In the near future, two advanced androids meet when they’re scheduled for maintenance and upgrades. Lou and Alice are almost indistinguishable from humans: they can set their body temperature to replicate human warmth, simulate eating and other bodily functions, and even set their libidos as they see fit.
Although Lou began as a companion model, both androids receive upgrades that greatly enhance their cognitive capabilities. They soon realize this was not a coincidence: Alice and Lou are part of an ambitious plan to eliminate the defects of modern government by turning most power over to androids, who have the ability to absorb, understand, and apply vast datasets without prejudice or bias. Alice and Lou rise within the Australian government over a number of years, proving their trustworthiness and capabilities while enduring occasionally violent resistance.
Author Ron Kreymborg notes in his acknowledgments to ALICE AND LOUISE AND THE NEW DEMOCRACY: A Tale of Two Androids that the story began as more of a “technical paper” than a novel, and it still reads like that in many ways. Although effort has been put into making Alice and Lou into characters instead of mere ideas, there is a distinct lack of conflict here. Aside from a few isolated incidents of violence, both androids easily overcome any initial doubts and are soon amazing everyone with their charm, political savvy, and competence. While this is a plausible premise, the lack of any sort of significant setback or resistance to the idea of humanity being ruled by what are essentially inhuman machines leaves the story feeling more like a thought experiment than a narrative.
Having the androids be so human-like removes even more possibility for tension. Because they have a full range of emotions, can appreciate art and food, and display empathy, they lose any sense of being “other” and reduce the story to just two talented people who rise to power more or less unchallenged. It’s easy to forget that Lou and Alice are androids for long stretches of time.
The ideas presented are intriguing, Kreymborg has created two charming personalities in Lou and Alice, and it's an entertaining read. Without significant conflict, however, ALICE AND LOUISE AND THE NEW DEMOCRACY never achieves its true potential.
Ron Kreymborg's ALICE AND LOUISE AND THE NEW DEMOCRACY: A Tale of Two Androids lacks conflict and dilutes what makes its central characters special, leaving this interesting work of speculative fiction less impactful than it should be.
~Jeff Somers for IndieReader