“Cassandra Rose Clarke has delivered a novel that is brave enough to take on one of the largest issue’s confronting all of us today—just what exactly it means to be human in a time when the definition of such seems to alter almost daily in the face of whirlwind technological change. The Mad Scientist’s Daughter is a haunting, memorable, and very original love story, told in an alluringly graceful prose.”
Peter LaSalle, author of Tell Borges If You See Him:
Tales of Contemporary Somnambulism

The Mad Scientist's Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke - Feb 2013“Cat, this is Finn. He’s going to be your tutor.”

He looks and acts human, though he has no desire to be. He was programmed to assist his owners, and performs his duties to perfection. A billion-dollar construct, his primary task now is to tutor Cat. As she grows into a beautiful young woman, Finn is her guardian, her constant companion… and more.

But when the government grants rights to the ever-increasing robot population, however, Finn struggles to find his place in the world.

Following her acclaimed Young Adult debut for our sister imprint Strange Chemistry, The Assassin’s Curse, the very talented Cassandra Rose Clarke moves on to more adult themes, in a heartbreaking story of love, loss … and robots.

File Under: Science Fiction [ Constant Companion | Finn X | Sentient Rights | Hot Tin Roof ]

Cover Art: Argh! Oxford
(click the cover for a larger image)

Book Info:

UK Print
Date: 7th February 2013
ISBN: 9780857662644
Format: Medium (B-Format) Paperback
R.R.P.: ÂŁ8.99

US/CAN Print
Date: 29th January 2013
ISBN: 9780857662651
Format: Large (Trade) Paperback
R.R.P.: US$14.99 CAN$16.99

Ebook
Date: 29th January 2013
ISBN: 9780857662668
Format: Epub & Mobi
R.R.P.: ÂŁ5.49 / US$6.99

Other Angry Robot Books by This Author:

1. The Assassin’s Curse (YA fiction, published by Strange Chemistry, October 2012)
2. The Pirate’s Wish (YA fiction, published by Strange Chemistry, June 2013)

Buying Info:

UK Print & Ebook
Amazon.co.uk | Book Depository | Waterstones | WHSmith

North American Print & Ebook
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | BarnesandNoble.com | IndieBound.org

Global DRM-Free Epub Ebook
Robot Trading Company

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Author Info:

Cassandra Rose Clarke: WWW | Twitter

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Praise and Reviews:

“You won’t be the same after you read The Mad Scientist’s Daughter, trust me. […] Rich, complex, and delightfully-developed, The Madman’s Daughter opens up new worlds of possibility and does so with elegance and grace.”
-s.e. smith, at this ain’t livin’

“The characters are what drives this story, whether it’s Cat struggling through life, her mad yet grounded and caring father, the friends and lovers Cat meets throughout her life, or Finn, the android who doesn’t want to be human yet seems like the most perfect creation.”
– Katherine Stubbs, Shades of Sentience

“One of the most heart-clenching and gut-wrenching love stories I have ever read. I bet no-one reading this review has ever read an unrequited love story where the love is only unrequited because science has not made it possible, yet. Heart meet knife! Clarke’s exploration of human nature versus science versus faith versus the disingenuous youth are the reasons this book needs to be read and loved by everyone.”
– Vicki, Open Book Society

“I urge you to read this book, it will haunt you and stay with you for a long time. It is very hard to believe that this is only the author’s second novel – bravo Miss Clarke!”
– Wendy of the Geek Syndicate

“The twist is that the cool, rational Finn is a robot, and Cat’s love for him is unrequited because she ages while he does not, and he is not programmed to respond to her emotions. It’s a neat premise and Clark examines the ramifications with the precision of a poet”.
– Eric Brown, The Guardian

“It’s not a story of future heroism. It’s not even, really, a story about robots. It’s a story of live and failure and expectations. It is, perhaps, in its relentless examination of one woman’s life, one of the most realistic science fiction stories ever told.”
– Michael Ann Dobbs for IO9.com

“Cat is a finely etched character, difficult, distant, and living in denial of her true feelings for years … Cassandra Rose Clarke does a fine job of staying inside her protagonist’s head, and capturing what it’s like to drift through life without the will or the opportunity to make the best decisions.”
– Adam-Troy Castro, Sci Fi Magazine (print only)

