Review of Terms of Service
Posted: 08 Apr 2023, 02:34
[Following is a volunteer review of "Terms of Service" by Craig W. Stanfill.]
Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill is a dystopian fantasy set in a world entirely regulated by AI, where every aspect of people’s lives is controlled by separate but interconnected companies, individuality is forbidden, and everyone is under almost constant AI surveillance. The story follows Kim as she navigates compliance in her programmatically-structured life, a yearning for connection which always seems to lack authenticity, and her own unspoken feelings about the totalitarian society.
The early chapters of the book immerse the reader into this world, with its strict dress code, gender neutral terminology, and reliance on Virtual Reality, or VR. The chapters are full of vivid descriptions of both the real and VR scenes, and engaging reflections from Kim that provide background and context. As the book continues, the plot moves faster, as an unexpected turn of events throws Kim onto a precarious path as she begins to unravel who is controlling the show.
Stanfill’s detailed descriptions and ability to evoke emotion through the story made it hard to put this book down. The story had the right balance of action and description, and it was easy to engage with the characters. One of the things I loved about the storyline was the way it incorporated the issue of discrimination. For all her silent skepticism, Kim holds a number of preconceptions and discriminations that are a product of her upbringing, and the way these were presented in the book were thought-provoking. At a technical level, the book was beautifully structured and impeccably edited, making a great reading experience.
If I had to criticize the book, I would say there were certain aspects that could have been given more explanation. For example, the circumstances leading to the establishment of this AI-based society were not really described — there were hints, but more narrative on this would have provided a more cohesive context, even if that narrative only reflected Kim’s limited understanding.
Overall, I give Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill 5 out of 5 stars. It was a thoroughly enjoyable book and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy futuristic fantasy, dystopian novels, and stories with female protagonists.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill is a dystopian fantasy set in a world entirely regulated by AI, where every aspect of people’s lives is controlled by separate but interconnected companies, individuality is forbidden, and everyone is under almost constant AI surveillance. The story follows Kim as she navigates compliance in her programmatically-structured life, a yearning for connection which always seems to lack authenticity, and her own unspoken feelings about the totalitarian society.
The early chapters of the book immerse the reader into this world, with its strict dress code, gender neutral terminology, and reliance on Virtual Reality, or VR. The chapters are full of vivid descriptions of both the real and VR scenes, and engaging reflections from Kim that provide background and context. As the book continues, the plot moves faster, as an unexpected turn of events throws Kim onto a precarious path as she begins to unravel who is controlling the show.
Stanfill’s detailed descriptions and ability to evoke emotion through the story made it hard to put this book down. The story had the right balance of action and description, and it was easy to engage with the characters. One of the things I loved about the storyline was the way it incorporated the issue of discrimination. For all her silent skepticism, Kim holds a number of preconceptions and discriminations that are a product of her upbringing, and the way these were presented in the book were thought-provoking. At a technical level, the book was beautifully structured and impeccably edited, making a great reading experience.
If I had to criticize the book, I would say there were certain aspects that could have been given more explanation. For example, the circumstances leading to the establishment of this AI-based society were not really described — there were hints, but more narrative on this would have provided a more cohesive context, even if that narrative only reflected Kim’s limited understanding.
Overall, I give Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill 5 out of 5 stars. It was a thoroughly enjoyable book and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy futuristic fantasy, dystopian novels, and stories with female protagonists.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes