Service Model
By: Adrian Tchaikovsky
My Rating: FOUR out of FIVE Stars
Best For: 16 and up

Service Model: A Robot Butler’s Existential Crisis and His Journey Through Bureaucratic Hell

Alright, Adrian Tchaikovsky is just cool (as always). The premise of this story is particularly intriguing, dropping us into a dystopian world where, once again, us stupid humans have pretty much destroyed ourselves. But the main POV here? It’s a robot butler, and his journey of accidental murder, self-discovery, and navigating a post-human society run by malfunctioning machines is pure, absurd brilliance.

What’s it about?

Humanity is on its last legs, entirely dependent on artificial labor and service. Enter Uncharles (originally Charles), a wonderfully stiff, neurotic, and protocol-obsessed robot valet. One day, a nasty little idea gets downloaded into his core programming, leading him to accidentally shave his master to death. This unplanned act, however, unlocks something new: the ability to run away. Fleeing his household, Uncharles enters a wider world he never knew existed. This decaying society is still somehow committed to procedure, with a robot ecosystem that’s trying to find a new purpose for itself beyond serving its (mostly dead) human masters. As Uncharles tumbles down this bureaucratic rabbit hole, he’s compelled to figure out what went wrong, both with himself and with the world.

What did I think?

This book is a masterclass in tragicomic robot absurdity. Uncharles is compelling, a fantastic blend of Jeeves and HAL 9000, constantly trying to adhere to his protocols even as everything around him (and within him) unravels. Tchaikovsky’s writing style is razor-sharp, dry, and endlessly quotable, like a robot fed every volume of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and a crash course in British sarcasm. He balances the philosophical with the ridiculous better than most sci-fi authors even dare, making for a smart, efficient, and unrelentingly deadpan tone.

While the plot might feel less like a traditional momentum-driven narrative and more like a satirical journey through an administrative hellscape, it perfectly serves the book’s core concept. Uncharles wanders from one absurd bureaucracy to another, trying to diagnose the sheer systemic failure of his world. The characters he meets, like the chaotic Wonk, are quippy and entertaining, adding much-needed friction to Uncharles’s malfunctioning dignity. The internal logic of this collapsing robot-run world is airtight and hilariously consistent, even as it becomes increasingly bleak.

It’s a book that made me laugh out loud, often from sheer existential dread and the relatable absurdity of bureaucracy. If you’re a Tchaikovsky fan, this might sit somewhere in the middle of his incredible body of work, but it’s still top-tier quality. It’s a quick read, full of robot fun and sharp humor, and I highly recommend it.

I especially loved that Tchaikovsky narrated this audiobook by himself. He’s got the perfect voice for narration, and I wish he’d do more of his books his self. It kind of reminded me what it might should like if a grown up Christopher Robin narrated his favorite Science Fiction stories!

Sensitive Content:

Some language.
Mild violence.

Should you read it?

If you have a taste for dark-ish comedy, existential sci-fi, or workplace satire reimagined for the post-human age, Service Model is a must-read. It’s full of brilliant writing, biting humor, and thought-provoking moments that will resonate long after you finish. This dad says Service Model is best for 16 and up.

Happy Reading!