Review of Immortality Bytes

[Justin Christensen]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Immortality Bytes" by Daniel Lawrence Abrams.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Immortality Bytes by Daniel Lawrence Abrams is one of the most interesting books I have read. The book is set in a dystopian near future where technological advances have made life so easy and convenient that everything is... awesome? Universal Basic Income (or UBI) supports most of the world, and robots do most of the work. This means that humanity is largely left to pursue their own interests and passions in a world that is both beautiful (robots care for the world and environment as well) and largely free of crime and disease. It sounds like a paradise, and is a refreshing change from the bleak mega cities filled with grime and neon that pervade most science fiction these days.

The paradisiacal setting, however, is a thin veneer covering the insidious reality. In spite of having all of their needs met, the people in Immortality Bytes are not happy. They aren’t miserable, like the people living in the slums of many cyberpunk works of literature, but they are not fulfilled. The main character, Stu, and his girlfriend, Maria, are passionate about trying to make the world a better place. Maria is a social warrior, trying to form protests and fight for changes that will make life more meaningful. Stu is a brilliant programmer, striving to improve the world through his technology. The primary enemy that they faced at the beginning of the book is apathy. Both within themselves, and within the people around them.

Of course, apathy is not the most exciting villain, so before too long, a hulking Russian crime boss named Pyotr appears. He applies financial pressure to Maria, to try and force her and Stu to steal some technology from Stu’s ex-girlfriend; another brilliant programmer by the name of Roxy. Pyotr is, of course, not working alone, and the web of corporate scheming and deception that unravels through the following story was majestic.

This book is filled with action, emotion, and comedy for some reason. Honestly, it left me unsure how I’m supposed to be feeling. That dissonance is part of what I liked about this story though. It’s dynamic – the story is riveting and filled with social commentary and humor that dampens the generally depressing message at the core of the book. Even the happy ending was not as happy, if you dig into it a bit, as it seemed on the surface. Abrams does a fantastic job of delivering depressing commentary on the direction our world is heading, but packaging it in a very digestible way.

I could go on and on here, but instead I’ll wrap up here and just say that Immortality Bytes deserves four out of five stars. The only criticism I have is that there were quite a few spelling and grammar errors, but I honestly think those are easy to overlook. It is interesting, engaging, funny, off-putting, poignant, and unsettling. If you like science fiction you should absolutely read this book. Seriously. Pick it up!

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Immortality Bytes
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[Williams Jaden]

Immortality Bytes by Daniel Lawrence Abrams presents a refreshing vision of the future, where technological advancements have created a utopia supported by Universal Basic Income and robots handling the work. Set in a world free of crime, disease, and environmental degradation, it offers a hopeful look at what could be possible if humanity is freed to pursue passions and interests. A unique and optimistic twist on the typical dystopian narrative.

[NetMassimo]

This novel showing dark sides of what superficially looks like a utopic society offers some food for thought about appearance and reality. Technological progress might offer us a future when we can pursue our interest but we must be careful not to spoil that future. Thank you for your great review!

[Naimah Agboluaje]

This Virginian-accented review is based on the provided review above.

Y'all, Immortality Bytes by Daniel Lawrence Abrams sounds like an absolute gem of a book! This dystopian tale takes y'all to a future where robots do all the work and Universal Basic Income supports folks. It's like a paradise, but beneath the surface lies a hidden truth. The characters, like Stu and Maria, are on a mission to bring meaning to their lives in this world full of apathy. While facing the challenges of corporate schemes and a fierce Russian crime boss, their journey is gripping and laced with humor. This book delivers a bitin' social commentary on our reality, but it's done in a way that keeps y'all hooked. With a few minor issues, Immortality Bytes deserves a solid four outta five stars. If you're into science fiction, y'all should absolutely give this book a read. Yeehaw! Enigmatic characters, kept me intrigued throughout.

[Joe Alex 2]

This book presents a fascinating take on a seemingly perfect world overshadowed by apathy and a deep sense of unfulfillment, despite technological advancements. The mix of action, social commentary, and humor adds layers to the story, making it engaging yet thought-provoking. While it’s unsettling in its portrayal of the future, the way the narrative tackles complex themes is impressive. I’m intrigued by the concept and would like to read this book to explore its unique blend of emotions and commentary.

[Umesh Bhatt]

The book seems to highlight the point that even in a highly advanced future which apparently looks like a Paradise, evil and sinister plans exist beneath the surface and pose a challenge to the well wishers of the society. This review has evoked interest in me to go through the book. Thanks for a good review.