Can you handle being watched? The Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin
NOVELSINNOVATION
Imagine bringing a cuddly robot into your home – cute, harmless, and oh-so-modern. Now imagine it’s not just a gadget but a window for a stranger to watch your every move. Creepy? Fascinating? Welcome to Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin.
This gripping novel dives deep into a near-future world where kentukis, small animal-like robots, serve as both companions and surveillance devices. But here’s the twist: they connect strangers from different parts of the globe. On one end, there’s a “keeper,” the owner of the kentuki, who unknowingly invites a stranger into their home. On the other side is the “dweller,” who remotely controls the kentuki, observing the keeper’s life through its eyes. It’s a setup that’s as thrilling as it is unsettling.
The story unfolds through a series of vignettes, each offering a peek into how this bizarre technology reshapes human connections. There’s Marvin, a young man in Guatemala who escapes his tough reality by inhabiting a kentuki in Norway, marveling at snow for the first time. Then there’s Enzo in Italy, who buys a kentuki for his son only to become strangely attached to it himself. And let’s not forget Grigor, who sees these devices as a lucrative business opportunity, connecting wealthy buyers to more "desirable" locations.
What makes Little Eyes stand out is its exploration of human vulnerability, trust, and voyeurism. Schweblin masterfully weaves these themes into her characters’ lives, creating situations that are simultaneously heartwarming, chilling, and thought-provoking. Readers on Goodreads have described it as “Black Mirror in book form” and praised its ability to make them question the boundaries of privacy and connection in the digital age.
Through its seemingly innocent robots, the book peels back layers of human behavior, showing how easily curiosity and loneliness can blur ethical lines. It’s not just a tale of technology but a mirror to our own world, where surveillance is ever-present, and personal boundaries are increasingly hard to define.
If you’re looking for a novel that’s both an entertaining read and a deep dive into modern anxieties, Little Eyes is the perfect choice. It’s a story that leaves you wondering: If you had the chance to watch – or be watched – would you take it?