Review of Terms of Service
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Obianuju Chris
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- Latest Review: Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise by John K Danenbarger
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 by Craig W. Stanfill is a chilling futuristic novel set in a dystopian era. The story recounts the controlled life of Kim as a staff of the Artificial Intelligence Company and the distortion of her sequenced life by a weird but welcoming personality of her past.
Kim has worked diligently at the Artificial Intelligence Company for five years and lives uneventfully in a nondescript house dressed in pale and gender-neutral colors. After work every day, she plays virtually with her friends and drinks heavily to suffocate the sadness that swishes deep inside her. However, her dreams are still haunted by the soft cooing voice of the woman that birthed her. Life continues somewhat drearily for Kim; the AI dictates every part of her routine, from what food gets served in the day to what is socially right or wrong to what partner intimacy is allowed with. It is a life of limited variety, and Kim sticks to being invisible but is also exceptionally good at her job. When she gets raised in ranks by a mysterious encounter and closer to the Hierarchy, she becomes aware of the gravity of ticking doom, ready to explode. Essential decisions await Kim, with results that would either mean her total rejection or deeper involvement with the Hierarchy. What would it be?
Craig W. Stanfill puts his computer science degree and his expansive knowledge of Machine Learning to the test in the birthing of this book. He creates a superb storyline with the layering of the dystopian world. The plot build-up was almost slow-paced and a bit hum-drum but was insightful into the story's development. The description is delightfully vivid and makes for a perfect imaginative sequence. The book brings to life a world that would befall if life were to be run by Artificial Intelligence. A world where rights are snatched away and given back in measured and controlled quantities. Craig was brilliant and meticulous in detailing the tiny intricacies of this distorted society. It was subtle but not unnoticed that her sexual partners were referred to as 'phal' and 'vag' in replacement of man and woman, respectively.
The profound organizational control creeped me out, and I did take subtle breaks from the book as my mind struggled to understand how anyone could live like that. I would have broken all the rules long ago and accepted my worst fate. It was impressively organized but demonically controlling. My sole attention in this book rested on Kim. She was filled with personality and humanity even though she didn't recognize that early. A structured society was all Kim ever knew. She began this book wondering why anyone should ever break the rules and stifle the voice of individuality that arose within her. But as the plot ascended and winded down, character growth in Kim was evident. The voice she had silenced long before began to rise and reverberate into an echo. I was intrigued by reading about the internal and external struggles that Kim went through. I saw a little bit of myself in the mix. I was also aghast but mesmerized by the level of decay that society covered with a layer of faux morality. Their failed effort to stifle and control the sprouting fountain of love resident in man into obligation was significant proof of the unique wiring of humankind that could never be annulled.
This book is long and complicated, and I wonder how the author fits it together. It ended in a cliff-hanger which left me with itchy palms and eyes. Fortunately, the second book is out, so the wait wouldn't have to be long. This book is one of the most intriguing I have encountered in the sci-fi dystopian era. I disliked nothing about this book, as it is also exceptionally edited and devoid of errors. This book deserves more than a 5 out of 5 stars.
I recommend this book to fans of sci-fi. It is worth every minute of the long read.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Terms of Service: Subject to change without notice by Craig W. Stanfill is a chilling futuristic novel set in a dystopian era. The story recounts the controlled life of Kim as a staff of the Artificial Intelligence Company and the distortion of her sequenced life by a weird but welcoming personality of her past.
Kim has worked diligently at the Artificial Intelligence Company for five years and lives uneventfully in a nondescript house dressed in pale and gender-neutral colors. After work every day, she plays virtually with her friends and drinks heavily to suffocate the sadness that swishes deep inside her. However, her dreams are still haunted by the soft cooing voice of the woman that birthed her. Life continues somewhat drearily for Kim; the AI dictates every part of her routine, from what food gets served in the day to what is socially right or wrong to what partner intimacy is allowed with. It is a life of limited variety, and Kim sticks to being invisible but is also exceptionally good at her job. When she gets raised in ranks by a mysterious encounter and closer to the Hierarchy, she becomes aware of the gravity of ticking doom, ready to explode. Essential decisions await Kim, with results that would either mean her total rejection or deeper involvement with the Hierarchy. What would it be?
Craig W. Stanfill puts his computer science degree and his expansive knowledge of Machine Learning to the test in the birthing of this book. He creates a superb storyline with the layering of the dystopian world. The plot build-up was almost slow-paced and a bit hum-drum but was insightful into the story's development. The description is delightfully vivid and makes for a perfect imaginative sequence. The book brings to life a world that would befall if life were to be run by Artificial Intelligence. A world where rights are snatched away and given back in measured and controlled quantities. Craig was brilliant and meticulous in detailing the tiny intricacies of this distorted society. It was subtle but not unnoticed that her sexual partners were referred to as 'phal' and 'vag' in replacement of man and woman, respectively.
The profound organizational control creeped me out, and I did take subtle breaks from the book as my mind struggled to understand how anyone could live like that. I would have broken all the rules long ago and accepted my worst fate. It was impressively organized but demonically controlling. My sole attention in this book rested on Kim. She was filled with personality and humanity even though she didn't recognize that early. A structured society was all Kim ever knew. She began this book wondering why anyone should ever break the rules and stifle the voice of individuality that arose within her. But as the plot ascended and winded down, character growth in Kim was evident. The voice she had silenced long before began to rise and reverberate into an echo. I was intrigued by reading about the internal and external struggles that Kim went through. I saw a little bit of myself in the mix. I was also aghast but mesmerized by the level of decay that society covered with a layer of faux morality. Their failed effort to stifle and control the sprouting fountain of love resident in man into obligation was significant proof of the unique wiring of humankind that could never be annulled.
This book is long and complicated, and I wonder how the author fits it together. It ended in a cliff-hanger which left me with itchy palms and eyes. Fortunately, the second book is out, so the wait wouldn't have to be long. This book is one of the most intriguing I have encountered in the sci-fi dystopian era. I disliked nothing about this book, as it is also exceptionally edited and devoid of errors. This book deserves more than a 5 out of 5 stars.
I recommend this book to fans of sci-fi. It is worth every minute of the long read.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise by John K Danenbarger
