Review of EMA
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Magog219
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- Latest Review: EMA by Aian D. Grey
Review of EMA
[Following is a volunteer review of "EMA" by Aian D. Grey.]
EMA by Aian D. Grey is a sci-fi thriller that depicts an earth that's becoming increasingly unbearable to inhabit due to the effects of climate change. Lacking a better solution, a visionary invents an AI system that will help reset the balance between nature and humanity. This system's name is EMA (Economic Management Agent), and not only is it not inchoate or unproven, it's also implemented in various parts all over the globe.
The year is 2084, and Jason Webb is excited to attend a TED conference featuring his idol, billionaire and inventor of EMA, Damien Minsky. But the conference is sabotaged by a terrorist attack, and Jason is plunged head-first into uncharted waters. He finds himself faced with the possibility of his own death or the deaths of millions. Temporarily neglecting his mortality, Jason must make the choice between two difficult options. Should his choice prove erroneous, the consequences would be calamitous. If EMA is an enemy, it would be an implacable one, without the vagaries of human emotion, and all the genuflection in the world would be an exercise in futility.
The most salient aspect of the book is its unique approach to artificial intelligence. I've not come across any book that proposes to use AI as a solution to climate change, even fictitiously. The distinction between the decision-making process of AI and ours today is somewhat stark, but the author paints a picture of how that could all change. EMA is tasked with responsibilities that would cripple the globe were it to deliberately or accidentally sabotage its operations. This book is especially interesting as it portrays a very plausible outcome of relying on AI. I found it very thought-provoking.
It's logical that most books will villanize an unchecked power before asking questions first, but where there's a thin line separating good from evil, that would only deduct from the stroyline. This is why I liked that the author included Minsky's perspective. The reader is also briefly immersed in the analytical algorithm that acts as a computer's mind. EMA is not depicted as a malicious being that is intentionally trying to cause pain, and that is laudable because most authors would follow that route. There's also a world of difference between the protagonist's first chapters and the last ones. The reader is first introduced to Jason on his way to a conference that his idol is speaking at. His admiration for the man borders on obsequiousness, and this clouds his judgment. But, during the course of the narrative, Jason becomes more perceptive.
I had only one slight issue with the book. The translated version has some dialogue that might be lost in translation. This might not be the case, as it is plausible that it may be the author's interpretation of what future interactions might look like. But this is an impediment so infinitesimal that it might as well be nonexistent. I enjoyed reading this book, as it offers a glimpse into one of the innumerable possibilities the future holds and a chance to be absorbed into a world not unlike our own. The book is also edited professionally, and so I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling immersion into the world of science fiction.
******
EMA
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
EMA by Aian D. Grey is a sci-fi thriller that depicts an earth that's becoming increasingly unbearable to inhabit due to the effects of climate change. Lacking a better solution, a visionary invents an AI system that will help reset the balance between nature and humanity. This system's name is EMA (Economic Management Agent), and not only is it not inchoate or unproven, it's also implemented in various parts all over the globe.
The year is 2084, and Jason Webb is excited to attend a TED conference featuring his idol, billionaire and inventor of EMA, Damien Minsky. But the conference is sabotaged by a terrorist attack, and Jason is plunged head-first into uncharted waters. He finds himself faced with the possibility of his own death or the deaths of millions. Temporarily neglecting his mortality, Jason must make the choice between two difficult options. Should his choice prove erroneous, the consequences would be calamitous. If EMA is an enemy, it would be an implacable one, without the vagaries of human emotion, and all the genuflection in the world would be an exercise in futility.
The most salient aspect of the book is its unique approach to artificial intelligence. I've not come across any book that proposes to use AI as a solution to climate change, even fictitiously. The distinction between the decision-making process of AI and ours today is somewhat stark, but the author paints a picture of how that could all change. EMA is tasked with responsibilities that would cripple the globe were it to deliberately or accidentally sabotage its operations. This book is especially interesting as it portrays a very plausible outcome of relying on AI. I found it very thought-provoking.
It's logical that most books will villanize an unchecked power before asking questions first, but where there's a thin line separating good from evil, that would only deduct from the stroyline. This is why I liked that the author included Minsky's perspective. The reader is also briefly immersed in the analytical algorithm that acts as a computer's mind. EMA is not depicted as a malicious being that is intentionally trying to cause pain, and that is laudable because most authors would follow that route. There's also a world of difference between the protagonist's first chapters and the last ones. The reader is first introduced to Jason on his way to a conference that his idol is speaking at. His admiration for the man borders on obsequiousness, and this clouds his judgment. But, during the course of the narrative, Jason becomes more perceptive.
I had only one slight issue with the book. The translated version has some dialogue that might be lost in translation. This might not be the case, as it is plausible that it may be the author's interpretation of what future interactions might look like. But this is an impediment so infinitesimal that it might as well be nonexistent. I enjoyed reading this book, as it offers a glimpse into one of the innumerable possibilities the future holds and a chance to be absorbed into a world not unlike our own. The book is also edited professionally, and so I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling immersion into the world of science fiction.
******
EMA
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
Latest Review: EMA by Aian D. Grey
