The main character of the book is a young man named Artemy, who has been given the opportunity to become the owner of a house that can think and feel like a person. The plot of the book is built around the idea that in the future, technology will have evolved to the point where houses and other objects will have their own consciousness and the ability to make decisions and take actions independently. The main character, Artemy, is given the opportunity to become the owner of such a house, which he names "House-1". As he learns more about the capabilities and limitations of House-1, he realizes that it is not just a machine, but a living being with its own thoughts and feelings. Throughout the book, Artemy struggles with the ethical implications of owning a sentient being and grapples with the question of whether or not he should treat it as a person or as a tool.

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