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How My Brain Ended Up Inside This Box
When I was born I was so small I was mistaken for a french fry. I was never an ordinary child. My best friend was a seagull. I was also illegal. Artificially intelligent people like me had been banned ever since that thing with the Twelve Elevens. Mother raised me for profit. Buyers and sellers had other plans for me, but then I grew a mind of my own. This is my story, the story of how my brain ended up in this box
- GenresScience Fiction
210 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2016
3 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Tom Lichtenberg
82 books76 followersI've written a lot of stories, and one thing I've learned is that stories have a life. They want to be read, and they're brought to life by readers. Readers give them meaning, give them substance and fulfill their destinies. Stories aren't picky about who reads them. They welcome everyone. Money means nothing to them - they don't care how much the reader paid and they equally don't care how much the author made. Stories want to live and they want to be a part of your life. I often think of them as like paper boats you place upon a stream. You never know where they'll end up!
I tend to go for speculative fiction, sci-fi, satire, magical realism, post-modernism, eclectic lit, and generally stay away from horror, romance and paranormal unless there's some good humor in it. I like a light touch, with real ideas.
While a few of my stories are on Wattpad, lots more can be found (and all for free) at Smashwords.com, Feedbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, and the Apple iBookstore. If you really want to, you can also buy them cheaply on Amazon Kindle.
I tend to go for speculative fiction, sci-fi, satire, magical realism, post-modernism, eclectic lit, and generally stay away from horror, romance and paranormal unless there's some good humor in it. I like a light touch, with real ideas.
While a few of my stories are on Wattpad, lots more can be found (and all for free) at Smashwords.com, Feedbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, and the Apple iBookstore. If you really want to, you can also buy them cheaply on Amazon Kindle.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 20, 2018
“How my brain ended up inside this Box” is not lesfic, nor is it a romance at all…well…actually, since it’s important to know and love yourself before you can love another…perhaps it’s the required prequel to a future romance. What “my brain” unequivocally is, is an absolutely mind-bogglingly creative take on AI, and on humankind’s reactions to AI. Narrator Tess Irondale brought MC “candles” story to life, and along with “candles” we experience uncertainty, yearning, joy and wonder.
“Candles” is not the MC’s real name, and we never learn what her real name is. She “grows up” thinking she’s a girl, and she likes her sundress….but others call her a boy, and make her change her clothes and get a haircut.
“Candles” is an AIP - an Artificially Intelligent Person, and she shares with us her story of how she came to be, how she learned things that were taught to her, and how she learned things that were hidden from her.
People-people, she learns, have their own agendas and generally don’t mean well for her. Bird-people are generally kinder, often quite funny, but sometimes rather dim witted. Other people have their own idiosyncrasies, and “candles” can converse with them all.
This book is very different from the 2014 movie “Ex Machina”, but it effectively makes us think of many of the same themes. Created to serve a particular purpose, what if the AI chooses independence? What would the AI want to do? Blend in, destroy, or choose something other than what a human would choose?
There is no omniscient narrator here; we learn of the world as “candles” learns of the world. What a ride it was! 5* for both the story and the narration!
“How my brain ended up inside this Box” is the first audiobook by the author, but I notice that he has numerous books available on Amazon, many of them available as part of KU, making it easy to explore his creative mind on Kindle. I hope that further books are released in audio format, and I hope that he continues using terrific narrators such as Tess Irondale!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
My rating and my review was not in anyway affected by my having been provided a review copy.
“Candles” is not the MC’s real name, and we never learn what her real name is. She “grows up” thinking she’s a girl, and she likes her sundress….but others call her a boy, and make her change her clothes and get a haircut.
“Candles” is an AIP - an Artificially Intelligent Person, and she shares with us her story of how she came to be, how she learned things that were taught to her, and how she learned things that were hidden from her.
People-people, she learns, have their own agendas and generally don’t mean well for her. Bird-people are generally kinder, often quite funny, but sometimes rather dim witted. Other people have their own idiosyncrasies, and “candles” can converse with them all.
