Review of Terms of Service
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Sydney Tracy
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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: Subject to Change Without Notice walks us through a virtual reality portal, hands us over to Kim and gives us a good dose of what could already be happening in our reality. A place where the terms of service are never questioned, only followed. This civilization is run by a dystopic hierarchy. Under the name, The Company. Along with their AI henchmen. Together they police and monitor every moment of life, right down to the expressions made in public.
There is no I, only We. Individuality, thinking for oneself is seen as selfish.
This is Kim's world. A pale beige existence, surrounded by blinking red lights. For the past few years, she has been working closely with Artificial Intelligence and slowly moving up the ranks.
Honing a skill and understanding in the art of AI surveillance. Reporting those that break the terms of service, rewarding others that go beyond the rule to please The Company. Upgrades at work, means upgrades in daily life.
After a chance encounter and a curious adventure, Kim dreads a punishment she can see coming. Years of watching The Company punish the ones who go beyond the district. Dread consumes her. Instead, she is given riches above her understanding. But is this reward just a bittersweet trick? Her existences and obedience are put to the test. While she performs beyond the standers, emotions that once left her in an uneasy fog, now leave her yearning for a life of freedom.
Freedom? A foreign concept in an artificial society.
Craig W. Stanfill renders a remarkably eerie sci fi novel. It gives you comfort in following the life of a young woman beginning her life. Learning about her world and all the strange but similar features that we share. That same familiar feeling also brings with it a creepy chill up your neck. The author gives you profoundly descriptive details surrounding the futuristic world, you become immersed.
When the layers start to get pulled back and you see the dark under belly of the artificial run civilization, you become just as anxious as Kim. That intensity in many of the events that play out through the novel is the most positive aspect. Honestly, I have not enjoyed a decent sci fi novel in many years, this was the first in a long time I truly admired.
While I found the first five chapters keep an even pace with plenty of background and story growth.
The ending seemed slightly rushed. To many doors are open without giving any further resolve. It would be the only negative aspect of the novel. More questions begin to rise as the pages dwindle.
The descriptive detail never wavers, a fantastic technique but by the last act it becomes repetitive. At times, I wanted to be in Kim's head less and jerk her awake. It brings me back to the eerie feeling that I wrote of previously. This story is written as fiction but how long until this story is truth. At the end of a novel, you are expecting to pull out of the pages and feel like you left a whole other world. But when you close this book, you are left with a somber feeling that the plot you just left is a mirror of your own reality.
My opinion of the end I believe is solely because of my fondness for Kim. Once you bond with her character and watch the growth, you don't want to leave her journey.
Could easily recommend this to a lover of the show, Black Mirror. Any fan of sci fi, of course. But this had a new generation feel. I could relate it closer to the modern show than Orwell or Bladerunner.
Not to say it doesn't have resembles to both. Terms of Service: Subject to Change Without Notice could also be recommended to anyone fearful of Artificial Intelligence. It is a main focus of the all-around story and a fresh face on the topic.
I would also recommend this to other mothers. There is a connection that Kim and Keli speak of while spending time together. Keli is going to raise another little one, but with their laws Kim at first can't understand why she would put herself through that. Kim's relationship with Kimberly is that of a proud mother to her ingenuous child. Teaching your offspring to walk then watching them run. By the end, she has a new outlook on motherhood. Being a mom, the connection pings a maternal instinct. It comes back to that immersed feeling the author is able to provide. When you find your own personal relation to the story it puts you closer to the main character.
This novel contains zero spelling or grammatical errors. It also contains a future language called Panglobal, this leaves no room for profanity. While there are a few extensive scenes of erotica, it is for the most part handled with romance and class. Kim does go through a traumatic sexual experience. This is not a negative for me personally. I find it an important event for story development, but it might be a sore spot for others in its excessive description. On the other hand, there is a positive description of drugs and alcohol use that is not a favorite aspect of mine. Because of the lack in human nature and abolishment of gender identity when it comes to intimacy, they seem to need to stay drugged to be able to perform. With all that being said, every negative I personally had for the story has a reason, or purpose in the narrative so I cannot count those aspects against it. I am rating this book 5 out of 5.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Terms of Service: Subject to Change Without Notice walks us through a virtual reality portal, hands us over to Kim and gives us a good dose of what could already be happening in our reality. A place where the terms of service are never questioned, only followed. This civilization is run by a dystopic hierarchy. Under the name, The Company. Along with their AI henchmen. Together they police and monitor every moment of life, right down to the expressions made in public.
