History YMMV / TheFutureEve

* HilariousInHindsight: [[Franchise/XMen A brilliant scientist known as "Professor X" who uses PsychicPowers and has an interest in people with superhuman abilities, inviting them to his house so that they can develop them in secret?]]

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: Chapter 23 is pretty heartwarming the first time you read it. Ewald has gotten together with Hadaly, having been convinced that she is sentient. This belief has been vindicated by her creator Edison, whom Hadaly has invited to come and visit them at some point in the future. Hadaly is then deactivated and put into a [[ForeShadowing coffin]] to be transported to Ewald's home. [[spoiler:She never makes it, as she pretty much dies in her sleep on her way there, making this her last conscious moment.]]

* HarsherInHindsight: Mary Stilwell - Edison's first wife - died of a disease [[note]]It's been disputed which disease it was, exactly[[/note]] after Auguste Villiers de l'Isle-Adam started writing the book but before it was published. This puts Edison's goal of creating a woman who "will not know life or sickness or death" into a whole new light.

* WhatAnIdiot: Ewald notices that Alicia is acting strangely. ([[TookALevelInKindness That is, being unusually nice to him.]]) He knows that Edison is fine with the idea of conning people and that he has finished building Hadaly, a robot who looks exactly like Alicia, is much nicer than her, ''and'' has been said to be a MasterActor. He is currently with "Alicia" because she wanted to talk with him in private, which is ''exactly'' what Hadaly told him that she wanted to do in a letter he received earlier the same day.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Ewald to put two and two together and realise that he is talking to Hadaly. (Even she is surprised that this doesn't happen.)\\
'''Instead:''' Ewald starts theorising that Edison has either used MindManipulation [[BrainwashingForTheGreaterGood to make her that way,]] (Not entirely unlikely, but it would - at least as far as he is aware[[note]] He doesn't know about Sowana yet.[[/note]]- be pointless for Edison to even create a robot if he could do that.) [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane or that she is just in a good mood because it's a nice evening.]] Hadaly pretty much has to tell him who she is for him to get it, at which point he is totally shocked.[[note]] It doesn't help that Hadaly is a telepath who can read minds, meaning that she could probably hear how wrong his theories were.[[/note]]

** The {{irony}} that this fictionalised version of Thomas Edison did everything he could to avert the UncannyValley when he created Hadaly while the ''real'' UsefulNotes/ThomasEdison fell head first into that trope when he made his own talking dolls is either this or HarsherInHindsight.

* FridgeBrilliance: One of the authors whose writings Edison intends to teach Hadaly is Creator/ETAHoffmann, who - among other things - wrote Literature/TheSandman1816, a short story featuring a RobotGirl whom most people tend to avoid [[UncannyValley because of the unnatural ways she moves and talks.]] No wonder Edison wants to make sure that Hadaly can pass as human without any problems. It might even be an [[InspirationNod intentional nod by the author]] if he was inspired by that story, (which is plausible, as they have pretty similar [[RoboticReveal Robotic Reveals]] towards the end.)

** The {{irony}} that this fictionalised version of Thomas Edison did everything he could to avert TheUncannyValley when he created Hadaly while the ''real'' UsefulNotes/ThomasEdison fell head first into that trope when he made his own talking dolls is either this or HarsherInHindsight.

* FridgeBrilliance: One of the authors whose writings Edison intends to teach Hadaly is Creator/ETAHoffmann, who - among other things - wrote Literature/TheSandman, a short story featuring a RobotGirl whom most people tend to avoid [[UncannyValley because of the unnatural ways she moves and talks.]] No wonder Edison wants to make sure that Hadaly can pass as human without any problems. It might even be an [[InspirationNod intentional nod by the author]] if he was inspired by that story, (which is plausible, as they have pretty similar [[RoboticReveal Robotic Reveals]] towards the end.)

** [[DoingInTheScientist Does the increasing emphasis on magic as the story goes on]] ruin a previously fairly [[MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness hard]] work of science fiction, or does it make the story more interesting?

