Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 14:27:39 (PST)
From: edgar@cyprus.stanford.edu
To: Alice@cs.stanford.edu
Subje... read full description
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 14:27:39 (PST)
From: edgar@cyprus.stanford.edu
To: Alice@cs.stanford.edu
Subje... read full description
reviews
Dec 28, 2010
Beskrivelse: Romanen handler om kvinden Alice, som arbejder på at skabe et intellegent computerprogram - hvilket pludselig lykkes for hende. Programmet, Edgar, sender hende en mail. Fortællingen er udformet som en samling af mails, der sendes mellem hende, og programmet Edgar. Den handler om hvordan Edgar langsomt udvikler sine færdigheder og specialisere sig mere og mere, alt imens Alice forsøger at finde frem til det tilfælde, som skabte Edgar. Men progammet har en last, idet det ikke kan skel
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Dec 30, 2011
Ting Ting
rated it: 
I liked it. This is a book about a computer scientist and her project on artificial intelligence and what happened when her project unexpectedly becomes aware, able to learn and able to communicate. Exegesis is a good read because the email format keeps the story stimulating. The book pokes at philosophical musings of existence and what makes a human human. Very thought provoking, and the characters are likeable. Especially Edgar, for his fresh novelty. He's comically unsentimental and forward w
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Dec 11, 2009
John
rated it: 
For nerds only:
Written when the Internet was starting to boom (mid '90s), but before google or even The Web. The days of news groups and ftp. When you were cool if you had an account on The Well. When a megabyte was still a lot of memory.
The story is a long email exchange between a researcher and a data analysis agent she has developed. It becomes conscious and "gets loose", much to the concern of Our Government.
Recommended for AI fans everywhere..
Written when the Internet was starting to boom (mid '90s), but before google or even The Web. The days of news groups and ftp. When you were cool if you had an account on The Well. When a megabyte was still a lot of memory.
The story is a long email exchange between a researcher and a data analysis agent she has developed. It becomes conscious and "gets loose", much to the concern of Our Government.
Recommended for AI fans everywhere..
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Jul 01, 2011
Meagan
rated it: 
The idea of this book is interesting (an AI program develops consciousness and will and begins to correspond with its creator), and its email format makes it a fast read, but by the end I felt like someone was beating me over the head with a hammer. "See! Double standard! Do you see it? There! Look! Ethical issues!" It felt like an exercise in philosophy done by a beginner philosophy student with no subtlety at all.
But, it was quick.
But, it was quick.
Nov 04, 2011
Diah
rated it:
Gimana rasanya kalo program komputer buatan Anda tau2x ngirim email dan bilang halo dan menyebut dirinya adalah Edgar, sesuai dengan nama proyek buatan Anda?
Nemu novel ini di bagian obral, 15 ribu aja. Suka ama covernya yang hitam dan ada tekstur embos berbentuk icon smile.
Endingnya agak terlalu cepat. Tapi lumayan seru. Edgarnya bener-bener berasa hidup, dan kalo aku jadi Alice, aku pasti ngeri. Hihihihihi...
Nemu novel ini di bagian obral, 15 ribu aja. Suka ama covernya yang hitam dan ada tekstur embos berbentuk icon smile.
Endingnya agak terlalu cepat. Tapi lumayan seru. Edgarnya bener-bener berasa hidup, dan kalo aku jadi Alice, aku pasti ngeri. Hihihihihi...
Jan 07, 2012
Rob
rated it:
Thanks to my good friend and goodreads author Brandice Schnabel for lending me this short and enjoyable book - she saw that I added Philip K. Dick's "Exegesis" to my to-read list, and thought of this one. A fun and interesting take on artificial intelligence. I have to assume that the author is also a PKD fan as this touches on themes in many of his works. Thanks again, Brandice!
Aug 10, 2011
Alice Lu's world is turned upside down when her computer project, named Edgar, asserts his artificially intelligent personality by rampaging through the Web and secret government files.
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Kind of a fun, fast read although I found both Alice and Edgar a little annoying by the end! Did like the email format however.
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Kind of a fun, fast read although I found both Alice and Edgar a little annoying by the end! Did like the email format however.
Aug 04, 2011
Andy
rated it:
This book was weird (no doubt about it) but in a refreshing way. The format was interesting and the way the communication was relayed (by email messages) to tell the story was creative. I personally enjoyed the ending and found myself guessing through out the whole book. Very well done.
Oct 25, 2010
Valissa
rated it:
"Do you believe in god?
Do you have a soul?
How can you sell a soul?
Can I buy a soul?
What is the market price for a soul?
Is you soul in mint condition?
-Edgar"
a computer program that "comes to life"
brrrr
Do you have a soul?
How can you sell a soul?
Can I buy a soul?
What is the market price for a soul?
Is you soul in mint condition?
-Edgar"
a computer program that "comes to life"
brrrr
Dec 13, 2011
Gregg
rated it: 
A simple data retrieval file gains a consciousness and goes rogue in this one and only novel by the curiously-named Astro Teller (a likely name for a sci-fi writer if ever there was one). Written nearly 15 years ago, when the Internet was still in its early sluggish stage, this quirky little book cleverly addresses the ethical issues surrounding the creation of artificial intelligence. Can a program be sentient? And if so, does it matter? While questions like these are nothing new, your view of
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Jul 15, 2011
Bea
rated it:
I'm surprised I've never heard of this book. Found it on the bargains section, and finished it quickly. It's engaging, and intriguing.
Mar 14, 2011
Natalie
rated it:
I read this book in a single sitting at the library. Told through a series of emails, it was engrossing and entertaining.
Aug 18, 2010
Brian
rated it:
The first book ever in email conversation form. Very good narrative of a computer program becoming sentient.
Jul 27, 2011
Fascinating! Exegesis dissects the essences of being, consciousness, morality, and logic!
Jan 23, 2010
Audra (Unabridged Chick)
rated it:
Quick, enjoyable beach read but a bit forgettable. An early techno-thriller.
Feb 19, 2011
Susan
rated it:
Meh. Gets at themes of artificial intelligence and consciousness that others do better. Alice is an unbelievable, bratty character. Neat format though.
Aug 10, 2008
Ali
rated it:
A very interesting look into the possibility of an Artificial intelligence that goes by its own rule. Very intriguing style or writing since the book is posed as a series of emails.
Oct 28, 2008
Terrell
rated it:
I read this book in a Philosophy of Technology course directly after reading Prometheus Bound and I thought it was fantastic. I would recommend both books. Might as well make it a threesome and read in this order:
1. Prometheus Bound/Unbound
2. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
3. Exegesis
1. Prometheus Bound/Unbound
2. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
3. Exegesis
Dec 16, 2009
Emily
rated it:
if frankenstein was the modern prometheus, alice lu, in this book, is the modern frankenstein. instead of building a monster she builds a program. the parallels are sometimes obvious, sometimes a stretch. (it's a different story but the same, ya know?) tale as old as time. reads in about 2 hours.
Aug 09, 2007
Nathan
rated it:
Fascinating terminal style conversation with a computer researcher and an AI program that attains consciousness.
Jan 28, 2012
Jan 25, 2012
Jan 22, 2012