This book is very different from the 2014 movie “Ex Machina”, but it effectively makes us think of many of the same themes. Created to serve a particular purpose, what if the AI chooses independence? What would the AI want to do? Blend in, destroy, or choose something other than what a human would choose?
There is no omniscient narrator here; we learn of the world as “candles” learns of the world. What a ride it was! 5* for both the story and the narration!
“How my brain ended up inside this Box” is the first audiobook by the author, but I notice that he has numerous books available on Amazon, many of them available as part of KU, making it easy to explore his creative mind on Kindle. I hope that further books are released in audio format, and I hope that he continues using terrific narrators such as Tess Irondale!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
My rating and my review was not in anyway affected by my having been provided a review copy.
December 29, 2019
This was a wonderfully creative, confusing little story of an AI from an AI’s point of view. Our MC, who goes by the name Candles, isn’t really sure of what she is. She considers herself to be a girl but those around her tell her she’s a boy. The story is her gradual deepening of the world around her as she comes to the realize what her purpose is.
Even though she is an AI, Candles is very easy to relate to. The story as a whole is very smooth and easy to read. Even though there are times where Candles random thoughts can be a bit confusing. Once you get into the rhythm though, her quirks become interesting.
Tess made a perfect Candles, and I was able to lose myself in her voice making it all the easier to believe Candles herself was telling me her story.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
Even though she is an AI, Candles is very easy to relate to. The story as a whole is very smooth and easy to read. Even though there are times where Candles random thoughts can be a bit confusing. Once you get into the rhythm though, her quirks become interesting.
Tess made a perfect Candles, and I was able to lose myself in her voice making it all the easier to believe Candles herself was telling me her story.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
January 7, 2016
Such a great book! A fresh new take on the whole Artificial Intelligence genre. And it's simplicity is its beauty!
When the AIP discovers their self, we people's-people reading it discover ourselves and the world along with them!
Glad I stumbled across this little treasure. It will be in one of my all time favourite reads.
When the AIP discovers their self, we people's-people reading it discover ourselves and the world along with them!
Glad I stumbled across this little treasure. It will be in one of my all time favourite reads.
October 31, 2019
I received this audio book free in exchange for an honest review.
Overall I'd say the book was good and a very solid first effort. I look forward to seeing what more experience brings to the author's future work. The nonsensical beginning goes on long enough to make you question your own sanity, but once you realize that's exactly how it must seem to the androids it all makes sense.
Things I wasn't crazy about: I wasn't crazy about the narrator at first, but you get used to her. There is one character that just goes way overboard with the vulgarity. The idea that Candles wouldn't need food - everything requires energy. The "gender is choice" undertones.
Overall I'd say the book was good and a very solid first effort. I look forward to seeing what more experience brings to the author's future work. The nonsensical beginning goes on long enough to make you question your own sanity, but once you realize that's exactly how it must seem to the androids it all makes sense.
Things I wasn't crazy about: I wasn't crazy about the narrator at first, but you get used to her. There is one character that just goes way overboard with the vulgarity. The idea that Candles wouldn't need food - everything requires energy. The "gender is choice" undertones.
June 29, 2018
An interesting story, which will potentially appeal to anyone wondering about how perception influences our knowledge of what's real and what's not, and how we could tell if we weren't the "real" people we appear to be.
December 1, 2018
Interesting read.
This is a unique story that definitely made me use my brain and imagination. This story left me thinking, for sure.
This is a unique story that definitely made me use my brain and imagination. This story left me thinking, for sure.
December 11, 2018
***Audio Review***
Not my typical read but good. Good spin on AI and look forward to the next book.
Not my typical read but good. Good spin on AI and look forward to the next book.
December 30, 2019
Unique perspectives and take on a futuristic semi-dystopian world. Feel like this could be developed into more.
April 20, 2016
A very disconcerting novel.
Learned very slowly what it is about : I never read book's covers.
Will probably reread it with a better understanding of what is going on.
Nonetheless a very interesting novel if you're not sleepy.
Learned very slowly what it is about : I never read book's covers.
Will probably reread it with a better understanding of what is going on.
Nonetheless a very interesting novel if you're not sleepy.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews