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In the Lives of Puppets

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In the Lives of Puppets

By: TJ Klune
Narrated by: Daniel Henning
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About this listen

From New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, In the Lives of Puppets is a queer retelling of the Pinocchio tale, inviting you deep into the heart of a peculiar forest and on the extraordinary journey of a family assembled from spare parts.

‘A deeply stirring journey through a world of extraordinary robots’ – Chuck Tingle, Hugo-shortlisted author of
Camp Damascus

*A
New York Times, Sunday Times and Indie Bestseller*
*Winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Science Fiction*


In a small home, built into the branches of a tree, live a human named Victor and three robots. These are a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, a small vacuum desperate for love and attention, and a fatherly inventor-android named Giovanni Lawson. Together they’re a family, hidden and safe.

Then Vic salvages an unfamiliar android labelled ‘HAP’. He learns that Hap and Gio share a dark past, where they hunted humans. And Hap unwittingly gives away Gio’s location. Before they know it, robots from Gio’s former life arrive – to capture and return the android to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams.

The rest of the unconventional family must travel across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommissioning. Or worse, reprogramming. Along the way, Vic must decide if he can handle his feelings for Hap – even if they come with strings attached.

Inspired by Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, In the Lives of Puppets is a masterful standalone fantasy adventure from the author who brought you The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door.

©2023 TJ Klune (P)2023 Macmillan Audio
Adventure Fiction Romance Science Fiction Robotics

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Critic reviews

Glorious, a thoroughly entertaining and deeply stirring journey through a world of extraordinary robots. The characters here are so vibrant, and the story proves that love stretches well beyond the world of humans (Chuck Tingle, author of Camp Damascus)
TJ Klune has created an enchanting tale of Pinocchio in the end times, offering up hard truths alongside humor, kindness, love and, most important, hope (P. Djèlí Clark, author of A Master of Djinn)
I dare say I am yet to read more humane robots than I’ve encountered in In the Lives of Puppets . . . One can’t help but fall in love with this book (T. L. Huchu, author of The Library of the Dead)

What listeners say about In the Lives of Puppets

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Good concept but not my favourite of Klune's

Klune is an instant buy for me. I love his characters, ideas, stories, humour, everything. Unfortunitely this wasn't at the same level as his other books (I've read them all) and I didn't find myself connecting with the story or characters anywhere near as much as usual.
I appreciated the concept and feel like it had so much potential but I didn't feel invested which was a shame.
I am glad I listened to it because I will always support Klune but this won't make my comfort reread list which a majority of his others do.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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One to listen to again!

Beautifully written, beautifully narrated - the characters brought to life and related the fragility of love and humanity!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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wonderful take on the pinochio story

this is the second of Clunes books that I have listen to and I'm going to listen to all of them I think. The story is one of outsiders and life and love and of our place in Society. I recommend them to anyone and everyone

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Magical

Loved this! Great concept, beautifully told. Wonderful narration. Made me smile, & made me cry. Gutted when it ended.

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A great story

A lovely book about humanity and empathy/love - a really good take on tech and identity

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Not an easy read

Though not easy to read (I’m not sure if it was the writing style or the narrator) it was worth sticking to it until the end as it was a very thoughtful and thought provoking retelling of Pinocchio.

Be warned you may find yourself thinking about the relationships you have with others.

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Brilliantly wrote

Not disappointed all all TJ Klune at his best! A must have read for all!

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Sentient robot vacuum

Not as good as his other book I’ve read but that vacuum was special, the characters were the best parts tbh

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Enjoyable Story

Enjoyable Story that is well written with likeable characters and good world building. The narration is very good as well

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Creative story and storytelling about connection and loss

The narrator was brilliant! The story managed to be futuristic and modern and so incredibly human all at the same time. A feat, given there is only one human character in the entire book. A new direction for writing about the heart, about love, intimacy and loss. I admire the author’s ability to elicit emotion in the reader when the characters are all, but one, machines.

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1 person found this helpful