Even before there were true machines, there were fanciful stories about mechanical people. As technological advances in “robots” have developed, the idea of a humanoid being with artificial intelligence has become more of a reality. Stories about robots allow authors to explore questions of what it means to be human and what it means to be “alive.” Are manufactured beings that look like humans (with a head, torso, two arms and two legs), who can speak and “think,” truly alive? In this novel, the author explores this question in-depth, as he seeks to humanize Roz and show that a manufactured robot can become as compassionate, empathetic, and in love with life as an organic creature who was born.

The author expands on this theme by frequent mention and comparisons of Roz’s programmed actions and the instincts of the animals on the island. In this way, he contends that a robot and an animal are not so very different, since their actions are dictated by the same driving forces. The primary directive, for both Roz and the animals, is survival, so the ways in which they ensure their continued survival is aided and enhanced by their chosen behaviors.