There is no I, only We. Individuality, thinking for oneself is seen as selfish.
This is Kim's world. A pale beige existence, surrounded by blinking red lights. For the past few years, she has been working closely with Artificial Intelligence and slowly moving up the ranks.
Honing a skill and understanding in the art of AI surveillance. Reporting those that break the terms of service, rewarding others that go beyond the rule to please The Company. Upgrades at work, means upgrades in daily life.
After a chance encounter and a curious adventure, Kim dreads a punishment she can see coming. Years of watching The Company punish the ones who go beyond the district. Dread consumes her. Instead, she is given riches above her understanding. But is this reward just a bittersweet trick? Her existences and obedience are put to the test. While she performs beyond the standers, emotions that once left her in an uneasy fog, now leave her yearning for a life of freedom.
Freedom? A foreign concept in an artificial society.
Craig W. Stanfill renders a remarkably eerie sci fi novel. It gives you comfort in following the life of a young woman beginning her life. Learning about her world and all the strange but similar features that we share. That same familiar feeling also brings with it a creepy chill up your neck. The author gives you profoundly descriptive details surrounding the futuristic world, you become immersed.
When the layers start to get pulled back and you see the dark under belly of the artificial run civilization, you become just as anxious as Kim. That intensity in many of the events that play out through the novel is the most positive aspect. Honestly, I have not enjoyed a decent sci fi novel in many years, this was the first in a long time I truly admired.
While I found the first five chapters keep an even pace with plenty of background and story growth.
The ending seemed slightly rushed. To many doors are open without giving any further resolve. It would be the only negative aspect of the novel. More questions begin to rise as the pages dwindle.
The descriptive detail never wavers, a fantastic technique but by the last act it becomes repetitive. At times, I wanted to be in Kim's head less and jerk her awake. It brings me back to the eerie feeling that I wrote of previously. This story is written as fiction but how long until this story is truth. At the end of a novel, you are expecting to pull out of the pages and feel like you left a whole other world. But when you close this book, you are left with a somber feeling that the plot you just left is a mirror of your own reality.
My opinion of the end I believe is solely because of my fondness for Kim. Once you bond with her character and watch the growth, you don't want to leave her journey.
Could easily recommend this to a lover of the show, Black Mirror. Any fan of sci fi, of course. But this had a new generation feel. I could relate it closer to the modern show than Orwell or Bladerunner.
Not to say it doesn't have resembles to both. Terms of Service: Subject to Change Without Notice could also be recommended to anyone fearful of Artificial Intelligence. It is a main focus of the all-around story and a fresh face on the topic.
I would also recommend this to other mothers. There is a connection that Kim and Keli speak of while spending time together. Keli is going to raise another little one, but with their laws Kim at first can't understand why she would put herself through that. Kim's relationship with Kimberly is that of a proud mother to her ingenuous child. Teaching your offspring to walk then watching them run. By the end, she has a new outlook on motherhood. Being a mom, the connection pings a maternal instinct. It comes back to that immersed feeling the author is able to provide. When you find your own personal relation to the story it puts you closer to the main character.
This novel contains zero spelling or grammatical errors. It also contains a future language called Panglobal, this leaves no room for profanity. While there are a few extensive scenes of erotica, it is for the most part handled with romance and class. Kim does go through a traumatic sexual experience. This is not a negative for me personally. I find it an important event for story development, but it might be a sore spot for others in its excessive description. On the other hand, there is a positive description of drugs and alcohol use that is not a favorite aspect of mine. Because of the lack in human nature and abolishment of gender identity when it comes to intimacy, they seem to need to stay drugged to be able to perform. With all that being said, every negative I personally had for the story has a reason, or purpose in the narrative so I cannot count those aspects against it. I am rating this book 5 out of 5.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Snatched Up to Heaven for Kids by Jemima Paul, Arvind Paul
