Review of The Prophecy of the Heron
Posted: 08 Jun 2023, 14:59
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Prophecy of the Heron" by Craig W. Stanfill.]
Have you ever seen a heron? Do you know what kind of bird it is? Is it fun to watch? To my knowledge, I had never seen one, and I didn’t know anything about them, so I looked them up. They are birds with long legs, long necks, and heavy, pointed beaks, like a crane. They are carnivorous, standing in shallow water and stabbing their prey with their beaks. Now, what can this have to do with the story? Read The Prophecy of the Heron by Craig Stanfill to find out.
This novel is the second in the series about an AI-dominated society. These AIs are theoretically controlled by humans. The Prophecy of the Heron picked up where the first book in the series, Terms of Service, left off. It is not a stand-alone novel. The reader must understand the society that they are entering and its rules, which are very different from today’s social norms. If you have read the first book, however, I would encourage you to read this one as well. I really recommend it to those interested in technology and the ominous turn it may take.
As we begin the story, Kim is ending her bus ride to District 33. This was part of her punishment for being a Genderist (having a sexual preference). In this "outer district", she was expected to fend for herself. The AIs that had helped her with everything from food choices to transportation were no longer involved. They watched her every move, but to hurt, not to assist. Fortunately for her, she was able to find employment that allowed her to fulfill her needs and enjoy a small amount of freedom.
Kim’s new job and her success in fighting in the dining hall meant that she could avoid problems with most of the "Toughs.". She was being monitored by the Order Five AI, Kimberly, that she had created in what seemed like a different life. That was the only way that she could find to explain how her enemies always knew how to find her. Len and Dani were her only friends, and at least they would be around when she needed help. It usually came at a price, however.
There really wasn’t anything that I could point out that I disliked, but throughout the entire novel, I got the impression that everything would work out quickly and relatively easily for Kim. Despite this, I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. I only found a few errors in the entire book, so I would say that it has gone through thorough editing. There were a few more curse words in this novel than the last one, but there were still not many. Any sexual activity was kept to a minimum and was not explicit at all. I would say that this is appropriate for all readers, but it may be of no interest to those who are younger. Whoever reads it, though, needs to have read and enjoyed the first book in the series.
******
The Prophecy of the Heron
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Have you ever seen a heron? Do you know what kind of bird it is? Is it fun to watch? To my knowledge, I had never seen one, and I didn’t know anything about them, so I looked them up. They are birds with long legs, long necks, and heavy, pointed beaks, like a crane. They are carnivorous, standing in shallow water and stabbing their prey with their beaks. Now, what can this have to do with the story? Read The Prophecy of the Heron by Craig Stanfill to find out.
This novel is the second in the series about an AI-dominated society. These AIs are theoretically controlled by humans. The Prophecy of the Heron picked up where the first book in the series, Terms of Service, left off. It is not a stand-alone novel. The reader must understand the society that they are entering and its rules, which are very different from today’s social norms. If you have read the first book, however, I would encourage you to read this one as well. I really recommend it to those interested in technology and the ominous turn it may take.
As we begin the story, Kim is ending her bus ride to District 33. This was part of her punishment for being a Genderist (having a sexual preference). In this "outer district", she was expected to fend for herself. The AIs that had helped her with everything from food choices to transportation were no longer involved. They watched her every move, but to hurt, not to assist. Fortunately for her, she was able to find employment that allowed her to fulfill her needs and enjoy a small amount of freedom.
Kim’s new job and her success in fighting in the dining hall meant that she could avoid problems with most of the "Toughs.". She was being monitored by the Order Five AI, Kimberly, that she had created in what seemed like a different life. That was the only way that she could find to explain how her enemies always knew how to find her. Len and Dani were her only friends, and at least they would be around when she needed help. It usually came at a price, however.
There really wasn’t anything that I could point out that I disliked, but throughout the entire novel, I got the impression that everything would work out quickly and relatively easily for Kim. Despite this, I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. I only found a few errors in the entire book, so I would say that it has gone through thorough editing. There were a few more curse words in this novel than the last one, but there were still not many. Any sexual activity was kept to a minimum and was not explicit at all. I would say that this is appropriate for all readers, but it may be of no interest to those who are younger. Whoever reads it, though, needs to have read and enjoyed the first book in the series.
******
The Prophecy of the Heron
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
