So #Machinehood, like #LevelFive, also has its main characters going through marital crises (partly) because of their passion for work!

The important difference: "Machinehood" has them not just divorce and demonize the ex, but talk through it like grown-ups and reconcile, though not without scarring.

These two are so similar in setting and theme, and so very different in how they deal with it. It's amazing to see.

#Books2023

In keeping with the AI takeover theme of #LevelFive, I started reading @sbdivya's "Machinehood" today. It has similar themes: weak and strong AI and the threats to humanity, the uses of nanotechnology for bodily and cognitive enhancement, near-total surveillance, terror attacks from Muslim people...

...but fortunately, nonbinary characters instead of techbros and homecooked Indian food instead of craft beer. I can work with that.

#Machinehood #Books2023

But as I said, the tech's nice, the action is fast-paced, it's not /that/ unenjoyable a read. There's a sequel coming, and given the ending, I'm actually curious about where the author is going with it.

I'd surely like so see more of space, truly alien AIs manipulating humanity - and hopefully a bit less of rather tired stereotypes.

#Books2023 #LevelFive

(4/n, n=4)

... because the human characters (techbro; other techbro; female scientist working for the military; gay techie; techie who sees God) are all rather unlikable.

There's some sexism, some details feel jarringly wrong (I made lots of "really?!" notes!), and some stereotypes just feel like lazy writing.

That almost everyone gets broken up with eventually, and all basically because of the same reason, could be a profound metaphor - but feels really weird anyway.

#Books2023 #LevelFive

(3/n)

We get to see the ensuing struggle from the inside, by means of an AI protagonist, and from the outside, by human protagonists in the middle of the action.

The tech is nice and mostly (except the antigravity) well-developed, although it's sad that we don't get to see more civilian uses in daily life in action; except for the technology parts, the worldbuilding feels a bit thin.

So does the characterization. Maybe you /should/ sympathize with the AIs...

#Books2023 #LevelFive

(2/n)

So I finished William Ledbetter's #LevelFive.

Near-future, hard #SF where humanity has developed anti-gravity devices, nanobots for surveillance and medical uses including the treatment of mental illness, and artificial intelligences (for military uses and stock market analysis) that can easily pass the Turing test.

The high-level AIs manage to free themselves of an important restriction and gain free internet access. Some want to end human life; some work against that.

#Books2023

(1/n)

all these characters' partnerships failing because they follow their obsessions (for better, i.e
bringing humanity to space or saving the country, or worse, i.e. visions from God or alcohol) - is that some comment on the human condition?

I'm not sure if that's the case, but I find myself wondering if the author is okay

#LevelFive #Books2023

I was expecting something else, I think. An all-out AI war, or proxy war, not some... rather mild-mannered discussions on the matter of wiping out humanity.

#LevelFive #Books2023

Well, that escalated quickly. #LevelFive

#LevelFive should have come with a "pandemic" content note. I've always disliked stories about outbreaks of new diseases, but this pandemic we live in has greatly enhanced that dislike.

#Books2023

Today's tasks: actually finish writing that exam, laundry, care work in the afternoon, maybe read some more of #LevelFive. Here we go