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    Android Karenina
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    Android Karenina
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    Android Karenina
    Audiobook19 hours

    Android Karenina

    Written by Ben H. Winters

    Narrated by Susan Duerden

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    As in the original novel, the story follows two relationships: the tragic adulterous romance of Anna Karenina and Count Alexei Vronsky, and the much more hopeful marriage of Nikolai Levin and Kitty Shcherbatskaya. These four, yearning for true love, live in a steampunk-inspired 19th century of mechanical butlers, extraterrestrial-worshiping cults, and airborne debutante balls. Their passions alone would be enough to consume them-but when a secret cabal of radical scientific revolutionaries launches an attack on Russian high society's high-tech lifestyle, our heroes must fight back with all their courage, all their gadgets, and all the power of a sleek new cyborg model like nothing the world has ever seen.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJun 8, 2010
    ISBN9780307751126
    Author

    Ben H. Winters

    Ben H. Winters is an author and educator who has written plays and musicals for children and adults, as well as several books in the bestselling Worst-Case Scenario Survival Guide series. He is also the author of The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman, Bedbugs, and the parody novels Android Karenina and the bestselling Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. He lives in Indianapolis.

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    Reviews for Android Karenina

    3.5/5

    115 ratings32 reviews

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    • 2/5
      Too much was added to the original story. It detracted rather than added to it.
    • 2/5
      Read the original in High School and thought that this would be even better: androids, robots, etc. But unfortunately, I couldn't make myself lumber through it. To me it felt slow and drawn out, even with the advent of new twists on old characters. Imagery was still great as were the illustrations that made the book more interesting and pushed me through the dry dialogue. One of the few mash-ups I wasn't happy with.
    • 3/5
      I admit that I've never read Leo Tolstoy's classic Anna Karenina. I did, however, get to see a theatrical version put on by my high school's drama department. I don't remember much about the plot itself -only that the entire thing was incredibly dreary, dramatic and well, depressing. What is it with Russian literature and being super-long and super-depressing? Maybe it had something to do with living in such a cold, dark country. Anyway, up until now, this was my entire relationship with Tolstoy and Russian literature, so I was hoping that the genuineness at Quirk could inject some exciting new life into the story and make it into something I would actually want to read (even though I found Tolstoy to be a somewhat odd choice for a mash-up).Sense and Sensibility co-author Ben H. Winters doesn't disappoint. He continues the Quirk tradition with as much irrelevant silliness that the name suggests. In Android Karenina, Winters mixes the tumultuous Russian tale of Anna Karenina with a steampunk-inspired version of 19th century Russia with, most notably, robots. And of course, every fashionable member of society has one. Android Karenina is Anna Karenina's personal Class III robot. Along with her mistress, the Android must navigate the waters of betrayal, jealously, lust and the scandalous affairs of the nobility, all the while dealing with a colorful backdrop of robots, spaceships and all kinds of futuristic technology.If you enjoyed the earlier Quirk novels, then you'll just devour Android Karenina and all its robot-y goodness. Admittedly, it may be a little more difficult for new converts, especially since Anna Karenina is not as well known as Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility (not to mention a little overly-long). However, I do have to give Quirk credit for trying something so unexpected and daring.
    • 2/5
      I had really hoped that the introduction of robots and the steampunk elements of this re-imagining of Tolstoy's classic novel would make me want to keep turning pages. Instead, it felt clunky and forced. I'm not sure if I'll be trying any more of these books. Especially not the new versions of classics that I couldn't get through in their original form.
    • 4/5
      Anna Karenina's marriage to Alexei Karenin holds nothing to interest her, other than their son Seryohza. Besides, Karenin spends too much time at the Ministry of Robotics and State Administration, tinkering with his robots and his new groznium face plate, which seems to have a life all its own. After a chance encounter with the Count Vronsky at a Grav station, the Anna finds herself inexplicably drawn to him and soon begins a love affair that threatens her standing in society and may bring about the destruction of the Russian people."Android Karenina" takes the classic Leo Tolstoy novel Anna Karenina about a noblewoman risking her family and her standing in society for the love of a man other than her husband and mashes it up with a tale of robotics and of alien lifeforms trying to invade the Earth. Sounds bizarre -- and it could have been in the hands of another author, but Ben H. Winters deftly mixes what should be two completely opposite worlds into one engrossing novel. Even though the story takes place in the late 1800s, the robots have always been part of Russian society, performing menial tasks and acting as companions in the form of personal robots, such as Android Karenina is to Anna. Winters has manages to not make them feel futuristic but rather very Victorian, very Jules Vernian -- especially with how they travel to the Moon or to Venus.Winters also sticks to the main storyline with which most who have read Tolstoy's novel are familiar, but the tweaking of plot elements and of characters themselves makes the story seem fresh. "Android Karenina" turns out to be a surprisingly satisfying and appealing read. Definitely one of the more fun books of 2010.
