Review of Terms of Service
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Sadia Altaf
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Review of Terms of Service
[Following is a volunteer review of "Terms of Service" by Craig W. Stanfill.]
Review:
Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill is a fascinating dystopian novel narrated lightheartedly, with appropriate use of technical language, which a layman can understand, laced with romance, tipping some valued philosophies with just a measure of human history in perspective, as well as in the conclusion which predicts a future….
A highly well edited document that touches the senses and intellect.
The world is taken over by AI (Artificial Intelligent) intellect after passing through a history of ‘Turmoil’ and collapse. The AI’s answer is a logical materialistic definition of perfection. The romance and human touch of Kim (the protagonist) and Shan, Keli & Jo prove otherwise. The AI’s Hierarchy perfected Aristotle & Plato’s debate; ‘we think therefore we are , we are that’s why we think’ to a next level. The protagonist Kim sides with ‘we are that’s why we think’ proposition and is able to train a sentient AI (Kimberley), created as her own replica physically; which is a combination of human sentiments and AI programming. The experiment is highly successful in the sense that the ‘programmed’ AI achieves level 5 standing: that is quite rare even in the perfect world of AI's, but then things are messed up and so on.
A novel inspired by H.G.Wells’ adaptation of scientific fiction. Where the machines hold the sway. It’s a romantic tale of realizing the priorities of life and finding one’s own lighthouse through the technique of stream of consciousness according to Virginia Woolf and the Modernists of early 20th century. The development in the novel is as bizarre as Gulliver’s explorations of human psyche in his various journeys, where he goes through a realization that takes him to the land ‘Yahoos and Houyhnhnms’ aka in this case a world of robotics and AI’s controlling and intimidating the humans. Both conclude in a mess of madness. As such Kimberley/Kimby, the AI trained by Kim, goes mad due to the contradiction and hypocrisy of the Hierarchy claiming noble ethics and positive ‘terms of service’ but giving negatives vibes of supremacy at any cost for themselves over the human. Thus, short circuiting the star AI Kimberley that cannot understand the diplomacy and goes mad.
A fascinating read not only for the general reader but particularly for mature philosophical mind that ponders where the reality is taking us. Highly recommended because of enchanting story and catchy style which keeps you glued to the book.
The only negative factor in the book is at places where logic of perfect society clashes with the horrific truth. At first the reader, who is lulled by ultimate happiness, is confused a bit but then manages to understand when he sees the complete picture.
The writer also shows inclination of a communist philosophy of few rulings over the set of masses in some arguments of the novel.
I conclude with Rumi’s eternal approach of mystery of life to the Artificial world we may be heading to:
Inside the Great Mystery that is,
We don’t really own anything.
What is this competition we feel then,
Before we go, one at a time,
Through the same gate?
I have reviewed this book and find it most fascinating and rate it as 5 out of 5. well done!
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Review:
Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill is a fascinating dystopian novel narrated lightheartedly, with appropriate use of technical language, which a layman can understand, laced with romance, tipping some valued philosophies with just a measure of human history in perspective, as well as in the conclusion which predicts a future….
A highly well edited document that touches the senses and intellect.
The world is taken over by AI (Artificial Intelligent) intellect after passing through a history of ‘Turmoil’ and collapse. The AI’s answer is a logical materialistic definition of perfection. The romance and human touch of Kim (the protagonist) and Shan, Keli & Jo prove otherwise. The AI’s Hierarchy perfected Aristotle & Plato’s debate; ‘we think therefore we are , we are that’s why we think’ to a next level. The protagonist Kim sides with ‘we are that’s why we think’ proposition and is able to train a sentient AI (Kimberley), created as her own replica physically; which is a combination of human sentiments and AI programming. The experiment is highly successful in the sense that the ‘programmed’ AI achieves level 5 standing: that is quite rare even in the perfect world of AI's, but then things are messed up and so on.
A novel inspired by H.G.Wells’ adaptation of scientific fiction. Where the machines hold the sway. It’s a romantic tale of realizing the priorities of life and finding one’s own lighthouse through the technique of stream of consciousness according to Virginia Woolf and the Modernists of early 20th century. The development in the novel is as bizarre as Gulliver’s explorations of human psyche in his various journeys, where he goes through a realization that takes him to the land ‘Yahoos and Houyhnhnms’ aka in this case a world of robotics and AI’s controlling and intimidating the humans. Both conclude in a mess of madness. As such Kimberley/Kimby, the AI trained by Kim, goes mad due to the contradiction and hypocrisy of the Hierarchy claiming noble ethics and positive ‘terms of service’ but giving negatives vibes of supremacy at any cost for themselves over the human. Thus, short circuiting the star AI Kimberley that cannot understand the diplomacy and goes mad.
A fascinating read not only for the general reader but particularly for mature philosophical mind that ponders where the reality is taking us. Highly recommended because of enchanting story and catchy style which keeps you glued to the book.
The only negative factor in the book is at places where logic of perfect society clashes with the horrific truth. At first the reader, who is lulled by ultimate happiness, is confused a bit but then manages to understand when he sees the complete picture.
The writer also shows inclination of a communist philosophy of few rulings over the set of masses in some arguments of the novel.
I conclude with Rumi’s eternal approach of mystery of life to the Artificial world we may be heading to:
Inside the Great Mystery that is,
We don’t really own anything.
What is this competition we feel then,
Before we go, one at a time,
Through the same gate?
I have reviewed this book and find it most fascinating and rate it as 5 out of 5. well done!
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Survive! Marooned on Planet Tau Ceti g by Charles P. Graham
