The Mad Scientist's Daughter

By: Cassandra Rose Clarke

Narrated by: Kate Rudd

Finn looks and acts human, though he has no desire to be. He was programmed to assist his owners, and performs his duties to perfection. A billion-dollar construct, his primary task now is to tutor Cat. As she grows into a beautiful young woman, Finn is her guardian, her constant companion…and more. But when the government grants rights to the ever-increasing robot population, however, Finn struggles to find his place in the world, and in Cat’s heart.

©2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.; 2013 Cassandra Rose Clarke

Critic reviews

"Unique, heart-wrenching, full of mysteries and twists." (Tamora Pierce on The Assassin’s Curse)

Third time listening and will go back again!

I just love this story and wish there was more to hear about Kat and Finn.

Great exploration of the human condition, consciousness, and what it means to love.

Overall, I loved this story! As AI becomes more integrated in our lives and robotics progresses, it makes you wonder how we will connect with and treat artificial beings as they become more human-like.

Cat, despite her flaws, is a very relatable FMC. This story takes us through her journey of growing up, loss, and love, with a sci-fi twist! It has its weak points, but I was so immersed in Cat and Finn’s connection I listened to it all in one day.

My only complaint about the audio version is that although the narrator does a decent job with Cat, I hated the way she voiced Finn.. it was far, far too robotic and made any spicy scenes weird, haha.

Either way, if you’re looking for a touching love story with a sci-fi background and an exploration of what it means to be alive, this is a worthy read!

An Exquisite Tale of Transforming Love

There is an epic sweep to this book not only because it takes place over much of a lifetime, but it deals with core issues:
◾How do we find our identity and calling in a world where convention and societal pressure would have us choose a safe and deadening path?
◾How do we risk ourselves to truly abandon our self-focus to love another, not just love our image of another but love the person, in the midst of a world filled with pain and loss
◾Can we let go of our self-focus, our enlightened self-interest and ought we?

Cassandra Rose Clarke brilliantly explores these issues and more in The Mad Scientist's Daughter. Science fiction has always been a great medium to explore issues since we're pulled out of our culture, and its related blinders, into another world with less pre-built conceptions. Ms. Clarke takes a future earth, which is so much like our own, with all our current foibles, some additional challenges and capabilities. The story centers around Caterina Novak and Finn. Cat is the daughter in the title and Finn, an android unique in his understanding and consciousness.

I listened to much of the story on the Audible version (flipping between the Kindle and the Audible version with Whispersync for Voice). Kate Rudd narrates the story. I first heard Ms. Rudd perform John Green's The Fault in Our Stars. She is fast becoming one of my favorite narrators and performs this book admirably. One of the brilliant choice points was to play Finn with a totally flat, neutral voice. This may seem obvious for an android but I've heard them done with very artificial robotic voices. This is done with flat, even timing and tone but it never feels artificial. Certainly her performance drew me in and allowed me to get lost in the novel.

For full review: wp.me/p2XCwQ-Cs

Love StarTrek's Data? Ur heart will throb for Finn

I was looking for an android romance, and I found it! If you're a fan of Star Trek's Data, I really think you'll love this story. Has a journey to find the android's (Finn) creator. Has the evolution of emotions both in the human and in the machine. Cat was not a perfect person, but she was a very likable and relatable person. The story of leaving an abusive relationship and the fear of every sound at the door- afraid it was her abuser coming for her. Being so heartbroken you want to be worlds away from the source of your heartbreak. Caged in a glass prison, a doll, a trophy. The only thing missing is thr challenges relating to the movement to free the androids from enslavement. I wish this was not breezed over. But this was a story about love and loss and androids. It was not about the politics of it. Not really, although that was in the background all along.

Interesting adolescent tale about Artificial Intel

Interesting tale from an adolescent point of view of growing up with a robot as a companion. It could have been financed by the cigarette lobby with its silly adolescent preoccupation with cigarettes.
This may be the future with it's many legal complications. Interesting glimpse of the brave new world

Still not sure...

So, I loved the romance, I think? ...Hated the middle, I know ... loved the ending, I think? Should I listen again ... Not sure. Really, I loved Finn.

Gauzy but Good!

I really enjoyed this story. A glimpse of what the future may look like and the dilemmas we may face as a society. The overuse of the adjective "gauzy" was a bit annoying, lol, but otherwise I rather enjoyed it.

Was sucked in despite weaknesses

There's a lot to like about this book. Finn's character is amazing and intriguing. Cat - not so much. The book is way too long. It would have been great to cut to the chase wtihout everything in the middle. And I can't quite forgive Cat for what she does to Richard but can't say much more without giving away spoilers.

Absolutely perfect. Wonderful narrator.

Where does The Mad Scientist's Daughter rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is in my top 3 or 4 for sure. I loved it!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cat the protagonist. Feels as if Ive grown up with her.

Have you listened to any of Kate Rudd’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, The Fault in Our Stars. This wasn't as good as a performance in my opinion but then again, TFIOS is my favorite book so I am biased on that question. I love her voice and I do like how she does male characters without that weird forced scratchy "male" voice.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did laugh at parts but no I didnt cry. That isnt to say that it didnt strike any emotion because it certainly did.

Any additional comments?

GET IT

It just didn't do it for me.

What would have made The Mad Scientist's Daughter better?

I did not enjoy the story as a love story or a sci-fi novel at all. I thought the main character was annoying and the android she was in love with had no personality, so it's hard for me to imagine how she even fell in love with him.

What does Kate Rudd bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I've enjoyed narrator Kate Rudd from other books and while I did not enjoy the story at all I did enjoy the presentation of it, she always does a good job.

What character would you cut from The Mad Scientist's Daughter?

All of them I didn't like any of the characters I didn't associate with any of the characters I didn't cheer for any of the characters.