    • 3/5
      I received this book after packing all of mine for a move. Being as it was the ONLY book I had available for several days (my Nook charger was missing also) I finished it. It's the only reason I got through it though. It was just as slow as the original Tolstoy...which I barely finished in middle school. I tried to enjoy it, I really did, but could never really sink into the story, or find more then a couple laugh's out of the plot. I took it down to the used bookstore as soon as I was finished, at least I'll get some store credit out of it.
    • 3/5
      I could never finish the original and I struggled repeatedly through this re-make. The insertion of androids into the story took a lot to get used to and was at times distracting to the story. Not my most favorite of the quirk classics but it did get me to re-look at the classics I've neglected.
    • 4/5
      received this through the early reviewers program, like all the quirk classics books you are either going to love this or hate it. being a fan of the original tolstoy story and of steampunk culture i definitely got a laugh out of this book, it's worth checking out if only for the illustrations.
    • 4/5
      This book was just kind of okay, until the ending. The ending was spectacular. I was getting worried because I was about 30 pages from the end and no resolution was in sight. But then there was an ending! And it was awesome! It was worth reading the whole darn thing. And there are even hilarious "Reader's Discussion" questions at the end, such as: (I picked the least spoiler-y one) "In a crucial moment, Levin chooses his wife over Socrates, his beloved-companion robot. Are there any technological devices in your life that you love more than your spouse?" Fantastic.
    • 4/5
      "Aliens!" shouted Anna over her shoulder. "We are under attack!"Tolstoy missed a trick, there! Instead of blathering on about 'splendid' yet mentally unbalanced Anna Karenina, and filling whole chapters with debates on religion and the 'honest' work of peasants, he should have thrown in aliens, robots and time travel, and then I might have been able to finish his novel! Actually, if he'd only toned down his hero-worship of Anna - I felt more sympathy for Karenin - I might have faired better with the original doorstop novel, but Ben Winters' spin is far more entertaining.Very cleverly adding a futuristic - and ironic - twist to Tolstoy's classic, 'Android Karenina' features elements of schlock sci-fi - Asimov's Robot Laws, parasitical aliens and cyborgs - and is also a wry take on today's dependence on gadgets. Technology is divided into three groups - class 1 devices like samavars and doorbells, class 2 robots with specific functions, and class 3 'beloved companions', or artificially intelligent androids. Winters seamlessly weaves in his steampunk inventions, to the point where I almost imagined that 'Socrates' and 'Android Karenina' are also in the original story! Vastly engrossing, despite its length and Anna Karenina herself (she's still a whining and self-centred bored housewife), with a smart updating of Tolstoy's themes and relevant commentary on technology.
    • 5/5
      True to the original (and perhaps even a little bit better), this reimagined classic turns Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina" into an epic work of science-fiction. The story unfolding comes to life through vivid scenes of what seems like an alternate history, where innovative technology challenges both the characters and their relationships with one another. From the very beginning, this story draws the reader in. And even long after it's been finished, it refuses to let go.
    • 5/5
      I read the original some years ago, and frankly, I spent most of the book absolutely annoyed. Tolstoy clearly was in love with his own creation, Anna, and seemed to expect the reader to love her as much as he did. I found her absolutely ridiculous, and would have enjoyed the book more if they entire thing had been from Vronsky's, Kitty's, or even Karenin's point of view. Tolstoy has written amazing things, but Anna Karenina and I were simply unable to get along.With this book, however, all is improved. The best of the original is retained, including significant portions of dialogue (I read along in the original book while reading this one for a few chapters, to find comparisons). In addition, the sci-fi plot introduced in this version somehow fits marvelously. Winters did a superb job in joining the worlds of 19th century Russia and futuristic, yet somehow familiar, technology. Perhaps best of all, Winters' changes to the story *finally* give me a way to empathize with and relate to Anna Karenina. This is the first of the Quirk Classic series that I've read, but I'm quite excited to read the others.
    • 4/5
      Android Karenina is one of the every-growing popular twist to classics. This time it's not vampires, monsters, or zombies but androids. Steampunk is a growing genre and one that I am always curious about. Android Karenina does not disappoint.Android Karenina is a funny mashup with intriguing characters and quick wit. The novel is an excellent example of a job well done with prerevolutionary Russia--industrial mixed with sci-fi.However, only reading one article by Tolstoy previously I hadn't realize how hefty the novel truly is. The plot does drag a bit and at times it gets to be too much.Still, I would recommend this novel for those who enjoy modern spins on old classics.
    • 5/5
      I took it on vacation and that was really the perfect setting for a book of this length. I was excited to keep reading, to see how Winters worked with Tolstoy's text. I had no idea how much I loved the idea of steampunk and the whole culture growing up around it, but I found it really intriguing. As someone who wasn't very into Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I was definitely apprehensive but morbidly curious about this book. I think on the whole I enjoy Tolstoy's writing, so that's probably why it was even more fun for me. I got a great kick out of it and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in robots, steampunk, or Russian authors. I really loved what Winters did with the names to make them his own and the way he played off Tolstoy's culture and ideas. It's a fun mash up!
    • 3/5
      This is the first mashup I've read having not read the orinal work. I actually think this made the overall reading experience better, since it was harder to tell when Winters broke from the original text. A big problem with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for me was I know the book so well that I knew precisely when the text switched from orignal to new, and I found that distracting.I enjoyed this book but didn't love it. I thought the steampunk element was fun and creative. There was more meaning behind the use of technology in this society than the author just thinking: "hey, what if I stuck some robots in there!" I can't help feeling that I enjoyed this version more than I would have enjoyed the original. There were, however, some flaws that were difficult for me to overlook. Not the least of these was that I found the names for most of the robotic devices too long and cumbersome. I felt like the story came to a halt whenever I had to decipher one of the names. I also felt that some of the characters lost their value in the new story. They seemed to come and go as mere contrivances to drive plot, without any resolution in the end. Even Kitty and Levin seem one-dimentional. Also, am I the only one that felt like the dual ending was a cop-out? It's as though Winters couldn't decide between the two "futures." Maybe it's just me, but I think you need to pick one and run with it. You can't make everyone happy.
    • 4/5
      For me Russian literature was never something I could read quickly, and I fear the steampunk elements might have made my reading progress even slower. I had to reread quite a bit to be sure I understood exactly what was going on. It took me quite some time to read even the first 100 pages!At first I was annoyed by the constant references to the android companions that each of the characters has, but in time I grew to find them quite charming. I found myself comparing them to a personification of the consciences of the characters.I also felt that the steampunk was a little overboard when I started reading, but after I got past the initial shock the world that was being portrayed finally all fit together quite neatly.Despite being a bit hard to get into, it is a delightful read that will keep most readers busy for quite some time.
    • 4/5
      Love it. Better than the original?? I think so. Love the steampunk characteristics. You definitely don't need to know the original story to understand and like this one.
    • 3/5
      So far, I like what I'm reading. It's cute, it's a great adaptation, but for some reason is really slow going for me, which usually never happens. I'm plodding through though as I want to read it. I never did read the original, so I suppose my review is a little skewed. This is probably, from other reviews I've read, a hit or miss kind of book for those who read the original version. Definitely worth a shot though, in my opinion.
    • 4/5
      Anna Karenina goes steampunk! And it works!Backing up . . . the Tolstoy/Winters "collaboration" features a Russia populated by the aristocrats familiar from the original novel (which I don't think you necessarily have to have read to read this, but it helps) as well as by mechanized devices, ranging from the simple Class I devices of everyday convenience (think watches and mirrors), to Class II devices (think things that replace domestic servants and the working class in general), to Class III "beloved-companions," androids that mirror a person's character and give Winters opportunity to satarize characters, to highlight traits of the personality, or, oddly enough, to humanize them a bit more. This Russia is much like the Russia of the original novel, speeding along in technological progression at a potentially frightening rate; here, the fright comes in the form of UnConSciya, a rebel class of scientists who are cut off from the Ministry (the governing body; this is a tsar-free Russia) and who want to speed technological progress along even more.We have our core group of characters: Anna Karenina, her cruel husband Alexei Alexandrovich, and her lover Vronsky; the lovers Kitty and Levin; the charming but shallow Stepan Arkedyich ("Stiva") and his wife; plus all these characters Class III companions, who mirror aspects of their owner's personalities. The same love troubles of Anna Karenina apply here: Anna leaves her cold and distant husband for the dashing military man Vronsky, who had previously wooed the naive Kitty, who later falls for the much more solid Levin, and Stiva and his wife have their marital ups and downs. Anna is torn between her love for Vronsky and her love for her child by Alexei Alexandrovich, the child from whom she does does not want to be separated (though it could certainly be argued how deep this attachment really runs).In the mash-up, humor prevails at every turn. The practical and philosophical Levin is accompanied by a similarly-disposed Class III named, appropriately enough, Socrates, and the girlish Kitty has a ballerina Class III named Tatinia, complete with tutu. The genial and always-agreeable Stiva has a robot who provides what is practically a backup chorus to everything he says; his robot is named Small Stiva. Anna's robot is the titular Android Karenina: aloof, silent, mysterious, much like the character herself, leaving more unsaid than said.Throw in some "Welcome Guests" in the form of invading aliens and the plot takes on even more unexpected and amusing twists, lampooning the spiritualism popular in Tolstoy's time. Substitute interstellear space travel for travel abroad. Substitute the highly efficient, technologically advanced "Grav" for the crucial train system. Substitute groznium (the mysterious metallic alloy that makes all of this technological advancement possible) mining for threshing the fields. All of these are humorous, steampunk twists on an old tale, but they keep the spirit of Tolstoy's novel about a rapidly changing society alive. Winters has changed the substance of the novel but not its spirit.And, as a PS, don't miss the discussion questions at the end!
    • 3/5
      The story is good, fast-paced and has a lot of twists and turns, some that I definitely was not expecting. It's been a while since I read the original, so I kept having to consciously stop myself from trying to remember the "real" story/where the deviations came in (other than the obvious addition of robots). I don't think you need to be familiar with Tolstoy's original to appreciate, or even read this version. Actually, I think it'd be best if you didn't have that background knowledge (yes, I really got that distracted trying to figure out how much the story was deviating.) That aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and will definitely recommend it.
    • 4/5
      First let me state that I am a fan of Quirk Classics, I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies-and loved Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters. Second, I read the original Tolstoy in elementary school and really remember absolutely nothing. This 'collaboration' between Tolstoy and Winters is both profound and "light", I would also consider it an excellent steampunk novel. While some may not think robots can be seamlessly inserted into this classic, they really felt as though they belonged in the setting and gave a rather surreal aura to this story of society, romance, and selfish behavior. I would highly recommend this, and can't wait to see what's next from either Winters or Quirk.
    • 5/5
      This was great! I recently finished reading Anna Karenina, and this version stayed fairly true to the themes and major events (and a lot quicker to read). I was thrilled that this particular novel was chosen for a rewrite... Classic Russian literature hybridized with steampunk? What's not to love?! Robots have a very active role, from servants to close companions to all of the high society. Each main character has a robot "friend" that adds an interesting dynamic to the story. The robot rather intensified critical character traits, which I found a little heavy-handed at times, but certainly helped me to keep them all straight!The additions to the plot were slightly predictable, but enjoyable nonetheless. The UnConSciya (revolutionaries) add enough mayhem that wasn't in the original to appeal to a wide range of readers.
    • 3/5
      I've never read Anna Karenina but I got this as an early reviewer and, while there are things that have been added, I still could "see" the original. I'm not sure I would have found Anna Karenina as interesting as I found this one because I think that the addition of fantastical elements amused me. I like books that aren't "too real" since I get enough reality in the real world *laughs*Don't get me wrong, I like some classics, but I'm really not into depressing subject matter. And this book can be viewed as quite depressing. The love stories are profound, particularly the love between Anna and Vronsky. It made real the idea that there could be a love that defied logic, that was impossible to ignore. And, while I've never experienced it, I'd like to think it existed, but not neccesarily in these circumstances. The mech elements were seamless, although I found myself wondering what they were like in the original, were the Class IIIs servants (did Vronsky have a dog?)? They seemed too important not to exist in any capacity in the original. And this took me out of the book, which I didn't find annoying, but some could.It was a slow read, meant to be poured over, even in this form. I'm not sure if the original would be slower or not, but it should be kept in mind when thinking of reading this book.
    • 4/5
      I fear I have no romantic bone in my body. Okay, let me amend that. I do, just not one when it comes to Anna. Kitty and Levin? Yes. Adorable and I found myself rooting the whole time. Anna? No. Let me start from the beginning though: I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. I haven't read Anna Karenina, so I can't compare how close it was to the original, but this one I did enjoy. A reader can tell where Tolstoy's words shine through. They can tell where Winters placed robots (and that's not all, ladies and gents). And it all seems to flow together rather well. The twists at the ending, which I have spent wondering how they related to the original work and if they have anything to relate to, were somewhat surprising. I didn't have any idea of one of them until shortly before it was revealed, so that gave me a pleasant surprise.I enjoyed the story, following the downward spiral of Russian life, and of the life of Anna and the upward spiral of others. The idea of UnConSciya combined with the Honored Guests was interesting, if not somewhat easy to figure out. It's the type of sci-fi twist that could entertain both sci-fi readers and classics readers alike.The only downside that made me want to throw the book (and, as my boyfriend pointed out, indicated that I must enjoy it if I cared about the characters so much) was Anna. I just hated the title character with a passion that almost made me put down the book. She's the most self-centered, wishy-washy person I've ever read about. She gets what she wants with little regard to her husband (who I really felt rather bad for the entire novel, and not angry even if he was "evil"), her son (who she suddenly goes, "Oh my! I want to see him"), her daughter (What happened to her?!) and all the friends and family that went out of their way to help her. The only thing she thought about was herself and getting her own way, as evidenced by the way her story ends.Regardless, I'm still recommending this to people. Sometimes, I wonder if the books like this are encouraging people to read the original source material. It certainly brings the idea to people who would be less-than-eager, I think. Because I assure you, I'm going to pick up Anna Karenina and see if she's just as annoying originally than she is here.
    • 5/5
      While I really enjoyed P&P and Zombies and its prequel, I must say that Android Karenina is even better. It is a wonderful balance of the 19th century novel and, well, androids, even reminiscent at times of "science fiction" novels that were actually written in their entirety in the 19th century. Though I'm sure most readers will pick up this book for its entertainment value, it also poses deeper questions about humanity's relationship with technology. In short, I cannot recommend this book enough, and if you've already read it but skipped over those Discussion Questions at the end, go back and read them!
    • 4/5
      Adult fiction; science fiction/classic lit mash-up. In Anna's words, "I want love, and I want robots, and both are gone. So, then, all is over."
    • 3/5
      I liked it more than I liked Anna Karenina and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. It was definitely closer to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies in having a fresh twist. That being said there were still parts that were tough and that I had to reread to make sure I was understanding all the technical jargon correctly. I also wasn't altogether thrilled with the duplicate endings, it felt a little like cheating.
    • 4/5
      This was just so much fun.
    • 2/5
      I had really hoped that the introduction of robots and the steampunk elements of this re-imagining of Tolstoy's classic novel would make me want to keep turning pages. Instead, it felt clunky and forced. I'm not sure if I'll be trying any more of these books. Especially not the new versions of classics that I couldn't get through in their original form.
    • 4/5
      I won this title from the Early Reviewers Giveaway back in May, and had been daunted by the 538 page volume as it sat patiently on my bookshelf. But I finally finished the book and I now wish that I had read it sooner because of the immense science fiction pleasure that it gave me. Winters (the same writer that did Pride and Prejudice and Zombies parody) transformed the world of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina into a futuristic Russia (but with some 19th century traditions) where robots are a part of everyday life. The classic novel weaves two stories – one of shame and social degradation (with Anna and Count Vronsky) and the other of true love and marital bliss (with Levin and Kitty). But B.H. Winters incorporates several twists: time travel, alien invasions, and exceptional villains. I was often reminded of the Terminator movie series when it came to the time travel aspect – which I thought was a nice twist, especially in the epilogue. Overall, I enjoyed the read, and it gave a definite boost to my vocabulary (I would recommend having a dictionary handy).