Review of Terms of Service

[Eze-Ogo Kal Dimuo]

[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: Subject to Change Without Notice by Craig W. Stanfill is a story of Kim, a citizen of UCE whose ambition and intelligence endear her to the apex authorities and must do as told. The UCE hierarchy has total control over its citizens using the corporations that deliver services to the citizens. The services can be added or removed within the privileges a citizen is allowed to have access to, directly impacting the standard of living the individual will experience. Kim was curious about how AI worked and developed the ambition to work in an AI company and work with higher-order AI after her graduation got the job of her dreams. Kim and Shan planned an expedition to the park managed by the recreation company to celebrate Shan's transfer to the East. During the expedition, they wandered into forbidden and restricted zones and violated the terms and conditions of the recreation company. Kim and Shan are faced with the consequences of their disobedience and are slammed with bans, restrictions and fines. Kim is forced to make a decision to let go of her ambition or be owned by the AI company. Moreover, she now knew the secrets the director and the UCE hierarchy hid from the citizens. What secrets of the UCE has Kim found out? And what does it mean to be owned by the company?

The story is set in a dystopian human civilization of the future where a society formed after an AI war is ruled by a group of individuals making up the hierarchy and head of companies. Artificial Intelligence is used to carry out maximum surveillance on the inhabitants who're left with no choice but to do as commanded in the company's terms of service. Other elements that make up an Orwellian state are used by the author, like the deceptive use of language. The themes are seen from different perspectives, which include the hierarchy or Kim's perspectives. The antagonist's idea is to keep civilization going by using necessary and available tools to achieve control. The protagonist's themes progressed from survival and ambition to becoming an opposition to the state. The book is divided into three parts: spring, summer and fall. The naming of the parts and chapters emphasizes the plot and enables readers to understand the ideas expressed by the author.

Terms of Service: Subject to Change Without Notice is a science fiction novel with lots of action and thrilling events. The AI cop bots are moving swiftly to arrest defaulters, and the chills of receiving notification of sanctions and bans directly on your mobile that take effect immediately. A lot of suspense is felt as the citizens are always in a state of fear to avoid the punishment that comes with violating the terms of service. The protagonist character is a dynamic one ideologically, progressing from obedience to free will.

I love the dialogue between the characters in this novel. The author uses dialogue to speed up the story and bring to the attention of the reader the next line of events. In the chapter "Shangri-La", the dialogue between Kim and Shan at the park is where they both get to understand the circumstances each of them had faced. The author's choice of words vividly describes each scene or event and immerses the reader in the imagination of the author. There is absolutely nothing I find negative about this book, but I must say it does contain explicit descriptions of sexual scenes. I also found no typographical or grammatical errors while reading, which proves it is exceptionally well-edited. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

The book is recommended to sci-fi novel lovers and Artificial Intelligence enthusiasts. This novel may not be suitable for younger readers as it contains sexual scenes.

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Terms of Service
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[Christabel Ify Benson]

I enjoyed how you emphasized the book's expert writing and editing. That, coupled with your description of the insider's view of the political environment, makes me more inclined to read this book.

[Neto Chukwu]

Terms of Service: Subject to Change Without Notice" is a well-researched and thought-provoking book that raises important questions about the role of technology in our lives and what the world would look like if AI’s take over.

[Faith ukaegbu]

If I had to live in a world where my everymove is monitored and had to be subjected to do the things that I wouldn't not do on a normal day, then I would have a perfect reason fight. From your review, I love how resilient Kim is.

[Ucposh301]

I have been fascinated by the era of AI. As soon as I realized that this book was centered around the technology of Al and talked about Kim and Shan's experiences in the Al industry, it kept my interest.