The Mad Scientist’s Daughter reminded me of a couple of books I haven’t read in years, books I loved dearly that still haunt me. It has the strange feel of Geoff Ryman’s The Child Garden, a terribly sad story that was ultimately so rewarding. It also sparked some of the same emotions I feel while reading anything by China MiĂ©ville.”
– Tammy Sparks, Books, Bones & Buffy

“This book is about LOVE mostly and family, betrayal, emotion and what happiness means, but so totally science fiction. It is an amazing book and I enjoyed so much that I will be looking for more books by Cassandra Rose Clarke.”
– Katie Turner, Turner’s Antics

“At it’s heart, it’s a beautifully written story, not only exploring the complexities between Cat and Finn, but also her changing relationships with her parents, and the other men who enter her life.”
– Michelle, BCF Book Reviews

“I read this book with a constant sense of impending doom…I expected disaster and drama around ever corner. But this isn’t one of those books. This book is more subtle, a much more realistic picture of an imagined world, and I loved it.”
– Leah at LeahRhyne.com

“Cassandra Rose Clarke has proven she can write with the best of them in this one and I expect this was just a taste of what is to come from her.”
– Liam, The Troubled Scribe

“this book is heavy on the romance side. The science fiction element is there but very subtle but not as much until it becomes superficial. Instead, it gives the story this otherworldly quality.”
– Zuleeza at **QWERTY**

“It was a story of love, temptation, need, growing up, about friends and most important it was about never changing hopeless love. Does love conquer all? No, certainly not but yes, it changes you … The story was heart breaking and tragic yet it left you content that perhaps love is all you need.”
Escapism Fanatic

“Fantastic character building and a truly classic love story make The Mad Scientist’s Daughter a literary classic for lovers of both genre fiction and classic romance.”
– Catherine Russell, The Functional Nerds

“It’s wonderfully moving, and I’ll be thoroughly recommending this one to both science fiction and drama/romance fans.”
– Aoife, Footnotes

The Mad Scientist’s Daughter surprised me at every turn. It was completely unpredictable. The writing was addicting and absolutely phenomenal, as expected from Cassandra Rose Clarke. I knew it would be good, but the author really blew my expectations out of the water.”
– Emily, Ed and Em’s Reviews

“I had planned to say that you could just read the surface of this multi-dimensional story and walk away but that isn’t true. Once it grabs you, you’re going to have to dive into the deep end. You’ll look at what it means to be human with new eyes.”
– Merikay Noah, Popcorn Reads

“Recommended to Sci-Fi fans and those of us who are incredibly nosy about what the future could hold! I would give it 4 Stars – This book was really good, a definite re-reader!”
– Rebekah, The Reflections of a Bookworm

“I absolutely adored this novel. it made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me think about the true meaning of love. True love, not something cutout of cardboard and taped together with lies.”
– Soma Rostam, Insomnia of Books

“This book was exactly what I needed this week, even if I didn’t know it when I started reading.”
– s j Book Snobbery

“I’d recommend TMSD for mature readers who want a break from vampires, werewolves, etc. You’ll especially love this book if you’re artsy, like Cat. Or if you like sci-fi romance.”
– Brandi Bound2Astound

“[The novel] It asks some very difficult questions and while it doesn’t expect any clear answers, it does expect that you, the reader, will think about the questions it raises.”
– Nafiza at Bipliophilic Monologues

“Cat is one of the most complicated and wonderfully written female leads I’ve read this year … The Mad Scientist’s Daughter is the ideal blend of story for story’s sake and a story that leaves you thinking after the final page is turned.”
– Katrina Monroe, On Fiction Writing

“This book is just stunning; a beautiful story about the nature of love and the sentience of artificial intelligence.”
– Ellie Warren, Curiosity Killed the Bookworm

The Mad Scientist’s Daughter is a book that has continued to stay with me even weeks after finishing … this was one of my favorite reads this year. 5/5 stars and highly recommended.”
Low Country Book Lover

“this book does leave a lasting impression that will have you thinking about it long after you turn the final page.”
– Sarah Brown Head Stuck in a Book

