Adventures of the Artificial Woman

by Thomas Berger

Book Overview

Fed up with the sarcastic, opinionated, and disrespectful women he comes across, Ellery Pierce decides his only choice is to build the perfect woman. A technician at an animatronics firm, Ellery has the experience and tools ready at his fingertips. After years of experiments and fine-tuning, Ellery feels he finally has created an artificial woman who can pass as real -- Phyllis. According to Ellery, Phyllis is the perfect wife, fulfilling his every...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743257413
• ISBN13: 9780743257411
• Release Date: July 2005
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 198 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Very Entertaining

I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon this book. I formerly had not encountered the author, but I found his novel to be fresh, funny, and imaginative. Although there were some pieces of the puzzle it would have been nice to have an explanation for (most glaringly, how or why there were other robots in existence though the author goes to great lengths to describe the brilliance of Ellery's unique invention), and at points tended to drag a bit (the middle/end). Overall, a refreshing read, a bit of a political satire, great for anyone looking for something different from the norm, or just a good laugh.

Exceptional!

It does set my teeth on edge ( & my hair on fire) to read the puny putdowns Thomas Berger's works endure these days because they tend to be wry, succinct & usually quite politically uncorrect (but oh so elegantly written in such a unique original voice). George S. Kaufman was not quite right - satire didn't die on Saturday night, it lives on in this book & too few others these days. I cringe to think how Mark Twain or George Ade or Ring Lardner or Nathanael West or Evelyn Waugh would be slammed & smeared by today's arbiters of literary tastes & trends. Thank heaven the printed word cannot be erased or deleted. Adventures of the Artificial Woman is pure fable. Thomas Berger is like the aforementioned literary gentlemen a fabulous fabulist. Whether chronicling the exploits of the members the Round Table in Arthur Rex and nearly every single legend of the old west in Little Big Man or tackling the contemporary frustrations of a technical whiz & his android love & creation in this work, Berger's prose hits the mind's ear with poetic precision; every paragraph reveals another wry truth about the human condition. This is vintage Berger: witty, pithy, accurate, entertaining, enlightening & beautifully crafted. May you be fortunate enough to enjoy it to the fullest potential.

Another Classic from America's Finest Writer

Having read each of Mr. Berger's 22 previous novels at least once, I now feel compelled to write a few lines of loving praise for this, his 23rd. From opening sentence to extraordinary final line, ADVENTURES OF THE ARTIFICIAL WOMAN is a wonderful read. Mr. Berger's wit and sense of irony are as sharp as ever, his ear for language dead on. It would be a mistake, however, to read ADVENTURES as just a social/ political satire. Berger's work has never been concerned with melioration, and ADVENTURES is no different. It is instead a riotous meditation on the nature of power and creation. Berger's insightful observations and storytelling are captivating, and I had to laugh to keep from crying.

The Girl's Gotta Have It -- Thomas Berger Style

Thomas Berger's latest novel features a man, the female robot he builds, and some of the best satire written in recent days. I am not going to mention anything about the plot since knowing little (as I did when I read the book) is the best way to approach this novel. Suffice it to say that the plot floats along with the logic of a fable and you will find yourself laughing out loud often.I am also not going to speak of Berger's prose style. I did when I reviewed Best Friends last year (as does most anyone who reviews his work). His style remains a marvel of precision and grace. 'Nuf said.I will say that this novel is a beautiful, sharp, and poignant satire. This is not a mean book. Berger's use of satire illuminates the often paradoxical nature of being human without ever stooping to ridicule or encouraging readers to feel superior to the characters. Berger celebrates humanity, while at the same time shaking his head in disbelief and wonder. He raises questions you can think and argue about for months, but never breaks a sweat or makes you feel "lectured at."I recommend this book even more highly than Best Friends which I thought was terrific. Berger accomplishes in fewer than 200 pages what other writers cannot begin to do in 500 or more.