Review of Terms of Service

[Neil Prince]

[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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Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill is a futuristic dystopian fiction novel set in a seemingly perfect society in the remains of a war-torn North America. Most of the issues facing humanity have been resolved, and humans and artificial intelligence work together in a state of peaceful cooperation. The protagonist of the story, Kim, lives a mediocre life monitoring her fellow humans for any potential violations of the all-powerful set of rules that all citizens must follow in order to make use of this society's many technological advancements. As the story progresses, however, her faith in the perfection of this system will be called into question as it's beautiful veneer begins to peel. She will have to face memories that have long been buried and decide if she has the courage to stand alone against a power greater than she ever imagined possible.

I was captivated by this book from the first chapter. The author builds on currently accepted concepts of artificial intelligence and creates an entirely new understanding of what a future with them could look like. I appreciated the not-so-subtle commentary on modern society and the underlying warning about what we could become if we don't keep our desire for order and perfection in check. I found the main character to be compelling and relatable in that she struggles to maintain her sense of self-identity in a world that condemns any sort of individualism, while trying to fit in with her peers at the same time. The dialogue was realistic, and new slang terms were invented for the era that fit the mood in which the book was set perfectly. This book appears to have been exceptionally well edited, as I was unable to find any typographical, grammatical, or spelling errors in it.

As a cynic by nature, I tried to find something in this book not to like, and failed. I enjoyed it more than anything I have read in recent years and will likely be adding a copy to my own shelves. I have nothing negative to say about it.

For the first time since I began reviewing books, I am happy to say that I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend reading it.

Due to some language and erotic elements within this novel, I recommend it to adults ages 18-30, especially those who are interested in science fiction, technology, and dystopian fiction.

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Terms of Service
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