Review of Terms of Service

[Ntokozo Joy Ndlovu]

[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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Imagine a world where corporations run the world, AI is effectively active in every part of our lives, and privacy is frowned upon. Terms of Service: Subject to Change Without Notice by Craig W. Stanfill is based on such a world. Kim is an AI trainer who has lived a bland and lonely life up to this point. She adheres to the guidelines of the community and drinks herself to sleep daily. When Shan, her best friend from high school, comes back to town, they take a biking trip and step out of the city’s boundary. They find themselves in irrevocable trouble, the consequences of which seem to propel them in two very different directions. However, Kim soon discovers that she might be in a situation much worse than her friend’s. Her entire life was a sham, and none of the decisions she has ever made is hers. Kim finds herself at a crossroads where a choice between living a disturbing truth or a comforting lie has to be made. Which one will she choose?

Terms of Service: Subject to Change Without Notice by Craig W. Stanfill is a captivating futuristic sci-fi thriller. The author spends the better part of the first third of the book introducing us to the seemingly utopian society. The population has become heavily dependent on AI. The use of pronouns has been labelled genderism, and individualism is called selfism. Children are only raised by their parents up to the age of 4, and a matchmaking app is responsible for pairing everyone. Unfortunately, the line between the utility of such advancement and robbing people of their free will is blurry.

The author’s consistency was a thing of beauty. At the beginning of the book, the author included a disclaimer where he clarified that all the characters, regardless of gender, will be referred to as she and her, and the author stuck to it. When Kim later switches to referring to herself as ‘I”, it perfectly reflects her mental state and the metamorphosis she was going through. This consistency is also a testament to the book being professionally edited.

I loved the integration of artificial intelligence into human lives. Everything, from meal plans, travel routes, and bathing water to clothing and relationships, is managed by AI. Such a future looks pretty attainable and might be for the best of humanity to an extent. I was not surprised to discover that Craig W. Stanfill is a specialist in AI. I tip my hat to the author for his world-building efforts. It can only be described as spectacular.

Another enjoyable aspect of the book is how Kim seems to be in the spotlight throughout. The entire book is centred around her, and to a great extent, no other character is developed. A side effect of this is that the book seems to have a small cast, but the main aim was to keep the reader’s focus on the main character and emphasise her development. In reality, the story has a wide cast of side characters, many of whom are simply introduced and encountered once in the book. Readers have no choice but to like the protagonist and take her side.

I found nothing to dislike about this book. It has interesting futuristic ideas that are both realistic and mind-bending simultaneously. It warns about what happens when great technology lands in the wrong hands. I found no errors in the book, so I can conclude that it was exceptionally edited. I happily rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. This book might be one of the best sci-fi thrillers I have ever read.

This book contained no profanity but some rather detailed descriptions of sexual activity. For this reason, It is not suited for young readers. Fans of sci-fi and psychological thrillers will enjoy this one. It will also appeal to those who enjoy books that contain strong socio-political themes.

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Terms of Service
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[Omneya Shakeep]

I have already read this book, and I liked your analysis very much. Your summary describes the book very well. I enjoyed reading it. Excellent work with the review!

[Smrithi Arun]

This is a great, unbiased review! I enjoyed reading your take on Terms of Service. When I read this book, I was taken aback by how the futuristic society had such a grim and negative tone. The AIs intervening in Kim's personal conversations were highly uncomfortable parts to read.

[Sara Nóbrega Bartolomeu]

Kim is an amazing main character. I also liked her a lot. You should read the sequel