Review of Terms of Service

[Hannalie Korf]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Terms of Service" by Craig W. Stanfill.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The story starts with Kim waking up to the morning routine in a house served by a robot. She then follows instructions through her headset as she commutes to her assigned work space. She works as a teacher of automatons, which are simple devices unable to think for themselves and thus in need of constant training. Strict rules apply to commuters and these devices must report on behavior during travel, which gets rewarded or punished. Going for lunch is also monitored and controlled by Als, and direct feedback comes to your mobile. All movement and actions are monitored and controlled by The Elevator Company’s AIs (Artificial Intelligence robots) and strict Terms of Service apply. All actions are for the greater good of the community, and severe penalties await transgressors. At home, Kim orders food from her fridge and is given healthy, fat-free food demanded by the Food Company. For relaxation Kim plays a ball game in Virtual Reality with her friend. Kim gets assigned on a mission to recover children who were kept longer than the permitted four years by their birth-givers. Kim experiences feelings of loss, loneliness, and sadness, which doctors attribute to wrong child-rearing techniques during the early stages of her life; mistakes that had led to excessive attachment to her birth-giver. Kim always tries to fit in but then her old friend from school times moves back from exile. The two of them go on an unauthorized adventure which changes Kim’s life forever.

What I found interesting in this novel was how the author pulls the reader into a world where everything is controlled by artificial intelligence. Humans must fit in and try not to be noticed. Every detail of their lives is prescribed and monitored by robots. They all wear the same color each week, and meals depend on how they behave. One day Kim wore blue because she loves blue, but everyone else wore beige. She decided never to wear any other color but beige, even though she loved blue so much. The companies control all aspects of life, and everything is decided for you. The luxury of your apartment, privileges like hot water and tasty food, and mode of transport depend on good behavior.

What I did not like in this book was the way the characters in this book used pills, drugs, and alcohol to get through everyday experiences and difficulties. It is part of the superficial life they live, but I found it a little overdone.

I rate Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill 4 out of 4 stars despite the fact of overuse of drugs and alcohol as mentioned, because it is a captivating story in which the author created a realistic world where humans are ruled and regulated by artificial intelligence. The end of the story leaves the reader satisfied, but still wondering.

I recommend this book to adult readers attracted to futuristic stories. I enjoyed reading this book. I disliked the way the characters habitually use all sorts of pills and drugs to help them enjoy their controlled lives, but it is understandable from a human point of view.

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Terms of Service
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[readingswithsoso]

I disliked the way the characters habitually use all sorts of pills and drugs to help them enjoy their controlled lives, but it is understandable from a human point of view.

I feel the same way. On the other hand it really accentuates the decay.