fans of similar works such as Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi, and The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, The Mad Scientist’s Daughter earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
