Review of What Do You Think, Mr. Collins?

[KellyKeller]

[Following is a volunteer review of "What Do You Think, Mr. Collins?" by Neal Bialostosky.]

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2 out of 5 stars

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What Do You Think, Mr. Collins? by Neal Bialostosky is a near-future, science fiction story exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in mainstream society. The story features several characters and their own connections to AI technology on a variety of levels.
There is also a significant political aspect to the story, with one character eerily similar to a particularly polarizing former U.S. President. Much of the campaign for Mayor of Paradise, the city in which the story takes place, is centered around the use of AI technology and its impact on humanity.
Will the increased use of artificial intelligence take jobs away from willing human workers? What other implications will it have on society and the environment? These are some of the questions under examination in this story.
I thought that the ideas and questions raised in this story were fascinating and provided a great foundation for the world Bialostosky created. The characters were diverse and interesting, with different personalities and perspectives that made it easier to follow when the story moved among them.
I struggled to really “get into” the story, however, because of the frequent jumps back and forth through time throughout the book. One chapter might finish with a character in what appeared to be the present, and the following chapter would follow that same character many years in the past. It was often difficult to recognize the time change until several paragraphs, or even pages, into the chapter.
Another struggle for me, personally, was the number of “loose ends” that were left untied throughout the book. Without giving anything away, there were moments at the end of chapters that seemed to be important pivot moments in the story but were never revisited later in the book. I found that to be frustrating as I read, because it felt as though I was waiting for an outcome that never came.
Overall, I would rate What Do You Think, Mr. Collins? at a 2 out of 5 because of the time confusion and loose ends, both of which made it difficult to stay in the story. I found the ideas surrounding AI fascinating in the way they were presented; I just wish the layout of the story had been tightened up to make it easier to follow.

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What Do You Think, Mr. Collins?
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