Review of Terms of Service

[Kelsey Roy]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Terms of Service" by Craig W. Stanfill.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Craig W. Stanfill's Terms of Service: Subject to Change Without Notice is a blend of science fiction and fantasy novel set in the future. The book follows the main character, Kim, through her seemingly monotonous life in a futuristic dystopian society. Set in what used to be the northeastern United States, this totalitarian society is controlled by "the Hierarchy," which monitors every aspect of Kim's day via artificial intelligence or AI. Kim loves working with AI and went to school to become a trainer for the Artificial Intelligence Company, but will her knowledge become her downfall?

I appreciate Stanfill's ability to bring this dystopian society to life. There is no individualism in this world. People use "we/us" instead of "me/I" when referring to themselves, and all citizens remain genderless in their descriptions. The author created an outrageous world order while keeping the main character relatable. Readers can draw inferences about issues with today's governments and leaders with how Kim and her friends are controlled by "the Hierarchy." The people in this book cower in fear, unable to speak up, act out, or be individuals. The message behind this plot makes readers consider how wonderful it is to have individual expression and free will.

I found nothing to dislike about this novel. I ended the book all too soon and was looking for the next book in the series. I enjoyed learning about the range of AI throughout the book and was thrilled by the many plot twists. It was frustrating to read about Kim's life unraveling through each action she made, but in a heart-aching way that made the pages keep turning. I appreciate the author's ability to create depth in a character that was as visually non-descript to the reader as the rest of society. I found only one minor punctuation error in the text. This novel is well-edited.

I rate Terms of Service: Subject to Change Without Notice 5 out of 5 stars. I found the storyline engaging and unpredictable. The setting is unique, and the technology outlined in the story is fascinating. The author packed layers of meaning into an enjoyable fantasy novel. The one minor error I found did not affect my enjoyment of the book and therefore did not impact my rating.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy science fiction or fantasy novels. Readers who appreciate George Orwell's 1984 will be entertained by reading about this dystopian society. I do not think this book is appropriate for younger readers due to the discussions of sexual behavior throughout the storyline. I cannot wait to start Stanfill's next novel in the series, The Prophecy of the Heron.

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Terms of Service
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[kampen]

This novel seems to be an interesting work of science fiction set in a dystopian society where artificial intelligence rules.