Mr. Fowler writes those kinds of speculative morality tales that take you a certain direction long enough to make you think you know where you’re going only to have it angle off on a different path altogether, which pleasantly opens up a whole new perspective on the story’s theme. For instance, this novelette-length near-future fiction imagines a day when the use of human-like automatons (that only the wealthy can afford) leads to what the reader correctly anticipates – strained societal and familial relationships. But it is the reaction of the designer and creator of these companion robots that adds an interesting psychological layer to what could be a simple technological cautionary tale. And it’s just these combinations of intriguing scenarios and attention to characterization that keeps me returning to this author’s stories. Recommended for a lunch break read when you’re looking for a story to enjoy and think about. ( )