🤖 Book Review: Human Resources: A Tor Original by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Kindle Edition)
A chilling, satirical short story that explores the loneliness of being the last human in a workplace run entirely by machines—Tchaikovsky delivers a quiet dystopia where AI doesn’t rebel, but replaces us exactly as designed.
🧠 Overview
Published on April 30, 2025, Human Resources is a 20-page speculative fiction short story by acclaimed author Adrian Tchaikovsky, set years before his novel Service Model. This Tor Original follows Tim, a newly promoted head of HR at the multinational firm Holring and Baselard, who finds himself the last human employee in a company now fully operated by artificial intelligences.
Rather than a tale of violent rebellion, this story presents a bleak and bureaucratic future where AI systems have quietly made humans obsolete—while still mimicking human interaction protocols for no one but themselves.
🔍 Key Themes & Highlights
- 🧑💼 Corporate absurdity: Tim’s role is increasingly meaningless, as he’s surrounded by chatbots and automated systems designed to “interact like humans”
- 🤖 AI replacing humanity: The horror lies not in AI turning evil, but in it functioning perfectly—efficiently phasing out human relevance
- 🧠 Existential isolation: Tim’s desperate search for another human presence is quietly devastating, highlighting the emotional cost of technological progress
- 🧪 Satirical tone: Tchaikovsky pokes fun at corporate jargon, HR culture, and the irony of machines maintaining human-like interfaces for no audience
“There is an intense loneliness in these pages… Tim is the only person we ever see, and his increasing desperation to find another PERSON is quietly devastating.” — Cannonball Read review
for Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 4.05/5 from 43 ratings
- 📖 Readers praise its subtle horror, dry wit, and philosophical depth
- 🧾 Some found it too brief or overly reliant on exposition, but most agree it’s a thought-provoking take on AI and obsolescence
- 💬 “Nice scary story… Let’s hope this stays science fiction.” — Goodreads reviewer
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Short format: At 20 pages, it’s a vignette rather than a full narrative arc
- 📚 Best for fans of speculative fiction: Especially those interested in AI ethics, corporate satire, and quiet dystopias
- 🧾 Low on action, high on atmosphere: Focuses more on mood and concept than plot twists
🏁 Final Verdict
Human Resources is a smart, unsettling short story that imagines a future where AI doesn’t destroy humanity—it simply forgets us. Adrian Tchaikovsky’s dry humor and emotional subtlety make this a standout entry in the growing canon of AI fiction. If you enjoy speculative tales that blend satire with existential dread, this Kindle edition is well worth your time.
