Robota

    (Chronicle, 2000)
™ and © 2000 Doug Chiang

Robots have invaded 19th century Earth and rule the planet. Can one human with amnesia be the key to overthrowing their dominion? Even as Capps allies himself with the apelike Juomes, fiery female Beryl, reprogrammed bot Elyseo, and talking monkey Rend, will the dark secret he unwittingly harbors be the cause of the resistance’s ultimate defeat? The machinations of the cruel robot Kantaar-Set and his legendary leader Font Prime may prove to be too powerful, after all.

George Lucas’ design director for Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace and 2: Attack of the Clones, Chiang employed the noted fantasy novelist Orson Scott Card to flesh out a science-fiction idea to showcase his evocative, color illustrations. Presenting a wide array of conceptual drawings clearly akin to those of characters and environs from the films, this hardcover makes an impressive coffee-table package.

However, as a vehicle for Chiang’s art, Card’s story breaks down at the end. In an unfortunate parallel to the performance of the latest movies, this familiar “rebellion vs. empire” tale devolves into a melodrama of stilted dialogue and a pat ending while still trying to look good.

— Oliver Chin
Jump to issue:
  NotesWriterArtist