From the Bookshelf of SciFi and Fantasy Book Club…

Of Monsters and Mainframes

Barbara Truelove

Start date: September 1, 2025

Finish date: September 30, 2025

Why we're reading this: 2025 September Sep-Bender Mod Curated SFF
[close] 2025 September Sep-Bender Mod Curated SFF

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Jul 18, 2025 Maryam rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science-fiction, audiobook, aty2025, horror

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5/5)

Who doesn't love a sci-fi story packed with AI, Dracula, Frankenstein, and more? Of Monsters and Mainframes might have started a bit slow—the first couple of chapters were a bit of a slog—but once it found its rhythm, it took off. From that point on, it was pure joy to read. The blend of classic monsters with futuristic tech is wildly creative. Honestly, I can already tell this is going to be one of my favorite sci-fi reads of 2025. Highly recommend sticking with it—it’s absolut ...more

15 likes · Like · see review

Aug 30, 2025 Melani rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, horror, challenge_tbr

I really enjoyed this. It feels like a bunch of connected short stories right up until everything coalesces into a whole, and I liked that. I marked it as horror, but only because it's playing with the victorian monsters, there's nothing particularly scary here.

Murderbot meets Victorian monsters, or sci-fi A Night in the Lonesome October is how I'd two second sum it up.

...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 28, 2025 Wynn rated it it was amazing

I’m a sucker for:
-genre-mixing
-sci-fi with some heart
-droll AI
-a motley crew of likeable characters
-popcorn thrills
-short, propulsive chapters
-just a generally good hang

I was a little skeptical at first (haven’t I seen this type of setup before?) but it settles into a nice, unique groove and sticks the finish. Why not just give in to a short, fun ride?

Like · see review