Review of Terms of Service
-
Seesy Yi
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 06 Jan 2023, 12:56
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 2
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-seesy-yi.html
- Latest Review: Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill
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 takes place in a future dystopian society, where artificial intelligences (AIs) have taken over humanity. Everything is under AI control, including what foods to eat, clothes to wear, when to leave for work, and, oddly, the temperature of water in the shower. The main protagonist Kim would discover through a series of events and a hollow feeling she’s had all her life that the world isn’t as fulfilling and liberating as it seems. This would all lead her to find out the truths of the society she lives in and an ultimate confrontation with the Director of all AIs, who will reveal a seemingly inevitable fate for her.
Stanfill included extensive amounts of description in the beginning of the book, most notably the first 4 chapters. I appreciated the vivid descriptions, as they not only provided a good foundation for the context of the world the story takes place in, but also a good way to emotionally connect to the characters and their thoughts. Although the descriptions painted the AI world as dull and lifeless, the phrases and words Stanfill used made it seem lively and profound and occasionally made me think if the AI robots had emotions and preferences. Additionally, each chapter ended in a cliffhanger that really encouraged me to keep reading on.
The only aspect of Terms of Service that I found difficult to follow was the pronouns. In the beginning of the book, Stanfill includes a segment where he explained how pronouns were used in the book. Humans were to use “we” or “us” to erase individuality and specialness, AIs would use “I”, and everyone was referred to as “she.” This made perfect sense for the setting of the story, which emphasized the idea that everyone was equal and any individuality was frowned upon, but there were times where it was hard to keep track of which character was talking and to who, if applicable.
I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. The description in the beginning was detailed and very well-thought out, and the overall plot was intriguing and compelling to read. However, when the pace started picking up plot-wise, the description got more vague, which made it slightly difficult to fully immerse in the story and characters’ emotions. Generally, the book was easy to follow and rewarding to read.
Terms of Service is most suitable for readers ages 16 and up. The beginning has extensive, vivid description about the world the story takes place in, which younger readers may find boring and consider it a slow start. There are also occasional segments that contain sexual content, which may be inappropriate for younger readers. Likewise, the message the book conveys stops readers to think about the road humanity and technology are heading down in today’s society, which can be a good reflection moment for teens ages 16 and up, as well as young adults.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill takes place in a future dystopian society, where artificial intelligences (AIs) have taken over humanity. Everything is under AI control, including what foods to eat, clothes to wear, when to leave for work, and, oddly, the temperature of water in the shower. The main protagonist Kim would discover through a series of events and a hollow feeling she’s had all her life that the world isn’t as fulfilling and liberating as it seems. This would all lead her to find out the truths of the society she lives in and an ultimate confrontation with the Director of all AIs, who will reveal a seemingly inevitable fate for her.
Stanfill included extensive amounts of description in the beginning of the book, most notably the first 4 chapters. I appreciated the vivid descriptions, as they not only provided a good foundation for the context of the world the story takes place in, but also a good way to emotionally connect to the characters and their thoughts. Although the descriptions painted the AI world as dull and lifeless, the phrases and words Stanfill used made it seem lively and profound and occasionally made me think if the AI robots had emotions and preferences. Additionally, each chapter ended in a cliffhanger that really encouraged me to keep reading on.
The only aspect of Terms of Service that I found difficult to follow was the pronouns. In the beginning of the book, Stanfill includes a segment where he explained how pronouns were used in the book. Humans were to use “we” or “us” to erase individuality and specialness, AIs would use “I”, and everyone was referred to as “she.” This made perfect sense for the setting of the story, which emphasized the idea that everyone was equal and any individuality was frowned upon, but there were times where it was hard to keep track of which character was talking and to who, if applicable.
I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. The description in the beginning was detailed and very well-thought out, and the overall plot was intriguing and compelling to read. However, when the pace started picking up plot-wise, the description got more vague, which made it slightly difficult to fully immerse in the story and characters’ emotions. Generally, the book was easy to follow and rewarding to read.
Terms of Service is most suitable for readers ages 16 and up. The beginning has extensive, vivid description about the world the story takes place in, which younger readers may find boring and consider it a slow start. There are also occasional segments that contain sexual content, which may be inappropriate for younger readers. Likewise, the message the book conveys stops readers to think about the road humanity and technology are heading down in today’s society, which can be a good reflection moment for teens ages 16 and up, as well as young adults.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill
