Hard Reboot by Django Wexler is a novella set in a far-future Earth where abandoned ruins serve as a curiosity destination for off-world colonists and a research opportunity for academics. The story follows Kas, an off-world academic who gets tricked into placing a huge bet on a robot fight by Zhi, the robot's pilot. Despite the mismatched duo of Kas and Zhi, a friendship and romance form between them as they navigate the perils of their situation. The novella combines elements of futuristic sci-fi, action-packed robot fights, suspense, and a touch of romance, all wrapped up in a richly built world that leaves readers wanting more.

Characters:

The characters are well-crafted, showcasing diverse backgrounds and evolving relationships, particularly between the two leads.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is engaging with a mix of humor and action, allowing for strong character development in a compact format.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot offers a blend of futuristic elements, personal growth, and robot combat, emphasizing relationships more than the expected action.

Setting:

The setting is a futuristic Earth, characterized by its desolation and robot fighting culture, enriching the backdrop for the story.

Pacing:

The pacing is rapid, ensuring that the narrative flows smoothly without dull moments.

SCHOLAR ZYCHTYKAS THREE—Kas to her friends, of which she had none—had slaved, scrimped, and swindled to get the fourth spot on the team going to Old Earth. She’d pulled strings, spent the pathetic rem...

Notes:

The story focuses on friendship and love along with robot fights.

Kas is an off-world researcher considered lower class despite her ancestors' long history on her planet.

Zhi is an Earther who lives on the fringes of society, creating her own rules.

The novella is around 150 pages long and can be read in one sitting.

The robot fights serve as a backdrop to the character-driven narrative.

Kas inadvertently makes a risky bet in a robot fight, putting her academic career on the line.

The world is set in a futuristic Earth that has been abandoned and is now a destination for off-world colonists.

The book features strong themes of friendship and the forming of romantic relationships.

Django Wexler is praised for his world-building and character development in a short format.

Readers express a desire for a more in-depth exploration of the universe Wexler created.

Has Romance?

The novella contains a medium level of romance, developing between the two main characters, Kas and Zhi.

implied steam level

From The Publisher:

Django Wexler's Hard Reboot features giant mech arena battles and intergalactic diplomacy. When did academia get to be so complicated?

Kas is a junior researcher on a fact-finding mission to old Earth. But when a con-artist tricks her into wagering a large sum of money belonging to her university on the outcome of a manned robot arena battle she becomes drawn into the seedy underworld of old Earth politics and state-sponsored battle-droid prizefights.

Is it time to get back to the books, yet?

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