Review of Terms of Service
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Oluwatosin Balogun
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Review of Terms of Service
[Following is a volunteer review of "Terms of Service" by Craig W. Stanfill.]
Set in a world where human emotions and flaws are considered selfish. A world where the hierarchy is unrelenting, merciless, and overly disciplined. Its citizens are expected to do nothing but obey the terms of services. The authorities have set artificial intelligence systems in place to ensure that nobody breaches the rules. Kim and her friends live in this strange world which seems like the normal way of life. While her friends try to question the authorities, Kim sets on a path of obedience. Her complete adherence to the rules has made her a model citizen worthy of emulation, but as Kim climbs up the social ladder, the truth about this almost-perfect world unfolds. Kim is about to find out just how dark the system is.
Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill is a mind-blowing science fiction that paints a realistic picture of a world controlled by technology. The story takes its reader through Kim's life as an Artificial Intelligence trainer. As she explains her world to readers, we get to meet other characters who are important to the story. The book exposes its readers to an electrifying clash between social conventions and technological advancement. The story started slow-paced, taking its time to build up the plot. This helped me to understand the world I was delving into. The book's narration style was fluid and concise. The author told the story in the third-person narrative, which made it easy for me to get attached to the characters.
I enjoyed the diversity of each character, and it was intriguing how each of them matured with the story. Even the machines were likeable. I was amused by how Kim's home appliances seemed to have a personality of their own. The banter between Kim and her refrigerator was comical. I loved how the house bot was always perceptive of Kim's mood. The love between Kim and Kimberly was powerful too. This dynamic showed that not all machines are bad; humans are the ones who corrupt them. Subtly, the book exposed the limitations of technological systems, humans' desires for control, and our insatiable craving for freedom.
I had nothing to dislike about the book. Everything about it was compelling. The book's title was attention-grabbing. Merely reading the title, I could tell this book was no ordinary book. Its unconventional delivery impressed me. The book's setting was arresting. The author made sure it was realistic. He created a naturalistic population with its unique language, time, and even weekdays. The scene descriptions were pictorial too, giving a pleasurable stretch to my imagination. I loved that the book contained thought-provoking incidents. Reading this book helped me understand that despite the increasing dependency on technology, humans' emotional needs cannot be overpowered.
I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. Although fictional, it was easy to mistake everything in the book for reality. The theme, language, and personalities conformed to the book's setting. The book's editing is also praiseworthy. I found no error while reading it. The excellent editing added to the seamless enjoyment this book offered me. This book is a product of thorough research as it came out beautifully.
I would recommend this book to lovers of science fiction and technology books. This book is a solid read bound to entertain, charm, and educate lovers of this genre. Readers who love unconventional books would also enjoy reading this beautiful piece. I do not advise people who are vulnerable to the mentions of drug or alcohol abuse to read this book, as there were several depictions of this abuse in the book that could provoke such readers.
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Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Set in a world where human emotions and flaws are considered selfish. A world where the hierarchy is unrelenting, merciless, and overly disciplined. Its citizens are expected to do nothing but obey the terms of services. The authorities have set artificial intelligence systems in place to ensure that nobody breaches the rules. Kim and her friends live in this strange world which seems like the normal way of life. While her friends try to question the authorities, Kim sets on a path of obedience. Her complete adherence to the rules has made her a model citizen worthy of emulation, but as Kim climbs up the social ladder, the truth about this almost-perfect world unfolds. Kim is about to find out just how dark the system is.
Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill is a mind-blowing science fiction that paints a realistic picture of a world controlled by technology. The story takes its reader through Kim's life as an Artificial Intelligence trainer. As she explains her world to readers, we get to meet other characters who are important to the story. The book exposes its readers to an electrifying clash between social conventions and technological advancement. The story started slow-paced, taking its time to build up the plot. This helped me to understand the world I was delving into. The book's narration style was fluid and concise. The author told the story in the third-person narrative, which made it easy for me to get attached to the characters.
I enjoyed the diversity of each character, and it was intriguing how each of them matured with the story. Even the machines were likeable. I was amused by how Kim's home appliances seemed to have a personality of their own. The banter between Kim and her refrigerator was comical. I loved how the house bot was always perceptive of Kim's mood. The love between Kim and Kimberly was powerful too. This dynamic showed that not all machines are bad; humans are the ones who corrupt them. Subtly, the book exposed the limitations of technological systems, humans' desires for control, and our insatiable craving for freedom.
I had nothing to dislike about the book. Everything about it was compelling. The book's title was attention-grabbing. Merely reading the title, I could tell this book was no ordinary book. Its unconventional delivery impressed me. The book's setting was arresting. The author made sure it was realistic. He created a naturalistic population with its unique language, time, and even weekdays. The scene descriptions were pictorial too, giving a pleasurable stretch to my imagination. I loved that the book contained thought-provoking incidents. Reading this book helped me understand that despite the increasing dependency on technology, humans' emotional needs cannot be overpowered.
I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. Although fictional, it was easy to mistake everything in the book for reality. The theme, language, and personalities conformed to the book's setting. The book's editing is also praiseworthy. I found no error while reading it. The excellent editing added to the seamless enjoyment this book offered me. This book is a product of thorough research as it came out beautifully.
I would recommend this book to lovers of science fiction and technology books. This book is a solid read bound to entertain, charm, and educate lovers of this genre. Readers who love unconventional books would also enjoy reading this beautiful piece. I do not advise people who are vulnerable to the mentions of drug or alcohol abuse to read this book, as there were several depictions of this abuse in the book that could provoke such readers.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Musings of an Autistic Mind by Darryl Jefferson
