Review of Terms of Service
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Andrada Madalina
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Review of Terms of Service
[Following is a volunteer review of "Terms of Service" by Craig W. Stanfill.]
Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill is a sci-fi book about neural networks and artificial intelligence. It illustrates a rebellious human's perception of reality and freedom in a system governed by bots. Also, this book emphasizes themes such as control, virtual reality, friendship, and love.
Briefly, the story focuses on Kim, an AI trainer who is working at the Artificial Intelligence Company, and her spiritual journey in a dystopian future. The author presents her upbringing, daily activities, and assignments at work, and he outlines a reality controlled by AIs. Also, he illustrates the company's terms of service and the penalties suffered by those who break the rules.
I loved how the author outlined the antithesis between the bots' sense of duty and the humans' mixed emotions. I enjoyed the descriptions of the transitional zone that overlapped reality and virtual reality and appreciated how Craig W. Stanfill illustrated the system that oppressed the individual and limited his actions. For instance, I liked how he highlighted the humans' clothing in shades of beige to isolate their individuality and the social cohesion rating to be a clear distinction between the privileged people and the others.
Another positive aspect of this book was character development. I appreciated that although the plot focused on the strange behavior of AIs and the virtual reality system, the author remarkably portrayed Kim's emotional struggles and inner conflicts regarding the false sense of security offered by the company. I empathized with her feelings of emptiness and her bipolar selfist attachment. Also, I loved the development of her relationship with the AI she trained, Kimberly. For example, I was impressed by how Kim helped Kimberly to be more disciplined and how Kimberly understood Kim's emotions.
The only aspect I disliked about the story was the lack of references to the characters' genders because all the humans and bots were referred to as "she," and I would have liked to know which one was male or female. However, I understood this aspect from the author's notes because there is no gendered personal pronoun in Panglobal.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because I loved how Craig W. Stanfill illustrated the bond between a human and a machine. Although I was not captivated by the slow-paced and insipid beginning of the story, I enjoyed the intriguing plot that made me question my sense of security and the detailed descriptions of Kim's feelings. I empathized with her repulsion towards the system when all her actions were under surveillance and appreciated the author's final notes, especially his rhetorical question, which captured the essence of his book. Also, Terms of Service was exceptionally well edited since I discovered no single error while reading it.
I recommend this book to those passionate about artificial intelligence and humanoid avatars, especially those eager to read about virtual reality and bipolar selfism. It is perfect for those who like stories whose protagonists live in a nutshell and revolt against a system full of lies, but not for those who are not interested in genderism and cultist ideology. Also, Terms of Service is suitable for teenagers and adults due to its minor profanity and moderate erotic content.
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Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill is a sci-fi book about neural networks and artificial intelligence. It illustrates a rebellious human's perception of reality and freedom in a system governed by bots. Also, this book emphasizes themes such as control, virtual reality, friendship, and love.
Briefly, the story focuses on Kim, an AI trainer who is working at the Artificial Intelligence Company, and her spiritual journey in a dystopian future. The author presents her upbringing, daily activities, and assignments at work, and he outlines a reality controlled by AIs. Also, he illustrates the company's terms of service and the penalties suffered by those who break the rules.
I loved how the author outlined the antithesis between the bots' sense of duty and the humans' mixed emotions. I enjoyed the descriptions of the transitional zone that overlapped reality and virtual reality and appreciated how Craig W. Stanfill illustrated the system that oppressed the individual and limited his actions. For instance, I liked how he highlighted the humans' clothing in shades of beige to isolate their individuality and the social cohesion rating to be a clear distinction between the privileged people and the others.
Another positive aspect of this book was character development. I appreciated that although the plot focused on the strange behavior of AIs and the virtual reality system, the author remarkably portrayed Kim's emotional struggles and inner conflicts regarding the false sense of security offered by the company. I empathized with her feelings of emptiness and her bipolar selfist attachment. Also, I loved the development of her relationship with the AI she trained, Kimberly. For example, I was impressed by how Kim helped Kimberly to be more disciplined and how Kimberly understood Kim's emotions.
The only aspect I disliked about the story was the lack of references to the characters' genders because all the humans and bots were referred to as "she," and I would have liked to know which one was male or female. However, I understood this aspect from the author's notes because there is no gendered personal pronoun in Panglobal.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because I loved how Craig W. Stanfill illustrated the bond between a human and a machine. Although I was not captivated by the slow-paced and insipid beginning of the story, I enjoyed the intriguing plot that made me question my sense of security and the detailed descriptions of Kim's feelings. I empathized with her repulsion towards the system when all her actions were under surveillance and appreciated the author's final notes, especially his rhetorical question, which captured the essence of his book. Also, Terms of Service was exceptionally well edited since I discovered no single error while reading it.
I recommend this book to those passionate about artificial intelligence and humanoid avatars, especially those eager to read about virtual reality and bipolar selfism. It is perfect for those who like stories whose protagonists live in a nutshell and revolt against a system full of lies, but not for those who are not interested in genderism and cultist ideology. Also, Terms of Service is suitable for teenagers and adults due to its minor profanity and moderate erotic content.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: The Butterfly Cage by Rachel Zemach
