Review of Terms of Service

[Rachel Mohan]

[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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Although AI technology has existed for years, few people truly understand its current societal functions. But in Terms of Service, we see a future wherein AI has become an unimaginably powerful tool. In this future world, a good citizen's goal is never to stand out or draw attention, lest she be labeled a 'selfist.' In return for complete compliance, millions enjoy predictable lives with plenty to eat, reliable shelter, and recreation.

Kim and her friends have mostly succeeded in navigating their structured world, but for Kim, something is off. She isn't fully aware of what's wrong at first. But as her star rises, Kim begins to learn more about the AIs that watch over everyone. And as she gains a better understanding of how the AIs develop, she also discovers there's a lot more to her own story than she realized.

Terms of Service explores the possibilities of a fully-developed, AI-powered system of governance that feels especially relevant in light of current explorations of AI's potential. In Kim's world, the AIs have moved far beyond infancy to become far-reaching entities that blur the lines between the virtual and the real world. The world-building is detailed and precise without feeling clunky or slow. As a result, the reader's awareness of the full picture grows with the characters.

Throughout the story, both the characters and the reader will ponder: what price am I willing to pay for comfort? What price would I pay for freedom? And what does my idea of freedom look like? The answers to all of these are personal, and even those who aren't typically fans of sci-fi will find themselves drawn into the story and these fundamental questions that are so key to our humanity.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next in the series. Although set in the future, the dystopic lens delivers an uncomfortable ring of truth, and I rate this a 5 out of 5. My only concerns with this book are the unanswered questions, and thankfully there's a second book in the series that hopefully delivers on those loose ends. While there are sexual encounters within the book, they lack explicit detail, and I think they serve the storyline and overarching theme. I have already recommended this book to friends, and I hope to read more soon from this author.

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Terms of Service
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