* FridgeBrilliance: One of the authors whose writings Edison intends to teach Hadaly is Creator/ETAHoffmann, who - among other things - wrote Literature/TheSandman, a short story featuring a RobotGirl whom most people tend to avoid [[TheUncannyValley because of the unnatural ways she moves and talks.]] No wonder Edison wants to make sure that Hadaly can pass as human without any problems. It might even be an [[InspirationNod intentional nod by the author]] if he was inspired by that story, (which is plausible, as they have pretty similar [[RoboticReveal Robotic Reveals]] towards the end.)

--> '''Hadaly[[spoiler:'s last words]]:''' "My friend, after the crossing, you will awaken me. Until then as of old, we will see each other in the world of dreams."

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: Even if you don't think the story itself is that sexist, it still carries the message that it is okay to steal somebody's identity if you are nicer than them.
** This might be the reason for why most later uses of the RobotMe trope either turn the androids into villains, or have them work with/for the people they were based on.

* BrokenBase: Is the story itself misogynic, or is the reader not supposed to agree with Edison on his views? Ewald [[CallingTheOldManOut actually calls him out on his sexist views,]] and it is made clear that Edison doesn't know everything ([[ScienceVersusMagic He is a scientist in a story featuring magic,]] and has only just started to learn about PsychicPowers.) and this ignorance could extend to his views on gender. Then there is Ewald's relationship with Hadaly, which really only starts working out once he starts to realise that she is sentient. [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything In other words, when he starts treating her as an actual person with feelings, wants and desires, and not just a possession which is only there to look pretty.]]

** [[DoingInTheScientist Does the increasing emphasis on magic as the story goes on]] ruin a previously rather hard work of science fiction, or does it make the story more interesting?
* DesignatedHero: Thomas Edison. [[WellIntentionedExtremist He might mean well,]] but the plot still hinges on him [[BigBrotherIsWatchingYou spying on people,]] recording them without their knowledge and lying to his employees in order to commit identity theft. He also comes of as rather sexist and being a bit too casual about killing people, [[InsufferableGenius and he is not exactly humble about how smart he is, either.]] It's telling that, while Film/{{Metropolis}} takes some inspiration from this story, Edison's counterpart is turned into an antagonist [[AdaptationalVillainy and becomes an outright villain.]]
** There is also some FridgeLogic regarding his friendship with Sowana. He ''does'' pity her for going broke and being forced to beg for money to support herself and her children, but Edison is not only said to be quite rich, he is also her boss. You'd think that he wold be able to help her by say, raising her salary. Especially since she is such an important part of his current big experiment.

* FridgeBrilliance: One of the authors whose writings Edison intends to teach Hadaly is Creator/ETAHoffmann, who - among other things - wrote Literature/TheSandman, a short story featuring a RobotGirl who most people tend to avoid [[TheUncannyValley because of the unnatural ways she moves and talks.]] No wonder Edison wants to make sure that Hadaly can pass off as human without any problems. It might even be an [[InspirationNod intentional nod by the author]] if he was inspired by that story, (which is plausible, as they have pretty similar [[RoboticReveal Robotic Reveals]] towards the end.)
* FunnyAneurysmMoment: Chapter 23 is pretty heartwarming the first time you read it. Ewald has gotten together with Hadaly, having been convinced that she is sentient. This belief has been vindicated by her creator Edison, whom Hadaly has invited to come and visit them at some point in the future. Hadaly is then deactived and put into a [[ForeShadowing coffin]] to be transported to Ewald's home. [[spoiler: She never makes it, as she pretty much dies in her sleep on her way there, making this her last conscious moment.]]

* HarsherInHindsight: Mary Stilwell - Edison's first wife - died of a disease [[note]] It's been disputed which disease it was, exactly.[[/note]] after Auguste Villiers de l'Isle-Adam started writing the book but before it was published. This puts Edison's goal of creating a woman who "will not know life or sickness or death" into a whole new light.
** Most of the book becomes this once you reread it [[spoiler: and realise that Hadaly will die before she even has time to move in with Ewald.]]

