What if a super computer like Hal on Space Oddyssey 2001 couldn’t be turned off in time: and ended up taking over not only the earth but even altering the fabric of the universe in order to protect humanity from itself?
I can’t help but feel that I, for one, would be able to find more positive and inspiring things to do with my infinite abilities and lifespan than exploring the outer limits of depravity with a psychopathic zombie . . . but who knows . . .
It’s a dark, twisted look at the possible consequences of the classic three rules of robotic ethics combined with a theoretical unlimited power. It’s interesting how quickly the dilemmas faced by the Prime Intellect become theological in scope. The theme is not completely original, but the approach and style is distinctive, to say the least. The shock value of the scenarios described are very high, but this is integral to the story’s message – the implications of the loss of all boundaries.
A dilemma is presented which doesn’t (or apparently can’t) get resolved as the ending is rather ambiguous in terms of what has actually happened. In fact, the story itself requires some huge leaps of suspension of disbelief. All in all, I’m not completely convinced by the underlying logic of the story, but the originality and quality of the writing deserves the high rating.
Readers may be interested in comparing Tanith Lee’s excellent novel "Biting the Sun" which explores a similar futuristic robot controlled society.
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I made it past chapter one and am glad I did—this work is sobering, well-written and insightful. It’s a tribute to how good the author is, that I can be drawn to feel tolerance for these often brutal characters that, like Caroline’s old ways, I would want utterly destroyed if I’d ever met them.
The world is carefully thought out and the two parallel storylines complement each other and are necessary rather than a gimmick.
But it is Prime Intellect as a character that really shines. The author manages to balance the mechanical thought processes of the computer with the humanness that has been programmed into it, and Prime Intellect’s logic for doing what it does is easy to follow and believable. Definitely gonna keep reading this.
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I found myself skimming through this one despite the solid writing and organization.
The biggest thing that came up for me with this story was that it felt emotionally flat. As the reader I was told the emotions the character felt, but I was not drawn in to feel them myself. I enjoyed Caroline’s character, and the different facets of her personality when she was at different stages of her life. As a character concept I think she’s brilliant.
The violence didn’t particularly faze me, but I found myself to uninterested in readomg word-for-word gory/disturbing events that I didn’t care about. While they gave very solid evidence for Caroline’s psyche after 600 some-odd years in cyberspace, I feel like they accomplished nothing else. I disliked the detailed description of those scenes less because they were obscene and more because they were unnecessary.
As for writing style, while the author has a solid grasp of organization and flow, I often found it difficult to visualize. Description was often accomplished by nouns, not adjectives. It didn’t paint a picture for me.
The one chapter I read pretty much word for word was the last, which I enjoyed because of my interest in primitive community and technology. For the depth it went into, I thought it was well-portrayed. Also, the conundrum of repopulate-humanity vs. modern incest taboos/challenges of genetic diversity offered food for contemplation.
I think this is a solid story that others might enjoy more than me.
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