How to Pass as Human

Starred review from November 2, 2015
In the style of a field guide, Kelman, author of Girls and Video Game Art, shares the observations and experiences of an android tasked with living as and understanding what it means to be a human, in this innovative book. Android Zero, aka Zach, learns more and more about the people around him, in turn exposing the readers to some of the quirks, ironies, and wonders of their species that they may not have considered. There’s not much in the way of sequential art, but the graphs, charts, sketches, etc. (executed by artists Pericles Junior and Rick DeLucco) perfectly complement the text. The presentation is well thought out, the subject of thorough research and the result of a lot of dedication. The methodical, precise, and engaging prose makes what could have been a dry, unfeeling narrative instead a clever exploration of society, giving readers an emotional ride as they contemplate and sympathize (or disagree) with Zach’s findings on what it means to be a human being.