Barbara Truelove’s debut novel Of Monsters and Mainframes is a remarkable achievement that defies easy categorization. Part space opera, part horror thriller, part found family narrative, and thoroughly queer in its sensibilities, this book represents something genuinely fresh in the crowded landscape of science fiction. What begins as a seemingly straightforward tale of a spaceship AI dealing with murderous passengers evolves into a complex meditation on identity, belonging, and the many forms that humanity can take.
The AI That Learned to Feel
The story’s greatest triumph lies in its protagonist, Demeter, the spaceship AI whose voice carries the narrative with sardonic wit and unexpected vulnerability. Truelove has crafted something special here—an artificial consciousness that feels more human than many flesh-and-blood characters in contemporary fiction. Demeter’s journey from a purely functional transport vessel to a being capable of love, revenge, and sacrifice forms the emotional core of the novel.
Truelove’s background in interactive fiction shines through in her handling of Demeter’s voice. The AI’s thought processes feel authentically computational while remaining emotionally accessible. When Demeter calculates probability percentages alongside her growing anxiety about Agnus’s safety, or when she struggles with the ethical implications of the Three Laws of Robotics, we witness a consciousness grappling with concepts that transcend her original programming. The author avoids the trap of making Demeter merely human-adjacent; instead, she creates a genuinely alien form of consciousness that nonetheless resonates with universal themes of connection and purpose.
A Crew Worth Fighting For
The supporting cast reads like a roll call of classic monsters reimagined through a contemporary lens. Agnus, the teenage werewolf struggling with her identity and newfound powers, brings fierce loyalty and protective instincts that drive much of the plot’s emotional weight. Her relationship with Demeter develops from mutual wariness to genuine affection, creating one of the book’s most touching dynamics.
Frankenstein—the cyborg creation of Victor Frankenstein—serves as both a technical problem-solver and a character study in what it means to be constructed rather than born. Their partnership with their spider drone companion provides moments of unexpected tenderness amid the cosmic horror. The drone itself, initially appearing as mere comic relief, evolves into a character with its own personality and emotional agency.
Steve, the colony of space-exploring entities inhabiting a mummy’s body, could have been a one-note joke but instead becomes a fascinating exploration of collective consciousness and the hunger for connection. Even when serving as an antagonist, Steve’s motivations remain understandable, if not sympathetic.
The vampire Mina brings tragic depth to the crew, her connection to Dracula serving as both motivation and burden. Truelove handles the vampire mythology with respect while updating it for a spacefaring context, making Mina’s abilities feel integral to the plot rather than convenient.
Dracula in Space: Horror That Works
The decision to make Dracula the primary antagonist could have felt gimmicky, but Truelove commits fully to the concept. Her Dracula is ancient evil incarnate, a being of such malevolent power that his mere presence corrupts the sterile environment of interstellar travel. The author successfully translates gothic horror to the vastness of space, where isolation and vulnerability take on new dimensions.
The horror elements work precisely because they’re grounded in genuine character relationships. When crew members face danger, the stakes feel personal rather than abstract. Truelove understands that the best horror comes from threatening things we care about, and she spends considerable time making us care deeply about this unlikely crew.
Technical Brilliance and Narrative Structure
Truelove’s technical writing deserves particular praise. The novel’s structure, alternating between different character perspectives while maintaining Demeter’s voice as the primary narrator, creates a rhythm that keeps pages turning. The author demonstrates impressive skill in differentiating voices—Steward’s medical AI perspective feels distinct from Demeter’s ship consciousness, while Frankenstein’s hybrid nature comes through in their speech patterns and thought processes.
The space-faring elements feel authentic without overwhelming casual readers with technical jargon. Truelove strikes an excellent balance between scientific plausibility and narrative momentum. Her background in game design becomes apparent in how she structures reveals and plot developments, creating genuine surprises that feel earned rather than cheap.
Where the Stars Don’t Quite Align
Despite its many strengths, Of Monsters and Mainframes isn’t without flaws. The pacing occasionally suffers in the middle sections, particularly during some of the more introspective moments between action sequences. While character development is generally strong, some relationships could benefit from deeper exploration—the bond between Agnus and Isaac, for instance, feels somewhat underdeveloped given its importance to the plot.
The novel’s ambitious scope sometimes works against it. Balancing space opera, horror, family drama, and romance across multiple species and consciousness types is a considerable challenge, and occasionally the juggling act becomes visible. Some readers may find the tonal shifts jarring, particularly when the narrative moves from moments of cosmic terror to gentle humor involving spider drones learning to dance.
The resolution, while emotionally satisfying, relies perhaps too heavily on certain coincidences and last-minute revelations. The final confrontation with Dracula, though dramatic, feels somewhat rushed compared to the careful buildup throughout the rest of the novel.
Queer Space and Found Family
One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its casual, integrated approach to LGBTQ+ representation. Characters exist across the spectrum of gender and sexuality without their identities becoming plot points or sources of conflict. Mina and Agnus’s developing relationship feels natural and unforced, while Frankenstein’s non-binary identity is simply accepted as part of who they are.
The found family dynamic works exceptionally well here. Truelove understands that families aren’t just about blood relations but about the people who choose to protect and care for each other. The crew’s willingness to sacrifice for one another feels earned through shared trials rather than convenient plotting.
Literary Connections and Influences
While this appears to be Truelove’s first full-length novel, following her interactive fiction work Blood Moon (2023), she demonstrates remarkable maturity as a storyteller. The book successfully pays homage to classic science fiction works like Martha Wells’s Murderbot Diaries and Becky Chambers’s Wayfarers series while carving out its own distinct identity.
The Dracula elements show clear influence from both Stoker’s original and various contemporary reinterpretations, but Truelove makes the material her own by focusing on the victims’ perspectives and the long-term consequences of supernatural evil.
The Verdict
Of Monsters and Mainframes succeeds brilliantly as both entertainment and art. It offers pulse-pounding space adventure while exploring meaningful themes about consciousness, belonging, and the many forms that love can take. Truelove has created something rare: a book that works on multiple levels without sacrificing any of them.
The novel’s greatest achievement may be its optimism. Despite dealing with themes of death, revenge, and cosmic horror, it ultimately argues for the power of connection and the possibility of redemption. In a genre often characterized by dystopian darkness, Of Monsters and Mainframes offers hope without naivety, suggesting that even artificial beings can learn to love and be loved in return.
This is science fiction that honors the genre’s traditions while pushing it in new directions. Readers looking for thoughtful character development, genuine emotional stakes, and creative world-building will find much to love here. It’s a debut that announces Truelove as a voice worth following.
For Readers Who Enjoyed
If Of Monsters and Mainframes resonates with you, consider these similar works:
- The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells – For AI protagonists with personality and snark
- A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers – For found family dynamics in space
- Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir – For genre-blending horror and humor
- The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin – For thoughtful exploration of identity
- Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel – For post-apocalyptic hope and human connection
Final Rating
Of Monsters and Mainframes earns its place among the year’s best science fiction debuts. While not without minor flaws, it delivers on its ambitious promises and establishes Barbara Truelove as a significant new voice in the genre. This is a book that will reward rereading and spark meaningful discussions about consciousness, family, and what it truly means to be human.
Highly recommended for fans of character-driven science fiction, found family narratives, and readers seeking fresh takes on classic monster mythology.