Books like When HARLIE Was One by David Gerrold
When HARLIE Was One is a stunning first novel that grapples with the definition of consciousness and what it is to be human. The novel is primarily a series of conversations between a computer programmer / psychologist and his invention, H.A.R.L.I.E., a self-programming computer that has total access to information and knowledge through something similar to the Internet. As the computer matures, the question of what it means to be human becomes a serious one for the financial backers of the project concerned with the cost of the program. If HARLIE is conscious then he can't be disconnected: That would be murder. However, to keep him connected and working for the company amounts to slavery. HARLIE must figure out a way to be both financially viable and free at the same time.
First publish date: 1972
Genre: Technology & Computing/Artificial Intelligence
Authors: David Gerrold
★
★
★
★
★
5.0 (1 community ratings)
How are these books recommended?
The books recommended for When HARLIE Was One by David Gerrold are shaped by reader interaction. Votes on how closely books relate, user ratings, and community comments all help refine these recommendations and highlight books readers genuinely find similar in theme, ideas, and overall reading experience.
Have you read any of these books?
Your votes, ratings, and comments help improve recommendations and make it easier
for other readers to discover books they’ll enjoy.
Books similar to When HARLIE Was One (16 similar books)
Aldous Huxley's 1932 masterpiece presents a dystopian future shaped by genetic engineering, conditioned society, and an oppressive, consumerist regime, raising urgent questions about ethics, control, and the loss of individuality.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Isaac Asimov’s classic collection revisits the evolution of robotics through a series of interconnected short stories framed by Dr. Susan Calvin’s encounters with a reporter in the 21st century.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A science‑fiction novel by Philip K. Dick that envisions a future where androids are indistinguishable from humans, set against a backdrop of a dystopian San Francisco.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Philip K. Dick’s Hugo Award‑winning alternate‑history novel imagines a world where World War II ends with Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan ruling the former United States, exploring the political intrigue and daily life under this totalitarian regime.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
William Gibson’s debut Sprawl novel, *Neuromancer*, blends cyberpunk with a visionary digital future, following a hacker’s final job against a powerful AI. It earned Hugo, Nebula, and Philip K. Dick awards.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Starship Troopers follows Juan Rico, a Terran Federation Mobile Infantry trooper, as he trains, fights, and reflects on the moral and civic duties of military service during an interstellar war with the Arachnids of Klendathu.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Detective Lt. Lije Baley must partner with a positronic robot, R. Daneel Olivaw, to solve a high-profile murder on Earth, navigating deep mistrust between Earthmen and Obsolete Spacers.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A collection of humorous stories with elements of science fiction and fantasy, ranging from light to dark humor.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Lacey and His Friends is a work of American science fiction by author David Drake.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A story of Rome's legendary legions, trapped by aliens, fighting barbarian armies across the galaxy to regain freedom and honor their legacy and humanity's worth in the universe's eyes.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Don’t panic! The Hitchhiker’s saga returns once again with a full-cast dramatisation of Mostly Harmless, the fifth book in Douglas Adams’s famous ‘trilogy in five parts’.
While frequent flyer Arthur Dent searches the universe for his lost love, Ford Prefect discovers a disturbing blast from the past at The Hitchhiker’s Guide HQ. Meanwhile, on one of many versions of Earth, a blonder, more American Trillian gets tangled up with a party of lost aliens having an identity crisis. And just when Arthur thinks he has found his true vocation on the backwater planet of Lamuella, the original Trillian turns up with more than a little spanner in the works. A stolen ship, a dramatic stampede and a new and sinister Guide lead to a race to save the Earth...again. But this time, will they succeed?
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A classic collection of Isaac Asimov’s early science‑fiction stories featuring robots and computers that explore themes of artificial intelligence and human interaction.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A collection of Isaac Asimov’s classic short stories, featuring tales from the Foundation series and I, Robot.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Some Other Similar Books
2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. ClarkeHave a similar book in mind? Let others know!
Please login to submit books!