Published by Tor Books in April 2023, In the Lives of Puppets is a fantasy novel written by TJ Klune. The story delves into a dystopian world devoid of humanity where robots reign supreme. Victor Lawson, nurtured by his robotic father Giovanni in an isolated forest, encounters an embittered android named Hap alongside his peculiar companions Nurse Ratched and Rambo. Victor's reparations infuse Hap with a piece of himself creating an unforeseen connection.
The narrative intensifies as Giovanni is seized and taken to the City of Electric Dreams. A revelation through recorded messages discloses Victor's status as the last human. Also, it reveals Hap's unsettling origin as a robot designed by Giovanni to exterminate humans. Despite Hap's amnesia about his past, he pledges allegiance to Victor and collaborates on a plan to rescue Giovanni.
TJ Klune navigates themes of human essence, identity, and redemption while infusing the tale with a sense of originality. The novel also intricately weaves humor and profound emotional resonance. Booklist wrote, “Klune's latest is a sweet tale of grief and second chances, and a ghost story about not giving up on even the most lost of souls.”
