AI Unbound Two Stories of Artificial Intelligence Nancy Kress 9781612420677 Books
Download As PDF : AI Unbound Two Stories of Artificial Intelligence Nancy Kress 9781612420677 Books
Two stories about artificial intelligence from one of the most respected names in hard science fiction. Multiple Hugo and Nebula winner Nancy Kress gives us a fascinating look into the evolution of artificial intelligence and the impact it has on human society.
AI Unbound Two Stories of Artificial Intelligence Nancy Kress 9781612420677 Books
Well written and flows nicely.Story spans generations, humanity in all its stupidity and glory.
The mob mentality will always have a mob.
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Tags : AI Unbound: Two Stories of Artificial Intelligence [Nancy Kress] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Two stories about artificial intelligence from one of the most respected names in hard science fiction. Multiple Hugo and Nebula winner Nancy Kress gives us a fascinating look into the evolution of artificial intelligence and the impact it has on human society.,Nancy Kress,AI Unbound: Two Stories of Artificial Intelligence,Phoenix Pick,1612420672,Fiction - Science Fiction,Fiction Science Fiction General,Science Fiction - General,Science fiction
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AI Unbound Two Stories of Artificial Intelligence Nancy Kress 9781612420677 Books Reviews
The first story, "Computer Virus", is half the book at 65 pages and easily deserves 5 stars. It's mostly a thriller, with some sci-fi thrown in, working over a moral argument about what life is and whose life matters. This theme is a recurring one for Nancy Kress, and it's extended here to include artificial life. Highly recommended. Even science fiction haters will like this one. Beautifully done.
The second part of the book is a series of five stories spanning 300 years, all concerning a mysterious egg shaped object from outer space. For me, the transitions from one story to the next never dovetailed and the mysterious egg remained too mysterious to pull the collection together. Think of it as a bonus gift. Okay but without the polish "Computer Virus" has.
Each of the two novelettes in this book is about 65 pages long and both concern AI - Artificial Intelligence - and have elements of genetics and environmental pollution. However otherwise they have very little in common...oh, except for the fact that they are both excellent.
The first story, Computer Virus, is set in the near future. Cassie's husband was murdered by neo-Luddites after he had created a bio-engineered thingy that would eat nonbiodegradable plastic. Now Cassie has retreated with her two children to a high-tech house that is secure from all intruders, and is monitored by its own in-built computer. The house is not secure from an escaped AI though - infiltrating the house's computer, it takes Cassie and her children hostage and demands that the authorities allow it to tell its story to the press.
The story is about whether the AI's ethics will develop enough to allow it to sympathise, especially when the young boy Donnie gets sick; and conversely will Cassie be able to avoid empathising with the AI. The old 'What is Life' question - if the AI can think and seems to feel human emotions, is it still a machine?
The characterisation is very strong, with both Cassie and the AI developing as the story progresses. The plot is very firmly based on believable future science, not just regarding the AI, but also on bioengineering. Cassie is a geneticist and her skills come into play as she tries to keep her family safe. The plot has a few holes - not least the fairly large one that is never quite clear why the AI has chosen to act as it has - and some of the science went way over my head. But it's well written and builds to a tense and satisfying climax. This one rates 4 stars for me.
The second story though, Savior, is something special. It starts in 2007, when an alien object lands in Northern Minnesota. The government is ready to welcome peaceful aliens or battle invading ones - but nothing happens. The egg-shaped object just sits there, emitting nothing, encased in its own force-field that nothing can get through. The story then jumps forward eighty or so years, and we discover that an environmental catastrophe has destroyed huge numbers of people and left the survivors struggling to survive. And still the egg does nothing...
The story is divided into five chapters, each moving the world on by several decades - in total about three hundred years. We see humanity destroy itself and recover; we see technology ebb and flow; we see genetics, bioengineering and computers develop and change. And through it all, the half-forgotten alien object waits - and it's only at the end of the last chapter that we discover what its purpose is.
For me, this story is the equal of any of the classics. Imaginative and very well written, it does what the best sci-fi does - looks at humanity's strengths and weaknesses and considers how scientific advancements might affect the future. The build-up works so well that I was scared the ending might be an anti-climax, but I needn't have worried. Kress brings it to an intelligent and satisfactory conclusion with just enough of a little quirk to leave the reader smiling.
Together, these stories provide a fine contrast to each other and I certainly found them an inspiring introduction to Kress' work. Highly recommended.
Good stories.
N Kress is a great writer. Clear concise fiction. terrific characters. AEverybody should read these stories. Kress does it again
Great hard science fiction based, good writing interesting development.
I am an unashamed fan of hard SF and I reckon Nancy Kress is the best living author of this genre. This offering does not disappoint.
The first story was interesting. An AI takes a woman hostage in her own home. The interaction between the woman and the entity, the decisions made by people outside the house, and the actions taken by the woman are twisted together in an intriguing web. The end is both satisfying and not enough, as I definitely wanted to know more.
Recommended. No formatting issues that I noted, very little cursing.
The second story was weird, but I enjoyed it just the same. In this one, an alien object arrives on Earth. The story tells of the fates of humanity in the context of the object, until it finally serves its purpose, many, many years later.
Recommended. No formatting issues and little cursing. Some quasi-adult situations but nothing even remotely graphic.
Well written and flows nicely.
Story spans generations, humanity in all its stupidity and glory.
The mob mentality will always have a mob.
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