“The writing is beautiful. Ms. Clarke has a wonderful way with words. I was enthralled and I really could not put this book down.”
– AH, Badass Book Reviews

“this is more a love story than anything else. But under that there’s a tale of a girl/woman who grows over time, stumbles, and makes mistakes, proves herself selfish… but redeems herself in the end.”
Sassyreads

“I just absolutely loved this book. The characters are spot on, the writing is beautiful, the pacing is deliberate but still absolutely engaging.”
Karissa’s Book Reviews

“If you are looking for a fantasy/sci-fi romance with real drama and heart, then this could be the book for you; I can certainly highly recommend it.”
Nicki J. Markus

“As soon as I started reading this book, I was swept along by the storyline. In my opinion, a really good book will cause you to experience a range of emotions and this one certainly succeeded.”
– Kallen at Geeky Library

The Mad Scientist’s Daughter is a beautiful book. Even if you’re not a science fiction fan and don’t care for stories about robots (side note: Robots are cool! What’s wrong with you?) this book has definite cross genre appeal.”
– Christa Seeley, More Than Just Magic

“I cried on more than one occasion, the story was just so sad in places, but it was so beautifully written that even the sad parts were heartbreakingly good. I actually find it really difficult to tell you how emotionally taxing this book was, and still I loved it, and I’m not going to forget this one in a long time.”
Sarah Elizabeth’s Bookshelf

“While it is a story of love, that story actually serves as a framing device for a larger narrative about the nature of programming vs emotions, and whether sentient machines deserve the same rights as people.”
– Chris Mansell, A Writer’s Sidequest

“Think you can’t get invested in a romance between a human and a robot? Think again. Cat’s longing and desire for Finn is a force of nature, and the tragedy, and joy, of Cat and Finn’s romance will stay with you long after reading the last page.”
– Kristin Centorcelli, My Bookish Ways

“The writing is beautiful; highly atmospheric and rich in melancholy. I was convinced it was bound to have a tragic ending as it all seemed so very sad, but you’ll have to read it for yourself to find out if I was right”.
– Sophia, Page Plucker

“Cat and Finn and every other minor detail in this story makes for a very very absorbing and totally addictive reading. Highly recommended!”
– Shweta at Literary Grand Rounds

“The style and substance of Clarke’s world-building catapults this story above and beyond my hopes for it. The Mad Scientist’s Daughter is a deep, dark tale of passion that fills the emptiness with the same lies and rationalities we tell ourselves to make us feel better about the choices we make.”
– Jared Conti, The Oracular Beard

“hits all the right notes and delivers a tale that is often heartbreaking but always has that element of hope that love will conquer all. The Mad Scientist’s Daughter is a lovely and moving story, and I highly recommend it.”
– Kristin Taggart, OwlCat Mountain

“a gripping tale that refuses to release the reader until the last page and then leaving them bereft that it is all over.”
– Chris Limb, for the British Fantasy Society

“I was impressed with the quality of writing and the flow of the story. I was absorbed for the entirety of the book and found myself emotionally involved with all the characters.”
– Lisa at Starmetal Oak Reviews

“Everything that Cat goes through is so heartbreaking and I loved seeing her and Finn have scenes together because there was so much tension.”
– Andrea at Cozy Up With A Good Read

“I found this novel absolutely fascinating … It has so many themes and issues running through it and it’s absolutely brilliant. If you’re a science-fiction lover, a robot lover, or even a lover of books which delve into romance, tragedies and the issues of real life then this book is definitely for you!”
– Leah Woods Uncorked Thoughts

“The writing is crisp and addictive. Cat and Finn and every other minor detail in this story makes for a very very absorbing and totally addictive reading. Highly recommended!”
Literary Grand Rounds

“I find it especially difficult to review books that I truly love as I often feel any words that I come up with fall so very short of the work that I am attempting to evaluate. What I can say about Ms Clarke’s work is that it defies classification, it is that flawless story that has mass appeal. Unapologetically romantic it is not in fact a romance novel, it is a science fiction novel that even people who do not like science fiction will enjoy.” – Penny Dreadful Book Reviews

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