Review of The Prophecy of the Heron
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Tessa Grinlinton
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- Latest Review: The Prophecy of the Heron by Craig W. Stanfill
Review of The Prophecy of the Heron
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Prophecy of the Heron" by Craig W. Stanfill.]
Craig W. Stanfill’s ‘The Prophecy of the Heron – An AI Dystopia Novel’ is the second instalment in a planned series of futuristic novels centred around the main theme of Artificial Intelligence and its influence on our existence. We closely follow the experiences, musings and discoveries of the protagonist Kim, as she wades through the challenges posed by the unemotional and corrupted world she has been born into.
As Stanfill depicts a future reality governed by UCE (Unity, Community and Equality) we start to sense the dystopian mood he is setting. A nod to George Orwell’s novels 1984, Newspeak and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is evident in the ‘panglobal’ language used by the citizens of this one world order and the general tone of the book. No reference to individuality, personal opinions or higher concepts are allowed.
Despite the regimented propaganda and actions of the UCE, a community of rebels continues to survive in the subdistricts at the edge of society. It is here that Kim finds her refuge and ultimately her next steps in unravelling the mysteries within her AI reality and actual reality, building to a climax within the eye of the heron.
As the action-packed story gathers pace interspersed with moments of retrospection, Stanfill alludes to many current political issues and major historical events based on inequality, control and subversion through his use of imagery and symbolism.
The only criticism I have of this book and the reason I have rated it four out of five stars is due to the unexpectedly abrupt ending. It was particularly surprising due to its brevity and the mundane imagery used, leaving the reader wondering if the author ran out of time. This has not put a dampener on my eagerness to read the upcoming threequel however. There were definitely less than ten grammatical mistakes in the novel so in my opinion it was edited professionally.
In summary, The Prophecy of the Heron was an enjoyable ride through a dystopian version of future Earth. We are given a glimpse into the disturbing reality that awaits us if we continue down the path of incorporating Artificial Intelligence and transhumanism into our daily lives. I really like the effect this has of making us ponder the importance of our human nature and unique existence.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys science fiction, dystopian and futuristic themes and exploring the question of what our future could look like in time with the advancement of artificial intelligence.
******
The Prophecy of the Heron
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Craig W. Stanfill’s ‘The Prophecy of the Heron – An AI Dystopia Novel’ is the second instalment in a planned series of futuristic novels centred around the main theme of Artificial Intelligence and its influence on our existence. We closely follow the experiences, musings and discoveries of the protagonist Kim, as she wades through the challenges posed by the unemotional and corrupted world she has been born into.
As Stanfill depicts a future reality governed by UCE (Unity, Community and Equality) we start to sense the dystopian mood he is setting. A nod to George Orwell’s novels 1984, Newspeak and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is evident in the ‘panglobal’ language used by the citizens of this one world order and the general tone of the book. No reference to individuality, personal opinions or higher concepts are allowed.
Despite the regimented propaganda and actions of the UCE, a community of rebels continues to survive in the subdistricts at the edge of society. It is here that Kim finds her refuge and ultimately her next steps in unravelling the mysteries within her AI reality and actual reality, building to a climax within the eye of the heron.
As the action-packed story gathers pace interspersed with moments of retrospection, Stanfill alludes to many current political issues and major historical events based on inequality, control and subversion through his use of imagery and symbolism.
The only criticism I have of this book and the reason I have rated it four out of five stars is due to the unexpectedly abrupt ending. It was particularly surprising due to its brevity and the mundane imagery used, leaving the reader wondering if the author ran out of time. This has not put a dampener on my eagerness to read the upcoming threequel however. There were definitely less than ten grammatical mistakes in the novel so in my opinion it was edited professionally.
In summary, The Prophecy of the Heron was an enjoyable ride through a dystopian version of future Earth. We are given a glimpse into the disturbing reality that awaits us if we continue down the path of incorporating Artificial Intelligence and transhumanism into our daily lives. I really like the effect this has of making us ponder the importance of our human nature and unique existence.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys science fiction, dystopian and futuristic themes and exploring the question of what our future could look like in time with the advancement of artificial intelligence.
******
The Prophecy of the Heron
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: The Prophecy of the Heron by Craig W. Stanfill