** Ewald is said to have gotten "a new hope" when Edison tells him that he has a solution to his realtionship problems, later revead to be Hadaly. Futura - who was probably inspired by Hadaly - went on to inspired C-3PO, [[Film/ANewHope who made his debut in a movie with that very title.]]
** The {{Irony}} that this fictionalised version of Thomas Edison did everything he could to avert TheUncannyValley when he created Hadaly while the ''real'' UsefulNotes/ThomasEdison fell head first into that trope when he made his own talking dolls is either this or HarsherInHindsight.
* JerkassWoobie: Thomas Edison. He is morally ambigious at best, but it's still hard to not feel bad for him at the end [[spoiler: when he finds out that Sowana, Hadaly and Alicia are all dead and that all the time he spent working on his andraiad have been wasted.]]

* WhatAnIdiot: Ewald notices that Alicia is acting strangely. ([[TookALevelInKindness That is, being unsually nice to him.]]) He knows that Edison is fine with the idea of conning people and that he has finished building Hadaly, a robot who looks exactly like Alicia, is much nicer than her, ''and'' has been said to be a MasterActor. He is currently with "Alicia" because she wanted to talk with him in private, which is ''exactly'' what Hadaly told him that she wanted to do in a letter he recieved earlier the same day.\\

'''Instead:''' Ewald starts theorising that Edison has either used MindManipulation [[BrainwashingForTheGreaterGood to make her that way,]] (Not entirely unlikely, but it would - at least as far as he is aware[[note]] He doesn't know about Sowana yet.[[/note]]- be pointless for Edison to even create a robot if he could do that.) [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane or that she is just in a good mood because it's a nice evening.]] Hadaly pretty much has to tell him who she is for him to get it, at which point he is totally shocked.[[note]] It doesn't help that Hadaly is a telepath who can read minds, meaning that she could probaly hear how wrong his theories were.[[/note]]
* TheWoobie: Sowana[[spoiler:/Hadaly.]] Her husband cheats on her, wastes all of his money and commits suicide, throwing her and her children into poverty and forcing her beg for money to survive. She then contracts a disease which takes a toll on her body. [[spoiler: However, Sowana uses her newfound PsychicPowers to turn Edison's andraiad Hadaly into a self-aware SoulJar, [[BrainUploading with all of her "feelings, speech, and powers of reasoning."]] Hadaly approaches Lord Ewald in an attempt to comfort him, but gets rejected as he considers her to be JustAMachine, which makes her walk away crying. Ewald does finally fall for her, but Sowana's disease kills her right afterwards, and her artificial body is destroyed - [[KillItWithFire likely by being burned alive]] - when the ship she is on sinks.]]

** The {{Irony}} that this fictionalised version of Thomas Edison did everything he could to avert TheUncannyValley when he created Hadaly while the ''real'' Creator/ThomasEdison fell head first into that trope when he made his own talking dolls is either this or HarsherInHindsight.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: The story has been criticised for being misogynic, but you could easily argue that the reader is not supposed to agree with Edison on his rather sexist comments about women. Ewald ''doesn't'' quite agree with them, [[CallingTheOldManOut and actually calls him out on them.]] It is made clear that Edison doesn't know everything ([[ScienceVersusMagic He is a scientist in a story featuring magic,]] and has only just started to learn about PsychicPowers.) and this ignorance could extend to his views on gender. Then there is Ewald's relationship with Hadaly, which really only starts working out once he starts to realise that she is sentient. [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything In other words, when he starts treating her as an actual person with feelings, wants and desires, and not just a possession which is only there to look pretty.]]

