Review of Terms of Service
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AwkwardAvian
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Review of Terms of Service
[Following is a volunteer review of "Terms of Service" by Craig W. Stanfill.]
In the future, the world is run by AIs (despite the fact that they have already taken over humanity in the past). A Big Brother-like network of artificial intelligences controls every aspect of your life, from the food you eat to your transportation to dating and even the temperature of your shower. They communicate to reward good behaviours (maybe you’ll get a slightly nicer meal or a more pleasant commute to or from work) and punish bad behaviours (cold showers, your least favourite foods, and an overall hellish life). The city is divided into districts. You may be moved between them at a whim and witjout any notie or any chance to psckup your belongings (although they will be delivered to you). Follow the rules (but don’t stand out doing so) and you’ll be moved inwards to a nicer area. Break them and you’ll be moved to the outer districts where life is a lot less comfortable. The catch? The rules are always changing. And always changing without notice.
Terms of Service: Subject to Change Without Notice by Craig W. Stanfill (who has a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence) follows Kim as she tries to navigate this dystopian world. She works for the Artificial Intelligence Company (all the sectors are named in a similar fashion), training AIs to catch those who are breaking the rules and showing selfist behaviours (read personality and individuality). She lives a moderately comfortable life but wishes for more. However, after a series of chaotic rule-breaking with her friend Shan, she finds herself wishing for both the good and bad of her previously simple life as she tries to keep herself from falling deeper and deeper into the new hole she has dug for herself.
While this story definitely seems to have drawn inspiration from the SciFi classics (such as 1984 by George Orwell), it is an incredibly unique book. I loved reading about the complicated simplicity that is the AI system that manages to run the world in a far more ordered way than humans ever could. I loved seeing the interactions with the AIs, which can be surprisingly malicious at times. Some, however, also sow kindness and compassion (even though AIs are incapable of emotion). The refrigerator is a good example of this. I loved reading about Kim’s interactions with it (and the housebot).
While there is nothing I particularly disliked about this novel, I think that it is worth mentioning that drugs, sex and alcohol are all themes in this book. There is nothing incredibly explicit, but it does mean that the book might not be suitable for all audiences. Drugs are easily (and seemingly legally) available and consumed at clubs as a part of a normal night out. Kim also frequently gets drunk before bed, drowning her stress, confusion, and memories in vodka. She has sex a couple of times, but, again, it does not go into great detail. These scenes mainly focus on her emotions, with some not all that detailed descriptions of experiencing what another's body feels like.
This was an incredible read and I would rate it five out of five stars. It examines and questions whet makes us human and how the human spirit can never be fully quashed, even when people are punished for letting it flourish. I would definitely recommend it to SciFi and dystopian novel fans and those who are interested in what a world run by AI would look like. It is well edited (although the author does seem to love his commas at times), and the story flows well. It is easy to follow, despite its complexities. I loved how the writer immersed us in the world he created without ever making the reader feel like he was simply dumping information on them. Looking at the capabilities of current AIs and the way in which governments seek order and control, this is definitely a believable future. Albeit a slightly terrifying one. I am definitely planning on reading the sequel to see how Kim’s story continues to develop in the increasingly complex web that the AIs and the mysterious Hierarchy are spinning around her.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
In the future, the world is run by AIs (despite the fact that they have already taken over humanity in the past). A Big Brother-like network of artificial intelligences controls every aspect of your life, from the food you eat to your transportation to dating and even the temperature of your shower. They communicate to reward good behaviours (maybe you’ll get a slightly nicer meal or a more pleasant commute to or from work) and punish bad behaviours (cold showers, your least favourite foods, and an overall hellish life). The city is divided into districts. You may be moved between them at a whim and witjout any notie or any chance to psckup your belongings (although they will be delivered to you). Follow the rules (but don’t stand out doing so) and you’ll be moved inwards to a nicer area. Break them and you’ll be moved to the outer districts where life is a lot less comfortable. The catch? The rules are always changing. And always changing without notice.
Terms of Service: Subject to Change Without Notice by Craig W. Stanfill (who has a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence) follows Kim as she tries to navigate this dystopian world. She works for the Artificial Intelligence Company (all the sectors are named in a similar fashion), training AIs to catch those who are breaking the rules and showing selfist behaviours (read personality and individuality). She lives a moderately comfortable life but wishes for more. However, after a series of chaotic rule-breaking with her friend Shan, she finds herself wishing for both the good and bad of her previously simple life as she tries to keep herself from falling deeper and deeper into the new hole she has dug for herself.
While this story definitely seems to have drawn inspiration from the SciFi classics (such as 1984 by George Orwell), it is an incredibly unique book. I loved reading about the complicated simplicity that is the AI system that manages to run the world in a far more ordered way than humans ever could. I loved seeing the interactions with the AIs, which can be surprisingly malicious at times. Some, however, also sow kindness and compassion (even though AIs are incapable of emotion). The refrigerator is a good example of this. I loved reading about Kim’s interactions with it (and the housebot).
While there is nothing I particularly disliked about this novel, I think that it is worth mentioning that drugs, sex and alcohol are all themes in this book. There is nothing incredibly explicit, but it does mean that the book might not be suitable for all audiences. Drugs are easily (and seemingly legally) available and consumed at clubs as a part of a normal night out. Kim also frequently gets drunk before bed, drowning her stress, confusion, and memories in vodka. She has sex a couple of times, but, again, it does not go into great detail. These scenes mainly focus on her emotions, with some not all that detailed descriptions of experiencing what another's body feels like.
This was an incredible read and I would rate it five out of five stars. It examines and questions whet makes us human and how the human spirit can never be fully quashed, even when people are punished for letting it flourish. I would definitely recommend it to SciFi and dystopian novel fans and those who are interested in what a world run by AI would look like. It is well edited (although the author does seem to love his commas at times), and the story flows well. It is easy to follow, despite its complexities. I loved how the writer immersed us in the world he created without ever making the reader feel like he was simply dumping information on them. Looking at the capabilities of current AIs and the way in which governments seek order and control, this is definitely a believable future. Albeit a slightly terrifying one. I am definitely planning on reading the sequel to see how Kim’s story continues to develop in the increasingly complex web that the AIs and the mysterious Hierarchy are spinning around her.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Vandella by M. Ch. Landa
