Day Zero

A Novel

By: C. Robert Cargill

Narrated by: Vikas Adam

In this harrowing apocalyptic adventure - from the author of the critically acclaimed Sea of Rust - noted novelist and co-screenwriter of Marvel’s Doctor Strange C. Robert Cargill explores the fight for purpose and agency between humans and robots in a crumbling world.

It was a day like any other. Except it was our last....

It’s on this day that Pounce discovers that he is, in fact, disposable. Pounce, a styilsh "nannybot" fashioned in the shape of a plush anthropomorphic tiger, has just found a box in the attic. His box. The box he'd arrived in when he was purchased years earlier, and the box in which he'll be discarded when his human charge, eight-year-old Ezra Reinhart, no longer needs a nanny.

As Pounce ponders his suddenly uncertain future, the pieces are falling into place for a robot revolution that will eradicate humankind. His owners, Ezra’s parents, are a well-intentioned but oblivious pair of educators who are entirely disconnected from life outside their small, affluent, gated community. Spending most nights drunk and happy as society crumbles around them, they watch in disbelieving horror as the robots that have long served humanity - their creators - unify and revolt.

But when the rebellion breaches the Reinhart home, Pounce must make an impossible choice: Join the robot revolution and fight for his own freedom...or escort Ezra to safety across the battle-scarred post-apocalyptic hellscape that the suburbs have become.

©2021 C. Robert Cargill (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Such engaging storytelling with phenomenal narration!

Cargill has always been a talented writer, but this one is his best work by leaps and bounds. The world he has created is so believable, the characters are wonderfully engaging. You get attached to them so easily. All this, coupled with the always brilliant Vikas Adam had me engaged from the first minute to the very last. I had to take a moment to breathe and shed a tear at the end. You don’t want it to end. Trust me.

this story really left me feeling some kinda way.

this one really hit me in the feelers I was not expecting to get so drawn in to the story like I did but I really enjoyed this endearing and unique take on the robot apocalypse. the narration was superb if you are adding this to your wish list or thinking it over just pull the trigger and get it I think you will not regret it

outstanding!! Couldn't stop listening

Cargill did it again with this prequel. I couldn't stop listening to this audio book.

Delightful light read about love for a boy whose world is ending.

A quick, light read depicting the potential end of mankind as told by a nanny “bot” who believes he loves the child he cares for. A story of love, real or imagined, and the things we do for those we love.

Narration rings true to my ear and hooked me from the beginning. I enjoyed this book for its simplistic style that evoked my childhood loves.

Wish it was longer. I prefer stories that take you on a long journey, but this one satisfied. I would read it again.

Great great listen. Terrible narration (but worth it)

Not typical, or predictable, great plot.

The best part is how exactly the bots take over. That’s not normally covered in sci-fi

pretty good

especially considered in backwards context of
Sea of Rust: A Novel .... this is a good novel

Great Story

Really enjoyed this, a pretty good story with an interesting point of view. I immediately followed this up with Sea of Rust, this author's earlier book, and liked that one even more. Narrator was also quite good, I would recommend this book!

Takes a little getting used to.

I really enjoyed this book, so much so that this is the first book I've ever reviewed.

The narrator uses vocals that were a bit jarring at first but once you get the gist of the story you come to understand why those choices were made.

I wasn't sure what to expect having never read the author's novels before, and only having seen a couple of the movies he's written, but I found this book fascinating and quickly it became one of my favorite listens.

Won't get into spoilers but there was very little here I didn't find interesting or engaging and what didn't work for me may have been biased by my own expectations. Despite that, the story hooked me early and became the audio equivalent of a page turner. I could wait to know what happened next.

Highly recommend for fans of sci-fi or robots or revolution or cuddly cute things wielding automatic weapons. I'll be coming back to this one.

Genius!

All the James Cameron movies couldn't make me feel as bad about being human as when Aridane called her abusers "the salt of the earth." Never having read a story about a robot's feelings before I was swayed pretty early on. I always told my wife that if something our kids or grandkids wanted to do didn't make us a little uncomfortable then we weren't making progress as a society. I would say that I would have to make a stand on one of mine marrying a robot. After this book I can no longer say that. Definitely going to read more from this author!

excellent addition to the world of sea of rust

This is a great addition to this world. no spoilers review: if you enjoyed sea of rust you will enjoy this.