Kindred guest list by @harlanhardway. Thank you, my love!
Do Droids Dream of Electric Sheep?Â
Stats: E, Graphic Depictions of Violence, 42k, 15/15 chapters
Summary: Kylo Ren is a burned-out mercenary - a Blade Runner hired to kill synthetic human beings known as replicants. Three replicants - Finn, Poe, and Rey - have made a desperate bid to get to Earth, where their kind have been declared illegal, in order to find their maker, Eldon Snoke. While chasing the three rogue replicants and their droid, Ren also meets an enigmatic man who is not necessarily what he seems, and may even be a piece in the dangerous game they all are playing.
Why this work is exceptional: This is one of the best cyber-punk fics Iâve read (and I am a connoisseur of cyber-punk, I will have you know). Â Itâs beautifully written, atmospheric and the android aspect is complex and interesting. Â Nookiestradamus is a great author, if you havenât read any of their stuff before, go give this a try, you wonât regret it.
Stats: E, Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, 32k, 13/13 chapters
Summary: An AU inspired by Ex Machina where Ben Solo never became Kylo Ren, General Hux is a droid that used to be human, and they might just be what the other needs.
Warning for a whole lot of robophilia and cruel and unusual uses for droids.
Why this work is exceptional: I really like this take on light-side Hux and Ren. Â Hux is still an ass, but the reasoning for why he might be less than culpable for his wartime atrocities is pretty solid in ways that Hux-defection fics often are not. Â So while Hux does have to deal with his past in the First Order, he does not have to go through an arduous redemption arc in order to be sympathetic. Â Also, the way Kylo is depicted, particularly his relationship to androids and Hux in particular, is super fascinating and is probably my favorite part of this fic.
Stats: E, No Archive Warnings Apply, 31k, 6/6 chapters
Summary: âAre you my new Administrator?â
Ash is an android and Paterson is the quiet, poetry-writing bus driver that he falls in love with.
Why this work is exceptional: (Maggie from DustyRecs stepping in here to leave a review). The very first Ash/Paterson fic on AO3. This work brings Ash to life in startling detail. Everything from how he feels to what irritates his synthetic skin and eyes. The hurt/comfort in this one is subtle, beautiful, and will give you FEELINGS. The androids are fully realized with a rich inner world of their own. Also, the cameo in this⌠omg.
Stats: T, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, 24k, 6/6 chapters
Summary: Snoke presents Kylo Ren with a gift before sending him to complete his training: his former rival and secret hate-friend with benefits, retrofitted as his new shipboard AI.
This is a punishment for them both, and a test.
Why this work is exceptional: This fic blends hard sci fi, psychological horror and a love story all into one. Â There is an inherent tragedy to it and the author does not shy away from things like body horror and dissociation, but itâs also surprisingly romantic and the ending is not without hope. Â For all the Ann McCaffery fans out there, the concept is very similar to âThe Ship Who Sangâ (which I also highly recommend). Â I have no idea if this was intentional or not, but it works really well.
Stats: E, No Archive Warnings Apply, 20k, 2/2 chapters
Summary: This fic takes place after the events of/in the universe of Ex Machina (2015) and contains details from the movie as well as major spoilers for the end of the movie, so watching this movie beforehand is recommended.
Summary: Caleb is rescued from hopeless confinement by one of Nathanâs androids, a lively AI by the name of Ren. Renâa prototype combative android with superhuman strengthâbelieves Caleb to be Hux, the program Nathan developed to manipulate Ren into forming an authentic affinity for Caleb. For Ren, Huxâthe love of his lonely lifeâonly existed in his dreams. Until he finds him in the flesh behind the glass door.
Why this work is exceptional: This is a very sweet love story. Â I would recommend watching Ex Machina (the movie) first because it dovetails really nicely onto a lot of the things that happened, including Calebâs backstory/state of mind and the fact that Caleb already went through the human vs. android existential crisis. Â It definitely becomes very much itâs own thing though. Â Kylo is very protective and there is a fair amount of hurt/comfort on all sides as well as cuddling for warmth. Â It is just so soft: the Ex Machina fix-it I never knew I wanted.
Not Rated, Unconventional Format, WIP
Summary: Hux is a socially stumped robotics engineer, Ren is a BattleR-E-N (battle-ready extraction nexus), a relatively new model of battle-robot. Problem is, R-E-N malfunctioned and when Hux turns him back on, he seems to express emotions a battle-unit should not be able to possess.
Why this work is exceptional: This story is told through a mixture of comics, drawings and narrative text.  REN is a BattleREN who was deactivated after he massively malfunctioned.  Hux is a scientist who wheedled his way into gaining possession of REN and turned him back on.  For being a combat robot with faulty programming, REN seems shockingly⌠sentient.  The focus seems to be on RENâs self-identity and Huxâs increasing empathy and attachment towards him as he tries to figure out what caused REN to malfunction.  The design and drawing of REN is spectacular and itâs definitely a must-read for anyone who likes androids and sci-fi dramas.
theartofmadeline
tangentwithtanner
blakekathryn
gummygunk
