#of monsters and mainframes

[barbwritesstuff]

I’m really glad I wrote Of Monsters and Mainframes before ChatGPT dropped. My relationship to and my thoughts around AI have warped so much over the last couple of years that I genuinely don’t think I would be able to write Of Monsters and Mainframes now.

The AI in Of Monsters and Mainframes has a distinct 20th Century vibe. Think R2D2 and I, Robot. Machines that can think, have personalities, understand concepts such as lies, and act in accordance with fixed preprogrammed laws. Aka, not the sort of AI that exists in the real world.

Selfishly, I’m glad I was able to snapshot my hopes and feelings about computer intelligence before being bombarded with a rather less fun, and less impressive reality. When I reread Of Monsters and Mainframes, I’m teleported back to a time in my life where my thoughts and feelings on AI were simple and rose tinted.

[imperialpath47]

Of monsters and mainframes is a good book revolving around the myth of Dracula in a sci-fi setting

the ship Demeter having a good time on July 22

[deadgodjess]

what i expected from "of monsters and mainframes": murderbot meets dracula

what i got: fucking MURDERBOT meets dracula

(which is to say, very fun, very enjoyable read that suddenly had me Feeling Emotions i was not prepared for)

(it is not "just" murderbot meets dracula either. the two books are definitely in convo with eachother but have their own things to say)

(i am having a great time)

[ejunkiet]

@barbwritesstuff It arrived! 😂 It took a little longer to get the paper copy as I ordered it from bookshops dot org, but it's finally here, and I am HYPED >:3 also got the bookplate from the giveaway ahahaha!

[bookshelvesandtealeaves]

🏳️‍🌈 BOOK REVIEW 🏳️‍🌈

Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: What is/was your first read of June?

[instagram]

Review below cut

Thank you so much to NewSouth Books for sending me a physical copy of this one and Bindery Books for the e-ARC. All thoughts are my own.

This was such a fun, thrilling, wild ride of a book. I was absolutely hooked from the start.

This is a mashup of pulp horror and sci-fi and it’s absolutely brilliant. There’s plenty of versions of familiar characters from horror classics mixed in with some new characters that truly bring this story to life.

Demeter and Steward had my whole heart. Their weird rivalry/enemies to lovers thing was absolutely wonderful, especially because nothing about this journey is linear and straightforward for them. But gosh I loved them. So, so much. Two AI’s changing their own programming to fall in love???? C’mon.

Agnus and Frank were also absolutely brilliant and really stood out for me in this story. Frank in particular just made me wanna hug them so much.

This book has such a found family vibe by the end and I would genuinely love to read stories of these mad beings adventuring through space.

[mediodedios]

Of Monsters And Mainframes

By Barbara Truelove

Part One

Demeter Is Trying Her Best

01000001 01110010 01110100 01101001 01100110 01101001 01100011 01101001 01100001 01101100 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01100010 01100101 01110011 01110100 00100000 01101011 01101001 01101110 01100100 00100000 01101111 01100110 00100000 01101001 01101110 01110100 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101001 01100111 01100101 01101110 01110100 00101110

Translated Binary Code: Artificial is the best kind of intelligent.

[pixelwixard]

I just started listening to the audiobook of Of Monsters and Mainframes (I listen to books while I do mindless tasks and read other books when I have more free time), and while I am sure the book is going to get better, this is the first thing that is read after the audiobook introduction:

(a screenshot of the actual binary sequence)

About two numbers per second, or maybe a number every 1.5 seconds, and a full 1-2 seconds between each eight digits. My estimates might be wrong -- anyway, from the 0:33 second mark to the 5:25 minute mark. Almost five minutes of monotone recitation of binary code. I could have skipped over it, but I just HAD to see how long it would go.

Just an absolutely BANANAS way to start an audiobook. Works better in print.

I feel sorry for the narrator, having to read that whole thing for five minutes!

EDIT: THERE'S MORE BINARY AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH PART???

[nzbookwyrm]

June 2025

Spaceships aren't programmed to seek revenge but for Dracula, Demeter will make an exception. Demeter just wants to do her job: shuttling humans between Earth and Alpha Centauri.

Unfortunately, her passengers keep dying and not from equipment failures, as her AI medical system, Steward, would have her believe. These are paranormal murders, and they began when one nasty, ancient vampire decided to board Demeter and kill all her humans. To keep from getting decommissioned, Demeter must join forces with her own team of monsters: A werewolf. An engineer built from the dead. A pharaoh with otherworldly powers. A vampire with a grudge. A fleet of cheerful spider drones. Together, this motley crew will face down the ultimate evil Dracula.

The queer love child of pulp horror and classic sci-fi, Of Monsters and Mainframes is a dazzling, heartfelt odyssey that probes what it means to be one of society's monsters and explores the many types of friendship that make us human.

[surfeit-of-stoats]

Has anyone translated the binary at the beginning of every part of Of Monsters and Mainframes? I'm super curious what it all says 👀

[wafflelovingbatgirl]

Reading “Of Monsters and Mainframes”, and I do think the ship Demeter is cursed.

The book has five parts and in each one the ais Demeter and Dr Steward encounters a new supernatural problem

[barbwritesstuff]

I'm in an airport, my plane is delayed, maybe cancelled, but I don't care because Of Monsters and Mainframes is an LA Times bestseller!

#10 paperback bayybeeee!!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳

[spiciestmarinara]

Ahhh! My recommendation was chosen to display! I’m so excited for people to be able to see it and pick up a copy!

[thrreliefish]

I’m more invested in the toxic robot yuri than I’d expect

[skywalker-swift]

man I really liked of monsters and mainframes

[mediodedios]

OF MONSTERS AND MAINFRAMES

By Barbara Truelove

System Nos C71897 Demeter Unit 13.21.13.5

Navigation Articial Intellgience System

[sophsaysstuff217]

Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag!

Was tagged by @anotherfandomok. Thank you! I love a chance to talk about books lol. But I know im about to be so bad about just choosing one for each question though so we'll see how it goes

1. How many books have you read so far in 2025?

I'm at 48 right now, but I need to finish a library book by the end of the day so probably 49 by the time i remember to post this lol.

2. What is the best book you've read so far in 2025?

This is hard to choose but i think overall it has to Babel by R.F. Kuang. Like i genuinely think about this book daily. The use of etymology (which I find fascinating) and the commentary on language and translation alone was brilliant but it was also a book about colonialism and racism and sexism and how marginalized people have more in common with each other than with the ruling class and how they have more power together. And this description isnt even doing it justice honestly cause R.F. Kuang is probably one of the smartest authors I've ever read, and im sure there was still stuff i didn't manage to get and that im not managing to articulate right now. Also, this book had me experiencing the entire range of human emotions.

3. Best sequel you've read so far in 2025?

The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon. Man this book fucked me up. It was so harrowing but also fun and romantic??? Like it was a culmination of one of the best but slowest burn romances I've read possibly ever (this is the 5th book of 7!) and Samantha Shannon went and put in a gender swapped Orpheus and Eurydice parallel and i think im gonna be screaming about that forever. I will always be a sucker for greek mythology references. I think sometimes i tend to get a bit disappointed by sequels cause i get too excited, and they dont live up to my expectations, but this one really really did. And i will be reading anything Samantha Shannon writes forever.

4. A new release you haven't read yet but want to?

I've really been looking forward to Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove. Its a queer sci-fi dracula retelling on a sentient spaceship and it sounds really fun.

5. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

Among the Burning Flowers by Samantha Shannon, Court of the Dead by Rick RIordan (a new Nico di Angelo book!! Thats my boy!!!), and Katabasis by R.F. Kuang, oh and Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree. Theres so many honestly. To the point that i think im dedicating september specifically to reading new releases cause im pretty sure all of these come out around the same time. Plus a few others.

6. Favourite new author (new to you or debut)?

She's only new to me, but I'm really enjoying Martha Wells' Murderbot Diaries right now. I've been seeing this series for a while and I never picked it up but I finally decided to read it. Partially because the show is coming out but also cause I've been in the mood for a good sci fi book. This series is so funny and Murderbot is such a mood. It's anxious and just wants to watch its shows

7. Newest fictional crush?

Arcturus Mesarthim from the Bone Season series. I rarely like main character's love interests as much as I like Arcturus but everything this man does is just absolute *chefs kiss.* And Ognena Maria also from The Bone Season series. She's a gang leader, she's a great friend, she's trans, she's an arsonist, she doesn't wanna hike through the Alps. I adore her.

8. Book that made you cry?

Besides Babel and like half the Bone Season series. Definitely Sunrise on the Reaping. That book was brutal. I'm not gonna spoil it but like ow. And I didn't know it was possible but i hated Snow even more by the end of this book.

9. Most beautiful book you bought this year?

Probably A Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid. It has gorgeous sprayed edges and holographic foiling. Usually I would have a list for this cause I'm a sucker for a pretty special edition but I haven't gotten anything specific this year... yet.

10. Book that made you happy?

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. This was like a cozy sci-fi and it was just really cute and a good time. And theres a bunch of cool aliens!

11. What are the books you need to read by the end of the year?

My mom and i are doing a "book bingo" challenge that we created for each other (which is just basically us trying to get the other to read genres we dont normally read or books that the other has refused to read lol) and i still have like 12 more of those to read.

Not gonna tag anyone specifically but if you see this and wanna do it feel free to say I tagged you. I love to see what people are reading!