In a world where robots are ubiquitous and often virtually indistinguishable from humans - and even some humans are more bionic than biological - what does it actually mean to be "human"?

This is the core drive of Luminous, explored from many angles and raising many related themes - more than I could hope to cover and do any of them justice, but covering everything from the big existential questions to more current-day social issues. Without spoilers there is some great disability and trans rep too.

I loved the poetic writing style - the world felt so vibrant and immersive! I think this is really suited to a curious reader who doesn't mind taking their time to really soak in the ramifications of what's on the page, or go off to look things up. If you want a story that holds your hand and ties up all the loose ends for you, in my opinion this isn't it. I think if you liked Babel and its density of ideas and sheer rate of thoughts provoked per page, Luminous will scratch that same itch.

I honestly think this is destined to be a classic - it will certainly live on in my mind for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Magpie for the eARC - I was not required to leave a review nor influenced as to its contents. Thank you also to the author and editors for doing such a beautiful job!

I really enjoyed this book but it wasn’t one I read quickly. I found there was a lot of scene setting before the narrative really got going, and it was quite heavy going in parts. There was so many existential questions raised by the book, especially when looking at the characters who had bionic body parts due to injury or illness and there were parts that made me think of the ship of Theseus thought experiment. Thematically there’s a lot about what it means to be human, where the boundary between human and technology lies, and I could imagine it as an excellent TV series. It’s definitely a good read and worth picking up!

Luminous by Silvia Park is a thought-provoking work of literary fiction that explores the blurred lines between human and robot, diving deep into the themes of identity, connection, and what it means to be truly real. Set in a future where the distinction between humans and artificial beings is increasingly difficult to discern, Park eschews traditional science fiction world-building in favour of a more introspective and poignant narrative.

The novel delves into the emotional landscape of characters—both human and robot—who grapple with the complexities of existence in a world where the boundaries of humanity are shifting. At the heart of Luminous is the exploration of relationships, not only between people but also between people and robots, raising difficult questions about authenticity, value, and emotional truth. One line in the book succinctly captures this tension: "Do you think the lines I say have less value because you can track the input data? What about the lines you say to each other? Aren’t they the same lines you downloaded from thousands of sources?"

This philosophical dilemma is particularly relevant in today’s world, where artificial intelligence can now produce art and writing that challenges our perceptions of creativity and originality. The novel asks whether the emotional resonance of words or actions is diminished by the knowledge that they may have been shaped by algorithms rather than lived experiences. In this future, we encounter a spectrum of beings: from children with robotic limbs to humans who have become monstrous, and robots who exhibit tenderness. These characters—regardless of their origins—are driven by the universal desire to feel less alone, a desire that resonates deeply with readers.

Park’s writing is sensitive and nuanced, capturing the raw emotional undercurrents of her characters as they navigate a world of fractured identities and complicated bonds. The story is at once cruel and touching, as characters—whether flesh or machine—search for meaning and connection in a world that sometimes seems indifferent to their struggles.

Luminous is a beautifully crafted exploration of the intersection between humanity and technology and a poignant reflection on the complexity of relationships in an increasingly artificial world. It is a book that challenges the reader to reconsider the nature of identity, connection, and what makes us truly human.

3.5/5.

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I thought this book had an interesting concept, but it really struggled with the pacing. Over 30% of the way through the book, and I felt like almost nothing had happened, apart from the abduction of Eli.

By the end of the book, I was enjoying it more, but not in the way I had anticipated. The robotics, whilst a central part of the plot, became almost secondary to the question of humanity. What does it mean to be human? How much of yourself can you lose and still be you?

The casual brutality against both robots and humans in this book, by both robots and humans makes you realise that every creation is just as flawed as its creator.

I only wish there had been a real interaction between Yoyo and his sister at the end.

Sadly "Luminous" by Silvia Park wasn't as gripping as I thought it might be. I've just re-read the plot and didn't pick up on half of it. The book started off interesting enough and the premise of robots integrated into society is an interesting topic but I wasn't that focussed or interested towards the end.

This novel is set sometime in the future in a reunited, albeit bloodily, Korea. Jun and Morgan Cho are adult siblings whose father designed humanoid robots, including Yoyo, an additional sibling for Jun and Morgan. Unsurprisingly, Yoyo was made more humanoid than his robot contemporaries but, at the start of the novel, he has disappeared. Jun is also in the police force and Morgan is working on the launch of new models of childlike robots for a multinational company

Throughout the story, the boundaries between robots and humans are deliberately blurred. Morgan has a robot, Stephen, who has been programmed to be both a friend and, when required, a lover. Jun who was badly injured in the war of reunification has been rebuilt to be part robot. Meanwhile, the technology has been devoted to making robots which are more like humans, and the humanoid children are the most advanced examples of this.

Then, there is Ruijie, a child who will need bionic surgery before too long and she meets the ‘disappeared’ Yoyo hiding out in a robot scrapyard while she is looking for her own robot which is lost. Then, there is the police force, including Jun, who are seeking missing robots, and that’s another part of the story.

Throw in a side plot, about ‘scrappers’ who dismantle robots for parts and are not above the occasional kidnap, plus a depraved and illegal sport where people fight robots, and there is really too much going on for the story to keep control of. It is hard work sorting out who is who, and why they are in particular places, let alone who they are related to!

It is still an entertaining read and, eventually, everything is just about sorted out. You sometimes get the impression that the writer wanted to establish intellectual copyright over every possible variety of robot and their behaviours and raise as many connected issues as possible! Enjoy thinking about them as your work out the plot!

A very interesting premise for a novel. The writing has a nice flow and feel about it and the novel was well paced. But, I really did not feel any attachment to the characters, they seemed nice enough folk but not interesting or compelling enough to draw me into their story.

Sorry, but I found this novel very hard going. The writing was stilted and the characters didn't seem to stand out, the siblings seemed to merge in to one in my mind? I was confused again and again about who was human and who wasn't, which was credit to the author that it seemed seamless and very unified.

The premise of a society with no such distinction is there, but the novel just didn't seem to bloom in to a story I couldn't put down. I like the idea, but the pace and action could have been more prominent. A bit of a marmite type of book.

Luminous is a very well written book that I think plenty of people will love, but it just didn’t quite work for me. Set in a reunified and robot-filled Korea, we follow three siblings: Morgan and Jun, humans who have lost touch as adults, and Yoyo, their robot brother who has been missing for years. We follow along as the lives of these three characters start coming back together.

Silvia Park clearly has a knack for crafting smooth and insightful prose, but I found the pacing to be too slow for my tastes. I had a fine time while I was actually reading, but once I put the book down I didn’t feel much of a pull to pick it back up. I definitely don’t think this was a fault of the book though, I was just hoping for something a little punchier!

A fantastically adventurous and colorful sci-fi novel set in a future version of Korea, "Luminous" is densely packed with characters and plot twists, descriptions of technology and more. It could feel like too much but I felt the plot was well handled and I was always engaged. A fun read for fans of innovative, character-driven SF.