The First Robot President

The First Robot President is science fiction with a healthy dose of political satire, making fun of Democrats and Republicans in equal measure. The novel centers around Thomas Jenkins, a lobbyist and Green-party activist, and his robot wife ("robowife") whose political ambitions land her on the Green party's 2520 Presidential ticket. 

In Part I, Wife and Mother, Thomas receives delivery of Esmeralda, his robowife, and marries her in a small ceremony with close friends and family members, which include Thomas's mother, Geraldine, and his sister, Jacqueline, a member of Congress.  

In Part II, The Path to the White House, Esmeralda runs for Congress and wins the election against all odds. The Democratic National Committee files suit in Federal court to invalidate the election on the grounds she is a robot, not a human being; but the judge rules in her favor, and Chapter 6 begins with her reporting for duty in Congress. There she is assigned to the Small Business Committee and experiences a rough start as the chairman of the committee attempts to marginalize her during her first committee meeting. Jacqueline, acting as her mentor, intervenes in her behalf after the meeting and persuades the chairman to make Esmeralda chair of a subcommittee. CPAN's audience quadruples as billions of people throughout the world tune in to watch the robot chairperson in action; and under her leadership, the subcommittee produces an unprecedented volume of new legislation. At the end of the year, Time magazine includes Esmeralda in its list of the world's one hundred most influential and admired women.

Chapter 7 begins with a meeting of the Green Party's steering committee, which is struggling to find a running mate for Senator Samuel Hoffenberger, its candidate in the 2520 Presidential election.  Despite objections from some members, the steering committee decides to include Esmeralda in a list of possible running mates. After interviewing the candidates, the Senator chooses Esmeralda to be his running mate.

As the November 2520 election approaches, Esmeralda must face off against her Republican and Democratic opponents in a formal debate. Chapter 8, The Debate, covers the entire debate and contains some of the novel's most biting political satire.

For the first time in American history, the Green party prevails in the Presidential election, and Senator Hoffenberger is inaugurated as President. However, during the Congressional luncheon following the Inauguration, he is assassinated. Part II ends with Esmeralda asking Thomas, "Does this mean I'm President-President of the United States of America?"

Part III, The Oval Office, begins with Esmeralda taking charge. She cancels the Inaugural parade and balls and makes an address to the Nation that evening from the Oval Office. In her address, she acknowledges that many Americans are concerned about having a robot as President and says, "the country is actually safer and more secure with me as President because I'm not impulsive and don't let my emotions control my behavior. I'm not going to fire a missile at China because I'm having a bad hair day." The four chapters in Part III detail Esmeralda's challenges and accomplishments as President; and Chapter 14, "Murphy's Law," provides an exciting conclusion.  Author Robert Carlyle Taylor has also written an Epilogue and Afterword. 

The First Robot President is at once humorous and profound, addressing a number of social and economic issues in an entertaining narrative.

The First Robot President is Robert Carlyle Taylor's debut novel.