* WhatAnIdiot: Ewald notices that Alicia is acting strangely. ([[TookALevelInKindness That is, being unsually nice to him.]]) He knows that Edison is fine with the idea of conning people and that he has finished building Hadaly, a robot who looks exactly like Alicia, is much nicer than her, ''and'' has been said to be a MasterActor. He is currently with "Alicia" because she wanted to talk with him in private, which is ''exactly'' what Hadaly told him that she wanted to do in a letter he recieved earlier the same day.
'''You'd Expect:''' Ewald to put two and two together and realise that he is talking to Hadaly. (Even she is surprised that this doesn't happen.)
'''Instead:''' Ewald starts theorising that Edison has either used MindManipulation [[BrainwashingForThegreaterGood to make her that way,]] (Not entirely unlikely, but it would - at least as far as he is aware[[note]] He doesn't know about Sowana yet.[[/note]]- be pointless for Edison to even create a robot if he could do that.) [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane or that she is just in a good mood because it's a nice evening.]] Hadaly pretty much has to tell him who she is for him to get it, at which point he is totally shocked.

** The {{Irony}} that this fictionalised version of Thomas Edison did everything he could to avert TheUncannyValley when creating Hadaly while the ''real'' Creator/ThomasEdison fell head first into that trope when he made his own talking dolls is either this or HarsherInHindsight.

** Edison thinks that the advancements in technology will soon lead to world peace, but Ewald doesn't believe him, saying that that is "just a dream." The story seems to side with Edison here, as it generally carries the message that dreams can and should be fulfilled, but considering that, in RealLife, technology has made wars far more destructive than they were when this story was written, it seems like Ewald was right all along.

** Edison thinks that the advancements in technology will soon lead to world peace, but Ewald doesn't believe him, saying that that is "just a dream." Considering that, in RealLife, technology has made wars far more destructive than they were when this story was written, it seems like Ewald was right all along.

* TheWoobie: Sowana[[spoiler:/Hadaly.]] Her husband cheats on her, wastes all of his money and commits suicide, throwing her and her children into poverty and forcing her beg for money to survive. She then contracts a disease which takes a toll on her body. [[spoiler: However, Sowana uses her newfound PsychicPowers to turn Edison's andraiad Hadaly into a self-aware SoulJar, [[BrainUploading with all of her "feelings, speech, and powers of reasoning."]] Hadaly approaches Lord Ewald in an attempt to comfort him, but gets rejected as he considers her to be JustAMachine, which makes her walk away crying. Ewald does finally fall for her, but Sowana's disease kills her right afterwards, and her artificial body is destroyed - likely by being BurnedAlive - when the ship she is on sinks.]]

** This might be the reason for why most later uses of the RobotMe trope either turn the androids into villains, or have them work with/for the people they were based on.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: The story has been criticised for being misogynic, but you could easily argue that the reader is not supposed to agree with Edison on his rather sexist comments about women. Ewald ''doesn't'' quite agree with them, [[CallingTheOldManOut and actually calls him out on them.]] It is made clear that Edison doesn't know everything ([[ScienceVersusMagic He is a scientist in a story featuring magic,]] and has only just started to learn about PsychicPowers.) and this ignorance could extend to his views on gender. Then there is Ewald's relationship with Hadaly, which really only starts working out once he starts to realise that she is sentient. [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnyTHing In other words, when he starts treating her as an actual person with feelings, wants and desires, and not just a possession which is only there to look pretty.]]

** This might be the reason for why most later uses of the RobotMe trope either has the androids work with/for the people they were based on, or turn them into villains.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: The story has been criticised for being misogynic, but you could easily argue that the reader is not supposed to agree with Edison on his rather sexist comments about women. Ewald ''doesn't'' quite agree with them, [[CallingTheOldManOut and actually calls him out on them.]] It is made clear that Edison doesn't know everything ([[ScienceVersusMagic He is a scientist in a story featuring magic,]] and has only just started to learn about PsychicPowers.) and this ignorance could extend to his views on gender. Then there is Ewald's relationship with Hadaly, which really only starts working out once he starts to realise that she is sentient. In other words, when he starts treating her as an actual person with feelings, wants and desires, and not just a possession which is only there to look pretty.