Groy Polloi

Set in an alternate 1980s where the UK lost the Falklands War and Alan Turing is alive, 'Machines Like Me' follows Charlie Friend, who purchases a humanoid robot named Adam. As Adam develops human-like emotions, the novel delves into ethical questions about consciousness, free will, and the responsibilities of creating sentient beings. The story unfolds as a complex love triangle between Charlie, his girlfriend Miranda, and Adam, raising profound questions about what it means to be human.

In this intimate and open account, Alex Van Halen shares his personal story of family, friendship, music, and brotherly love. The book recounts the brothers’ childhood in the Netherlands and later in Pasadena, California, their early days as musicians, and the rise of Van Halen to rock stardom. It includes tales of musical politics, infighting, and the bad-boy behavior of the band, but primarily focuses on the deep bond between Alex and his brother Edward. The memoir is filled with delightful details and personal anecdotes, including never-before-seen photos from the author’s private archives. It stops at the point of David Lee Roth’s departure from the band in 1984 and does not cover the later years of Van Halen’s career.