Review of Terms of Service
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Edisaur
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- Latest Review: Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill
Review of Terms of Service
[Following is a volunteer review of "Terms of Service" by Craig W. Stanfill.]
Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill is a nail-biting story of an A.I. dystopian future that seems eerily possible and not-so-distant. We experience this world through the eyes of lonely and unsatisfied Kim who works for the all-controlling Artificial Intelligence Company. Even though Kim had always felt that her life was missing something, like possibly some of her memories, or any real purpose, she followed the path laid out in front of her without drawing too much attention. Or so she had thought. As she becomes more successful at her surveillance work, she finds the web of surveillance and control around her own life has been everywhere. Pushed and used by the corporate control giant, Kim has to make a choice. When it seems that all hope is gone, will she leave behind everything she thought she valued for a love she didn’t know she had?
I was fascinated with this book from the first explanation of the novel use of language in the pages. In a world where everything is controlled and equally merit-based, it only makes sense that language reflects this. In this future existence “I” is considered selfish and “centrist” so, using “we” is now socially the norm. Male and female have also been unified into “she”. That way all things are equal. Furthermore, whom you date is determined by an A.I. Procreation, you might ask. It is complicated. Where you live, what you eat, where you work, which route you can take to work, everything is merit-based. You have of course agreed to these terms of service or you would not be able to live among society for “unity, community, and safety.”
I cannot describe to you the relief and the anxiety I felt alongside our protagonist when she started asking questions, looking for answers, exploring life, and poking the A.I. bear!
It may be that the story’s setting in an overly controlled society run by A.I. surveillance is not a new concept. However, it was extremely charming to experience the story told by a young adult who had grown up within this already-existing system. It may also be noteworthy that there are “sexy” scenes and occasional curse words infrequently throughout the book, which may not be ideal for some younger readers. Although, I personally do not enjoy profanity or sex in my literature and I did not find it strong enough in this book to distract in any way. It fits the narrative.
I rate Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill 5 out of 5 stars because it is written in an engaging tone, it is a quick and easy read, provides a relatable lead character, and bit by bit reveals a futuristic dystopia wrought with secrets upon mysteries.
I recommend this book to readers of any age looking for a quick and easy read, whether you enjoy sci-fi, love, or adventure stories.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill is a nail-biting story of an A.I. dystopian future that seems eerily possible and not-so-distant. We experience this world through the eyes of lonely and unsatisfied Kim who works for the all-controlling Artificial Intelligence Company. Even though Kim had always felt that her life was missing something, like possibly some of her memories, or any real purpose, she followed the path laid out in front of her without drawing too much attention. Or so she had thought. As she becomes more successful at her surveillance work, she finds the web of surveillance and control around her own life has been everywhere. Pushed and used by the corporate control giant, Kim has to make a choice. When it seems that all hope is gone, will she leave behind everything she thought she valued for a love she didn’t know she had?
I was fascinated with this book from the first explanation of the novel use of language in the pages. In a world where everything is controlled and equally merit-based, it only makes sense that language reflects this. In this future existence “I” is considered selfish and “centrist” so, using “we” is now socially the norm. Male and female have also been unified into “she”. That way all things are equal. Furthermore, whom you date is determined by an A.I. Procreation, you might ask. It is complicated. Where you live, what you eat, where you work, which route you can take to work, everything is merit-based. You have of course agreed to these terms of service or you would not be able to live among society for “unity, community, and safety.”
I cannot describe to you the relief and the anxiety I felt alongside our protagonist when she started asking questions, looking for answers, exploring life, and poking the A.I. bear!
It may be that the story’s setting in an overly controlled society run by A.I. surveillance is not a new concept. However, it was extremely charming to experience the story told by a young adult who had grown up within this already-existing system. It may also be noteworthy that there are “sexy” scenes and occasional curse words infrequently throughout the book, which may not be ideal for some younger readers. Although, I personally do not enjoy profanity or sex in my literature and I did not find it strong enough in this book to distract in any way. It fits the narrative.
I rate Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill 5 out of 5 stars because it is written in an engaging tone, it is a quick and easy read, provides a relatable lead character, and bit by bit reveals a futuristic dystopia wrought with secrets upon mysteries.
I recommend this book to readers of any age looking for a quick and easy read, whether you enjoy sci-fi, love, or adventure stories.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill
